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Republican (1854-present)

James Lankford

Before his service in Congress, James served students and families for more than 20 years in ministry, including 15 years as the Director of Student Ministry for the Baptist Convention of Oklahoma and Director of the Falls Creek Youth Camp, the largest youth camp in the United States, with more than 51,000 individuals attending each summer.

James and his staff enjoy serving people from all backgrounds across Oklahoma. As Ranking Member of the Government Operations and Border Management  Subcommittee, which covers border security, management, and operations; regulatory reform; and the federal workforce. He demands we have a secure, more fiscally responsible, and transparent federal government, and our nation remains the world leader. He believes that the federal government has an important role in our nation, but empowered families, individual people, and private businesses grow our economy and pass down our values.

Trade

  • Senator Lankford serves on the Senate Finance Committee, whose primary areas of jurisdiction includes reciprocal trade agreements and tariffs;
  • Senator Lankford joined the committee in January 2019 but has always been engaged on trade and how the negotiations affect Oklahomans.
  • Senator Lankford supports strong trade agreements with other countries that give the United States and Oklahoma a fair playing ground for international trade. If a current trade agreement is unfair to the United States, it is appropriate to reengage, create fair trading partnerships, and resolve them quickly.
  • Fair trading partnerships include a low- or no-tariff situation without any trade quotas.
  • Once existing trade agreements are updated, we should seek new markets to get American products around the world. It is good for the US and good for Oklahoma.
  • On May 22, 2018, Senator Lankford joined a letter to US Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer to urge him to consult with Congress as he worked to re-negotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which would later become the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
  • On July 25, 2018, Senator Lankford met with President Trump at the White House to discuss the then-ongoing negotiations for the USMCA and to encourage the Administration to finalize negotiations to provide certainty to Oklahoma agriculture producers.
  • On July 26, 2018, Senator Lankford questioned USTR Lighthizer during an Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on the USTR’s goal to resolve existing trade negotiations and the continued work to open new trade markets.
  • On August 3, 2018, Senator Lankford released his first podcast on trade. This episode focused on trade as a whole and how the ongoing trade negotiations between America and other nations impact Oklahoma.
  • On October 3, 2018, Senator Lankford spoke on the Senate floor about the positive effects of the USMCA on Oklahoma agriculture producers.
  • On February 28, 2019, Senator Lankford introduced the bipartisan, bicameral Import Tax Relief Act to require the Executive Branch to create an exclusion process for List 3 (and any future list) of Chinese imports subject to Section 301 tariff imposition.
  • On March 13, 2019, Senator Lankford spoke on the Senate floor about international trade with China, including Section 301 tariffs.
  • On May 10, 2019, Senator Lankford issued a statement after the Trump Administration’s unproductive trade talks with China stalled.
  • On May 17, 2019, Senator Lankford recorded his second podcast on ongoing trade negotiations and the tariff situation with China.
  • Because of our state’s role in agricultural production and energy development, Oklahomans understand the importance of free trade.
  • Senator Lankford supports strong trade agreements with other countries that enable US exporters greater access to overseas markets. This supports high-paying jobs while helping bring wealth to our state’s economy.
  • Senator Lankford continues to meet directly with the White House and with USTR Robert Lighthizer to provide an Oklahoma perspective in trade talks.