Dear Oklahoma friends and neighbors, 

September has been an intense month with Iran Nuclear votes, regulatory hearings, budget discussions, pro-life bills and international terrorism.

I pray as school begins again, your family makes time to be together and encourage each other. Our families are our greatest asset, let’s take care of them. 

Iran Nuclear Agreement 

Last week, the Senate voted four times to end the Democrat filibuster on four resolutions of disapproval, but were unsuccessful. Senate Democrats blocked every vote on the President’s deal with Iran. They wouldn’t even allow a vote to stop the President from lifting sanctions on Iran unless the Iranian regime released American prisoners held in Iran and recognized Israel as a state. 

I still have serious objections to lifting sanctions on Iran and allowing the world’s largest state-sponsor of terrorism access to billions of dollars in new money. I’m concerned that no Americans are allowed on the International Atomic Energy Agency teams to conduct inspections of Iran’s nuclear sites. I’m concerned this deal lifts the ban on Iran to begin research and development on ballistic missiles. I’m concerned this deal lifts the conventional weapons ban. I’m concerned that we still have four Americans being unjustly held in Iranian prisons, and that Iran still refuses to recognize Israel’s right to exist. This is a bad deal for America, a bad deal for Israel, and a bad deal for the victims of Iranian-sponsored terrorism around the world. President Obama and Secretary Kerry have initiated a conventional arms race in the Middle East with their reckless nuclear deal with Iran.

Americans deserve a deal that is guaranteed to stop Iran from developing a nuclear weapon, and I am afraid this deal gives them the tools they need to develop one, while unleashing the floodgates of funds and weapons that will help them safeguard any buildup in nuclear weapons capability. President Obama himself said that Iran does not need advanced centrifuges—like the ones they’re allowed to keep and research on under this deal—or fortified underground facilities, like the one they have in Fordow. Unfortunately, this deal fails to live up to even the President’s own standards.

On September 15, I spoke on the Senate floor about what a better Iran nuclear deal would look like. CLICK HERE to watch my speech. I will continue to speak out and determine an oversight strategy for this bad Nuclear deal. 

Waters of the U.S. 

As you may know, the Obama administration has pursued rules to vastly expand the waterways and lands that fall under federal regulation of the Clean Water Act. It’s commonly known as “Waters of the U.S.”, or WOTUS.

This regulatory scheme is an extreme overreach because it would impose unnecessary costs and regulatory burden on private property, small business owners and local governments. I am pursuing several solutions to fight it back. First, the regulation appears to have been issued in a way that violates federal rulemaking requirements for proposed regulations and inappropriately skewed public comment on potential regulations in favor of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) policy decision. In early August, Senator Jim Inhofe and I wrote a letter to the EPA's challenging the flawed process used to create the regulation and requested additional information to learn the extent of how this could violate existing laws and executive orders. Additionally, last week, I, along with 46 other Senators, introduced a resolution to nullify the expanded definition of WOTUS proposed by the EPA under the Congressional Review Act.

The guidelines set forth by the EPA are unclear and the agency failed to comply with applicable requirements when seeking to expand their scope over U.S. waterways. 

Through the proper channels, I will continue to push the EPA on their unclear interpretation of this longstanding rule and work to stop the agency from infringing on Oklahoma families and businesses.

To read the resolution, CLICK HERE. 

Social Security Disability Insurance Eligibility 

I have been a vocal advocate to reform the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program to protect those who rely on its benefits before the program faces insolvency next year. I recently outlined, in an op-ed, why SSDI needs reform and what we can do to fix the program. Last year, I provided Acting Commissioner, Carolyn Colvin, 11 solutions to reform and reduce fraud within the program to better serve those who truly need the assistance.

On September 14, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced a plan to consider one of my solutions. They have begun to update current eligibility requirements for Americans receiving or applying for SSDI. The last time guidelines were changed for eligibility to receive SSDI was 1978. There have been significant changes in how our workforce operates through innovation and technological advances, making a review of eligibility for SSDI essential.

Here is where we need your help. If you, or someone you know, would like to participate in the comment period, you’ll need to do so by November 13, 2015. Individuals who want to comment should submit their statements, along with supporting data, to the Federal Register regulatory website.

To submit a comment on this Vocational Factors of Age, Education and Work Experience in the Adult Disability Determination Process, CLICK HERE. 

The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

This week, the Senate finally cast a vote on the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act—a bill I’ve advocated for a Senate vote for two months. This is the first major pro-life bill to receive Senate debate in over a decade. On Monday, I spoke in support of the bill on the Senate floor, to advocate for children in the womb.

The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act would protect unborn children at five months, who are capable of feeling pain, from late-term abortions. The science and medical research is clear on this, and has changed significantly since 1973 when the Supreme Court decided on Roe v Wade. Fetal pain can be measured by the way babies recoil from painful stimuli and the increase in stress hormones when they are hurt. Anesthesia is also used in fetal surgeries and special care is given to reduce the pain of premature infants in the hospital neonatal intensive-care unit (NICU). Today, we cannot deny the viability of a child at five months.

Ten states, including Oklahoma, have already banned late-term abortions. The United States is one of only seven countries that allow abortion at five months of pregnancy, putting us in a category with nations like North Korea and China. This is not a group to be associated with on the issue of humane treatment of life.

When a child can experience pain, we need to protect the life of that child. The pro-life community continues to make significant progress. Even though this bill did not make it through, we should not be discouraged. In 2011, the Senate came up 18 votes short of defunding Planned Parenthood. This year, we came up only five votes short. We are moving in the right direction, and we must keep pushing for measures like the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act.  

To watch my floor speech on the Pain-Capable bill, CLICK HERE.

Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management Subcommittee

I chair the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, and on Wednesday, September 23 I held a hearing entitled, “Examining the Use of Agency Regulatory Guidance.” 

The hearing examined whether federal agencies use regulatory guidance appropriately. Agencies can issue guidance documents to clear up confusion or to provide timely information, but when a small business or farmer receives a complex guidance document that creates new mandates or obligations, that is clearly inconsistent with the law. When agencies do a quick guidance instead of thorough regulations, the American people are left out of the process.

Over and over Oklahomans tell me they want the federal government to stop sending down so many new rules and guidance. People want their voice heard and they want to slow down the federal intrusion.

One solution to this problem is to make our regulatory system more transparent and accountable to the American people. I have introduced three regulatory reform bills to accomplish this, and I’m working to have the bills up for a committee vote this October. The Smarter Regulations Through Advance Planning and Review Act would require agencies to plan for and conduct regular mandatory retrospective reviews; the Early Participation in Regulations Act of 2015 would allow Americans to participate in the regulatory process earlier; and the Principled Rulemaking Act of 2015 would ensure that agencies propose rules that address real problems.

To watch the subcommittee hearing, CLICK HERE.

Oklahoma Honor Flight 

Last week, I had the honor of welcoming veterans from Oklahoma to the World War II Memorial in Washington. It was great to share this time with them at their memorial and thank them for their service to our country. 

We are quickly losing the Greatest Generation, but we cannot forget their sacrifice or their values of family, dedication and integrity. I am thankful for their service to our country, and I am grateful for the Honor Flight organization for providing this opportunity to veterans to visit the World War II Memorial, the Korean War Memorial, the Vietnam Wall, the Lincoln Memorial, the Iwa Jima Memorial, and Arlington National Cemetery.

To view pictures from the Honor Flight, CLICK HERE. 

Keeping You In The Loop

• On September 15, during a White House Press briefing, the President’s Press Secretary Josh Earnest stated the White House is opposed to H.R. 702, a bill moving through Congress to remove the ban on crude oil exports. I was extremely disappointed to hear this from the White House, but as a cosponsor of a similar bill in the Senate I will do everything I can to pass this bill and put it on the President’s desk. To read my full statement and strong opposition to the White House comments, CLICK HERE. 
• On September 17, I co-sponsored The Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2015 to eliminate Obamacare’s high cost plan excise tax, also known as the Cadillac Tax. In 2018, employers will be hit with a 40 percent tax on employee health benefits for insurance premiums exceeding $10,200 for individuals and $27,500 for families. Repealing the Cadillac Tax would be another step forward in protecting Oklahomans from the harmful effects of Obamacare. To read the full release, CLICK HERE. 
• In February, I sent a letter to the White House requesting clarification following comments made that there would be “consequences” for federal immigration officials who do not enforce the President’s executive order. The White House did not respond directly to my letter, but instructed the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to respond, which unfortunately left a number of questions unanswered regarding the Administration’s immigration enforcement procedures. I will continue to press the White House to gain answers that our federal law enforcement officers need to properly do their job. To read my recent letter to the White House, CLICK HERE. 
• On September 21, the Senate passed, by unanimous consent, the Truth in Settlements Act, bi-partisan legislation I introduced in April. The bill will require more accessible and detailed disclosures about agreements to allow the public to hold regulators accountable for the true value of the settlement to the taxpayers. An open and transparent government will lead to an accountable government. To review the bill, CLICK HERE.
• On Tuesday, September 29, a House Oversight Committee will hold a hearing to examine the use of taxpayer funding by Planned Parenthood (PP) and its affiliates. Cecile Richards, President of PP, is the invited witness. To view a live video stream of the hearing, CLICK HERE. 
• Attention Veterans! Did you know the 2^nd Wednesday of each month from 9am-10:30am the Veterans Job Club holds a job fair in Tulsa? The fair is held at the Tulsa Eastgate Workforce Center, 14002 East 21^st Street, Suite 1030. Bring your resumes and dress for success! CLICK HERE for more information or contact my office if you have questions.  
• For updates while I’m in DC, follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Flickr! 

Stay Connected! 

If you would like more information on these topics or any other legislation currently before the U.S. Senate, please do not hesitate to call my D.C. office at (202) 224-5754. My Oklahoma City office can be reached at (405) 231-4941 and my Tulsa office at (918) 581-7651. You can also follow me on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram for updates on my work in Congress.

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