This week, the Senate passed a budget for fiscal year 2018, which will set up congressional debate to reform the federal tax code for the first time in three decades. It’s time our nation enacts real tax reform to simplify our federal tax code and keep hard-working Americans’ money in their pockets instead of the US Treasury. Over the next six weeks, conversations on taxes and economic growth will dominate committees and floor debate in both the House and Senate. Armies of special interest groups in Washington, DC, will do everything they can to protect their unique tax treatment, so get ready for daily economic doomsday predictions in the media about tax code changes.

I’m grateful for all the conversations I had last week while traveling across the state. Though I am back in Washington, DC, this week, please do not hesitate to reach out to my office if you need anything from us or have a question about legislation.

Update: Bipartisan Healthcare Reform

As the Senate continues to discuss a path forward to provide long-term care and to protect Americans from the harmful effects of Obamacare, Republican and Democrat leaders on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, Pension (HELP) Committee have tried to work together on a bipartisan strategy to address the major issues with healthcare costs. On Thursday, they released draft legislation that would fund Cost-Sharing Reduction (CSR) payments to insurance companies for two-years and give state governments greater flexibility to make decisions about their healthcare markets.

CSR payments to insurance companies started in 2010 when the Obama administration tasked the Treasury Department with spending billions of dollars directly to insurance companies—even though the law did not allow it and the courts later ordered him to stop. To comply with the federal court order, President Trump announced last week that he was going to stop making CSR payments to insurance companies. There is no good answer to this problem since the Senate was unable to get the one additional vote needed to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act a few weeks ago. If CSR payments are not sent to insurance companies, they will raise rates, and the federal government will pay billions of dollars in higher premium subsidies for everyone in the exchanges. If CSR payments are authorized, it means the federal taxpayer is once again sending billions of dollars—this time $20 billion for two years—as a direct subsidy for insurance companies. Either way the insurance companies get paid, and the taxpayer loses.

The initial bill also includes some new flexibility for states to create their own healthcare options for those in poverty, and it allows people to once again buy catastrophic health insurance, which became illegal when the Affordable Care Act became law. All of these changes are far from what is really needed to solve the healthcare cost crisis in our nation.

Unfortunately, there are no simple answers for healthcare. Oklahomans are paying extremely high insurance premiums and have more limited healthcare options, and the situation does not look any better for 2018. I will keep you updated on the conversation. We have received thousands of calls and emails about the healthcare debate in the Senate from all sides of the issue. The nation is as divided as Congress on what is the next step for our healthcare. This is a debate that will continue until we get a majority on the same page.

A New Iran Strategy

Last week, President Trump announced the beginning of a new strategy for dealing with Iran. The people of Iran continue to live under a repressive regime that is rapidly advancing its ballistic missile program and funding terrorism across the Middle East. The nation also continues to have an abysmal human rights record. We must address the entire threat posed by Iran, in addition to their nuclear program.

The agreement made with Iran a year and a half ago created an internationally recognized, ten-year countdown for a nuclear-armed Iran, and it allowed Iran to continue to fund the civil wars in Yemen and Syria.

The world can see the consequences brought on by a rogue nation with nuclear weapons as we watch North Korea grow more aggressive each day. Six United States Presidents in a row have worked to limit North Korea’s nuclear ambitions, but its leaders continue to expand the country's nuclear capabilities. New economic sanctions are having an effect on North Korea, but the threat we and our allies face is far from over.

We all look forward to one day recognizing a peaceful Iran or North Korea, but unfortunately today is not that day. We should continue to prioritize diplomatic and economic solutions to resolve these very difficult problems.

To read more, CLICK HERE.

Russia’s Interference in US Elections

Earlier this month, I spoke on the Senate floor to update Oklahomans on the Senate Intelligence Committee’s work regarding Russia’s attempted interference with the 2016 US election cycle and their use of “troll farms” to create propaganda and discord in US current events. I compare the Russians to the kids on the playground who yell “Fight, fight, fight!” every time Americans have a disagreement on an issue. The Russians did not create the fight, but they are good at increasing the number of people who run to see the fight or participate in it.

The Senate Intelligence Committee has conducted over 100 interviews, and we have read through 100,000 documents. The committee’s work is not finished, but we have established many facts about Russia’s active measures to engage in our elections.

In September, DHS notified 21 states that hackers with possible ties to Russia had attempted to hack into their state election systems during the 2016 election cycle. While there is no evidence that votes were tampered with we must ensure that our state election systems are secure for future elections.

There are obviously many other issues in our investigation, which will continue until all members of the committee are satisfied that the major questions have been answered.

To watch my speech, CLICK HERE.

Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act

America is one of only of seven countries, including North Korea, Vietnam, and China, that still allow abortion at five months of pregnancy. Over 190 countries in the world do not allow elective abortions at five months or later in the pregnancy. Even the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision in the 1970s recognized that the state does maintain the right to protect a viable child in the womb.

Science clearly shows that unborn babies feel pain at 20 weeks' gestation and beyond, and last week, Senators Lindsey Graham, Joni Ernst, and I introduced a bill that would protect children in the womb from late-term abortions. The bill has protections for the life of the mother and other exceptions, but it attempts to help our nation catch up with the overwhelming majority of countries in the world that already recognize that a viable child in the womb should be protected.

The House of Representatives has already passed this bill, and the President has announced that he will sign it if it comes to his desk. It is now time for the Senate to take action.

To watch the press conference, CLICK HERE. To read more, CLICK HERE.

Tax Reform and Reforming Senate Rules

Our economy is stuck, and so is the Senate. We need to simplify our tax code and reform Senate rules to end the gridlock so we can get to work again. Earlier this month, I spoke on the Senate floor to discuss Senate rule reform and how we can get our economy going again.

CLICK HERE to watch my floor speech.

CLICK HERE to read more.

Celebration at Historic Big 10 Ballroom

After years of abandonment, the historic Big 10 Ballroom in Tulsa is currently being renovated by a local nonprofit called “A Pocket Full of Hope.” I held a Community Conversation there to celebrate the renovation and welcomed State Senator Matthews, State Representative Goodwin, and Mayor Bynum to the conversation. We were also able to update the community on the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot Commission.

During the event, I took questions from the audience on legislation Congress is currently discussing. I’m grateful to the over 300 people who attended and enjoyed the update, live music, and a performance by the youth from A Pocket Full of Hope.

If you’d like to learn more about the mission of A Pocket Full of Hope and its work to renovate the historic Big 10 Ballroom, CLICK HERE. To view photos from the event, CLICK HERE. To watch the full event, CLICK HERE.

Keeping You in the Loop

• Last week, Senator Tim Scott joined me to encourage Americans to address racial tensions in our nation by engaging people of another race over meals in their homes for the purpose of building relationships and learning from one another. We call it “Solution Sunday.” To watch the video, CLICK HERE.
• Earlier this month, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which I serve on, passed three bills to help federal agencies hire the best workforce and support the federal government reorganization process. To read more, CLICK HERE.
• The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs passed the Johnson-O’Malley Supplemental Indian Education Program Modernization Act out of committee earlier this month. This is a critical program that provides cultural and academic assistance to American Indian students and opens the door to a number of valuable resources. To read more, CLICK HERE.
• Two weeks ago, the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE) launched Oversight.gov, which provides a single online tool for the thousands of reports and recommendations made by Inspectors General across the government. This is a tool that I challenged the Inspectors General to create a year ago to allow any American to see the problems and solutions they have identified for every agency. To learn more, CLICK HERE.
• Last week, the Trump Administration issued guidance that clarifies and provides conscience protections to those who have religious or moral objections to requirements in a healthcare plan. The government should not be in the business of determining a person’s religious beliefs. Every American has the right to live out his or her faith or to have no faith at all. To read more, CLICK HERE.
• Saturday, October 28, from 10am–2pm is National Prescription Drug Take Back Day, which will give Americans the opportunity to safely and responsibly dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs. With our state's growing opioid issue, we all need to take steps to combat addiction, and we can begin by removing unneeded prescription drugs from our homes. Extra pills can lead to extra problems for yourself and your family members. To find a drop-off/disposal location near you, CLICK HERE.