Dear Oklahoma friends and neighbors,

Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve been able to visit Tulsa, Stillwater, Perry, Muskogee, Midwest City, and Pryor. I’m grateful to have this time to listen to your concerns so I can represent you in Washington, DC. If we aren’t able to connect in person in the days ahead, I hope to see you in the very near future.

If there is ever anything we can be of help, there are multiple ways to reach our team. I have three locations that are here to serve you, Oklahoma City (405-231-4941), Tulsa (918-581-7651), Washington, DC (202-224-5754), or you can send me an email. It’s an honor to serve the values and interest of Oklahomans. 

Kicking into overtime—working to protect small businesses, colleges, local government, and nonprofits
For over a year I have held hearings, written letters, and talked face-to-face with US Department of Labor’s leadership about the real world effects of their proposed rule on overtime. Unfortunately, they refused to listen. Earlier this year, the Department of Labor, without Congressional consent, issued new guidelines that will dramatically change the federal overtime rules. If implemented as planned on December 1, 2016, the new rule will cause extreme burden to small businesses, colleges, local governments, and nonprofits because it will require employers to pay overtime to salaried workers earning less than $47,476 a year—this is double the current threshold of $23,660. 

While it may sound like a great idea for workers who want a pay raise, it has immediate consequences for thousands of Oklahomans. This new rule will make it much harder to get an entry level salaried job, especially for recent college graduates. It has already caused many employers in Oklahoma to move employees to hourly work, instead of salary. Most non-profits, universities and municipal governments cannot afford this rule, so they will reclassify workers, raise tuition, allow fewer work hours, or reduce services to those they serve. The administration is trying to force people to pay more wages; but, because of how the rule was written, it will absolutely harm more people than it helps across our state. 

At the end of September, I introduced a bill called the Regulatory Relief for Small Businesses, Schools and Nonprofits Act (S.3462) that would delay the implementation of the rule until June 1, 2017. This will allow everyone affected more time to implement the rule and a new administration time to evaluate how the rule was written. I also co-sponsored legislation to eliminate the rule entirely and start over, as well as legislation to stretch out the timeline for implementation of the overtime rule. 

We can help workers while protecting jobs and services. Unfortunately, this rule did not do both. I will continue the work this fall to head off this rule.  

CLICK HERE to watch my floor speech. CLICK HERE to read more about the legislation I introduced to slow the implementation of the rule.

Continuing Resolution and budget reform 

At the end of September, Congress approved a Continuing Resolution that will fund the government at current levels and includes $1.1 billion in emergency spending for the US Zika response until December 9, 2016. This is the 20th year in a row for the federal government to have a short-term Continuing Resolution. I could not support this vote.

For five months, I have challenged the Obama administration and Congress to responsibly address the Zika virus with already-budgeted, unobligated federal money rather than new debt-spending. The federal agencies that oversee the Zika response had plenty of money in their budgets to address Zika without adding to the national debt.

Since February, I have called for major reforms to the budget process. In 1975, the current budget process was enacted to create more transparency after Watergate. Unfortunately, the reverse is true; the process is so incredibly difficult that usually the major budget decisions are made by a few behind closed doors. Since 1975, the budget process has only worked as written four times.

I’ve offered a number of solutions to address the issues with the broken process, and, with my position on the Senate Appropriations Committee, I offered an amendment to eliminate a commonly-used budget gimmick, which costs taxpayers billions of dollars every year. I will continue to look for ways to change the current system so it is more transparent and will allow Congress to focus on paying off our national debt.

CLICK HERE to watch my speech on the Senate floor to reform the current broken budget process. CLICK HERE to read about my government waste and solutions report I introduced last year, “Federal fumbles: 100 ways the government dropped the ball”.

Obama administration gives away control of the internet

On October 1, 2016, President Obama surrendered American control of the internet to an international body, a transfer I have fought since it was proposed by the Obama Administration last year. The Administration has never explained why they believe that it is better for the growth of the internet for the US to have one vote on the internet's future—the same as Russia, China, Iran, and others. The internet was invented in America and it has always been under the stewardship of the United States, until now. This decision will undoubtedly affect the free speech of the internet.

CLICK HERE to read the opinion piece I wrote on the internet transition. CLICK HERE to see the work Senators Lee, Cruz, and I did to stop the Department of Commerce from giving control of the internet away.

Anti-poverty working group

In September, I joined Senators Tim Scott, Joni Ernst, Marco Rubio, Dan Sullivan, Steve Daines, and Cory Gardner to launch the Senate Opportunity Coalition, which is focused on fighting poverty. Our work will pinpoint policy solutions that aim to remove the government red-tape that prevents low income families from achieving the American dream.

To read more about the Senate Opportunity Coalition, CLICK HERE.  

Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management

Regulations must come directly from a law passed by Congress, but in the past few years, regulations have come from new interpretations of decades-old laws. The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, which I chair, held another hearing at the end of September to examine the Obama Administration’s consistent abuse of regulatory guidance.  

Congress, with the Executive Branch, must find a way to ensure that any rule changes or guidance issued by the federal government is transparent and consistent so that all federal regulators are held accountable and the American people can know that the rules are fair and consistent.  

To read more about the hearing, CLICK HERE.

What’s real with REAL ID Act of 2005?

In 2005, Congress passed the Real ID Act of 2005, a law that acted on the 9/11 Commission’s recommendation that the federal government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses.” The law is meant to inhibit terrorists’ ability to get fake IDs to access military installations, federal buildings, and aircraft. Without question, state identification cards are a state responsibility. But, federal agencies also have a responsibility to protect the safety of the traveling public as they move state to state.

I have held numerous conversations with the Secretary of Homeland Security, Jeh Johnson, and the Department of Homeland Security to discuss Oklahoma's disagreement with the implementation of REAL ID and possible waivers for Oklahoma. One of the major sticking points remains the operation of the privately run TAG Agencies in Oklahoma. Most Oklahomans believe our TAG agency system is convenient and efficient, but it is also unique in the country. Without question, we can make improvements to further secure identification and documentation, but still maintain the ability for private entities to provide these services. I will continue to work with all entities to keep our system convenient and secure for Oklahomans.

Until a plan can be determined, on January 29, 2017, if you must visit a federal building or a military installation, you should bring a passport or other federal ID card for entry. For more information about REAL ID, CLICK HERE.

Keeping You in the Loop

• On September 22, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute presented the Angels in Adoption award. Deaconess Pregnancy and Adoption Services, which is located in Oklahoma City, is one of this year’s award winners. Congratulations! Oklahoma is indebted to your continued service to our community and the loving service you provide the children, mothers, and families in our state. CLICK HERE to read more.
• North Tulsa is doing remarkable things to ensure the future of their community. I’m grateful that they have allowed me to walk alongside them as they work on the North Tulsa 100 project. CLICK HERE to read more about the North Tulsa 100 project.
•  I understand abortion is still controversial in America, but the issue of whether taxpayers should pay for it should not be. CLICK HERE to read my opinion piece on the 40^th anniversary of legislation that prohibits taxpayer funding for abortion. 
• On November 28, I will release the second edition of “Federal Fumbles: 100 ways the government dropped the ball”. Last year’s book listed $105 billion in wasteful federal spending and about $800 billion in negative regulatory impact to the economy. CLICK HERE to read last year’s report. 
• Next week, the Oklahoma Military Hall of Fame (OMHF) will induct the class of 2016 at the annual OMHF banquet. The OMHF honors the “men and women of Oklahoma who served in the Uniformed Services of the United States and those who continue to serve our country today”. Congratulations to this year's inductees and thank you for your exceptional service.
• Happy Birthday Navy! For 241 years, the US Navy has maintained, trained, and equipped combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression, and maintaining freedom of the seas. Thank you for your enduring service.

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.

Notice: If you wish to stop ALL electronic communications from my office, visit this link to opt out permanently from this list. If you have any questions about this Notice or your right to decline future electronic mail from this office, please contact us at United States Senate, 316 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510.