Dear Oklahoma friends and neighbors:

Fall is in the air. Find some time to get out and enjoy our beautiful state parks this fall. Have you ever gone on the Talimena Drive in southeast Oklahoma? It’s truly breathtaking in the fall. Learn more HERE about the best time to make this scenic drive through the Ouachita National Forest.

Hearing Directly from Oklahomans

During August Congress did not have scheduled votes, so I spent the month traveling across our beautiful state, from Guymon to Tahlequah, Poteau to Altus, and many great places in between, hearing directly from Oklahomans. I listened to concerns about the need for the Farm Bill to provide clarity in agriculture policy and the urgency of securing our southern border to stop the flow of human trafficking and drug smuggling. I also heard how the changes from the Biden Administration are negatively impacting our Oklahoma higher education institutions. All of September, I was back in Washington, DC, working on our budget, oversight of the Secret Service, and a tall stack of other issues.

My office continues to serve Oklahomans through casework for veterans, Social Security, Medicare, the Postal Service, the IRS, and more. We are your hands and feet to solve the inefficiency in our federal bureaucracy. Please continue to share your opinions and solutions with me by calling or emailing my office. You can also reach out to my field representatives who are always out and about in Oklahoma when I’m in Washington, DC, for votes.

UPDATE: Federal Funding and Our Skyrocketing National Debt

This week, our national debt stands at $35.4 trillion—a dangerous national security risk. This year alone, Americans will pay over $1 trillion (with a T) in interest on that debt, and the amount continues to climb as our debt grows. This is not sustainable, and everyone knows it.

I’ve repeatedly introduced bills and amendments and delivered floor speeches urging my colleagues to address our soaring national debt and get our spending under control. It’s a conversation I’ve had in Washington, DC since I first started serving, and I will continue to push for real solutions to rein in federal spending. We need to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse wherever possible, focus on what is essential, and spend our tax dollars wisely.

Earlier this month, I gave a speech on the Senate floor reminding my colleagues of what real Oklahomans—and Americans—are talking about around their dinner tables. One of the top concerns is how to avoid government shutdowns and ensure that government operations are funded and efficient. CLICK HERE to watch my speech on the Senate floor.

On Wednesday, I voted to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government operating through December 20, 2024. Leader Schumer has not brought a single budget bill to the floor the entire year. The CR at least allows the government to operate, and it avoids a government shutdown. But it doesn’t improve our fiscal situation. Our military, veterans, law enforcement, border personnel, and others rely on the continuity of essential services. Our national debt continues to grow, and runaway spending remains unchecked because we aren’t taking the time to engage in real debate over how to responsibly manage taxpayer dollars.

Congress must get back to debating and passing individual appropriations bills to address both the immediate needs of the nation and plan for the future. I have a solution to our fiscal mess called the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act, which will force Congress to make spending decisions and get the work of funding the government done.

CLICK HERE to read more about my vote to keep the government functioning and to find additional information on my Prevent Government Shutdowns Act.

2025 Will be the “Year of the Tax”

While traveling across Oklahoma last month, I heard from hundreds of Oklahomans and multiple Oklahoma small and large business leaders about their concerns that the Trump-era tax cuts will expire at the end of 2025, if those cuts are not extended, and taxes will go up on every American. Prices have already skyrocketed in the past three years of high inflation. Higher taxes will make that even worse. As a member of the Senate Finance Committee, I have the opportunity to work directly on this issue and bring the Oklahoma perspective to the Committee.

In a hearing a few weeks ago, I emphasized the importance of personal and business tax policies that encourage more hiring, more investment and more savings for every Oklahoman. I also spoke about my Charitable Act, which allows people who do not itemize their personal taxes to still deduct their charitable giving during the year. This policy change ensures that Americans who donate to charities, houses of worship, religious organizations, and other nonprofits can deduct their donations, even if they are not wealthy “itemizers.” Oklahoma needs strong and independent nonprofits to care for the homeless, hurting, and hungry in our society.

CLICK HERE to learn more about the Charitable Act and the conservative tax priorities I’m working on for Oklahomans.

Last year, I published an op-ed in the Journal Record in Oklahoma to discuss some of my priorities for upcoming tax legislation. CLICK HERE to read it.

Securing Tulsa’s Postal Service

We recently secured a major win for Green Country by preventing an unnecessary delay in Tulsa’s mail delivery. The US Postal Service (USPS) had proposed rerouting mail through the Oklahoma City processing center before sending it to Tulsa, which would have caused significant delays.

Many seniors and veterans receive critical prescriptions, Social Security checks, and other official federal correspondence through the mail. My team and I took it directly to the leadership of the Postal Service for a solution.

I raised this issue multiple times in private and publicly with USPS leadership, including during the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee with Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. CLICK HERE for more information.

After months of working to keep our mail processing local, USPS has confirmed they will not relocate operations to OKC. This is a big win for the Tulsa community. Thank you to everyone from Green Country who spoke up about this issue, allowing us to show USPS how the proposal would have hurt Tulsans. 

CLICK HERE to watch my video on social media discussing this win for Oklahomans.

Expanding Ft. Sill’s Innovation Partnerships

We’re proud of our five military installations across Oklahoma and the service members who work there. Lawton/Ft. Sill continues to be one of the leaders in the nation in building partnerships between our national defense community and key industries that help keep Americans safe. Recently they added another important partnership to the list. The FISTA Innovation Park in Lawton streamlines collaboration, allowing the Army to modernize our defense capabilities. This partnership is pioneering counter-UAS technologies to defend against threats both at home and abroad. CLICK HERE to read more.

Continuing to Stand Up for Life 

I went to the Senate floor last week to urge my colleagues to protect newborns who survive abortions by requiring they receive the proper medical care after their birth. Painfully, there are hundreds of children a year that survive an abortion and are fully delivered outside the mother’s womb, but they are simply abandoned on a table to slowly die. I personally know someone who survived an abortion as a child, and is now a healthy amazing adult. I am aware there is a national debate about the value of every child in the womb, but it should not be controversial to protect the life of a fully delivered baby crying outside the womb. Unfortunately, my request for unanimous consent to pass the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act was blocked by Democrats on the floor of the Senate. CLICK HERE to watch my speech on the Senate floor.

Lowering the Cost of Rx Drugs 

Skyrocketing prescription drug prices are hurting families. Drug pricing is very complicated, and many in Washington, DC, just pass the buck. I have not. I continue to pressure Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) – the middlemen in drug pricing – to lower costs and provide transparency. During a Senate Finance Committee hearing on healthcare costs and prescription drug innovation, I addressed how the Biden Administration’s Inflation Reduction Act is impacting prices. CLICK HERE to watch my Q&A. I also brought free market solutions to the drug pricing chaos and passed those solutions through the committee with a wide bipartisan vote. I am now pushing to get my bill on the floor of the Senate so it can become law. 

Protecting Women's Sports 

I am not backing down from the fight to protect women's and girls’ sports, despite efforts by the Biden-Harris Administration to undermine them. I recently sent a letter urging National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) President Charlie Baker to update the NCAA’s student-athlete policy to ensure only biological females can participate in women’s sports. CLICK HERE to read the letter. Everyone should have the right to safely compete. 

Ensuring Continuity in Veterans’ Health 

Community care is essential for veterans in rural Oklahoma to receive consistent, reliable treatment. A recent policy from the Veterans Health Administration would abruptly revoke authorizations for community healthcare, which is unacceptable. I introduced the Ensuring Continuity in Veteran’s Health Act so veteran’s health remains a top priority. CLICK HERE to read more about my bill.

Protecting Kids Online 

Social media platforms are designed to addict vulnerable young users and expose them to sexual exploitation, harassment, and drug sales with little accountability. With more children on social media than ever, moms and dads need the tools to protect their children. I supported the Kids Online Safety Act, which passed the Senate a few weeks ago, to hold social media companies accountable and provide parents the tools they need to keep their kids safe online. CLICK HERE to read more about the bill.

Concerns About US Secret Service after Two Assassination Attempts on President Trump 

Americans have differing political opinions, but we should all agree that political violence is never the answer. The US Secret Service has a duty to protect future, current and former presidents. Two assassination attempts on President Trump have exposed serious policy and security failures within the Secret Service. As a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, I called for the Secret Service and FBI to publicly testify before our committee to address these failures. After weeks of stonewalling, the hearing was held September 26. We now have a few more answers, but there are still many questions that I will pursue. I recently joined Newsmax’s Wake Up America to discuss this issue. CLICK HERE to watch. After two assassination attempts on President Trump in two months, it’s clear that presidential nominees need the same level of protection as sitting presidents. I introduced the Protect Our Presidents Act to require transparency and accountability from the Secret Service during a presidential election year. We cannot just have hearings to talk about the problems, we need to take action. CLICK HERE to read more about my bill.

Preventing Social Media Companies from Silencing Our Free Speech 

During a Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, I warned of the dangers posed by foreign entities using social media algorithms to silence American political discourse. As we work to protect our elections from foreign threats, I highlighted how TikTok, under the control of the Chinese Communist Party, suppresses voices it doesn’t agree with, including Uyghur Muslims. CLICK HERE to watch my Q&A.

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If you would like more information on these topics or any other legislation currently before the US Senate, please do not hesitate to call my DC 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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