Today, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) voted against the motion to proceed to the For the People Act, far-left legislation that seeks to do the exact opposite of its name and would actually undermine the integrity of Oklahoma’s elections. “Today, Senate Democrats did exactly what we knew they would—they forced a vote on their partisan, misnamed ‘For the People Act.’ While Oklahoma’s elections are fair, safe and secure, this bill would upend important safeguards our state has in place while also... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today questioned witnesses at the committee’s annual posture hearing for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. Witnesses included: Thomas Harker, Acting Secretary of the Navy; Admiral Michael Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations; and General David Berger, Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps. Inhofe: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First of all, before asking a question, I'm going to ask Admiral Gilday to share with... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) introduced S. 2166, the Recognizing and Ensuring Taxpayer Access to Infrastructure Necessary for GPS and Satellite Communications Act or RETAIN GPS and Satellite Communications Act today. The April 2020 Ligado Order from the FCC recognized the likelihood of interference to GPS signals and requires Ligado to pay the federal government the costs for repairs.... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today released letters from the nation’s seven most senior military officials describing their personal views and best military advice on the proposed Military Justice Improvement and Increasing Prevention Act of 2021 (MJIIPA). Three- and four-star military officials, as a requirement of their Senate confirmation, commit to providing, if asked, their personal views on a matter, even if those views differ... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today delivered opening remarks the committee’s annual posture hearing for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.Witnesses included: Thomas Harker, Acting Secretary of the Navy; Admiral Michael Gilday, Chief of Naval Operations; and General David Berger, Commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps.As Prepared for Delivery: Thank you, Chairman Reed. I thank our witnesses for being here today and for... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) joined U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Ranking Member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, and all of their Republican colleagues on the committee in sending a letter to question the basis for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to repeal and replace the 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule. “After the administration’s continued commitments to transparency, engagement, and... Continue Reading »
This week, U.S. Sen, Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) joined U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and a group of 10 other senators demanding the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas immediately release the DHS blueprint for the Biden Administration’s immigration policies. The blueprint details plans to expand and overhaul the legal immigration system and has been released to the New York Times, but not to Congress or the American people. Joining the letter are Sens.... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today criticized President Biden’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget request for the Air Force and Space Force at the committee’s annual Air Force posture hearing. Witnesses include: John Roth, Acting Secretary of the Air Force; General Charles “C.Q.” Brown, Chief of Staff of the Air Force; and General John Raymond, Chief of Space Operations.As Prepared for Delivery:Thank you, Mr. Chairman.Secretary Roth, General... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) joined U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) this week, along with 13 other Senate Republicans, to reintroduce the Hearing Protection Act, S. 2050, which would provide recreational gun users better access to hearing protection equipment by reclassifying suppressors to regulate them like regular firearms. Suppressors reduce the noise of a gunshot by an average of 20-35 dB, roughly the same as earplugs or earmuffs. Other co-sponsors include Sens. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Joni... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today questioned witnesses about key air and space capabilities at the committee’s Fiscal Year 2022 Air Force and Space Force posture hearing. Witnesses included: John Roth, Acting Secretary of the Air Force; General Charles “C.Q.” Brown, Chief of Staff of the Air Force; and General John Raymond, Chief of Space Operations. Inhofe: General Brown. First of all, thank you for the discussion that... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, spoke on the Senate floor today in opposition of the far-left, partisan For the People Act, which seeks to undermine the integrity of Oklahoma’s elections. As Prepared for Delivery:I understand Senate Democrats may soon force a vote on their misnamed “For the People Act.”For those unfamiliar, this is a Democrat bill to nationalize our elections and give Washington unprecedented and unconstitutional power over state and local governments.Keep in mind, this bill is not... Continue Reading »
Today, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), senior member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, questioned witnesses this morning at an EPW hearing, and expressed serious concern about the recent announcement from the Biden administration that they plan to repeal and replace the 2020 Navigable Waters Protection Rule (NWPR) which replaced the illegal Obama-era Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule that was particularly detrimental to Oklahoma farmers and ranchers.Witnesses included:... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today questioned key Department of Defense nominees about China and military housing challenges at a nomination hearing. Witnesses included: Caroline Krass, nominated to be General Counsel of the Department of Defense; Gina Ortiz Jones, nominated to be Under Secretary of the Air Force; Dr. Ely Ratner, nominated to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs; Shawn Skelly, nominated... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today delivered opening remarks at a nomination hearing for five top Department of Defense officials. Witnesses include: Caroline Krass, nominated to be General Counsel of the Department of Defense; Gina Ortiz Jones, nominated to be Under Secretary of the Air Force; Dr. Ely Ratner, nominated to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Indo-Pacific Security Affairs; Shawn Skelly, nominated to be Assistant... Continue Reading »
Today, U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) and U.S. Reps. Frank Lucas (OK-03) and Tom Cole (OK-04) applauded the announcement the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) made selecting the University of Oklahoma to host NOAA’s Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather Research and Operations (CISHIWRO). The mission of this cooperative institute is to promote collaborative research with NOAA on research to improve the understanding of severe... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today criticized the Biden administration’s fiscal year 2022 budget request for the U.S. Army, which is $4 billion below last year and jeopardizes progress on the Army’s readiness and modernization priorities. Witnesses include: Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth and General James McConville, Army Chief of Staff.As Prepared for Delivery:Thank you, Chairman Reed.Ms. Wormuth, General McConville, thank you... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today questioned witnesses about the risks posed by the Biden administration’s proposed cuts to the Army’s fiscal year 2022 budget at a committee hearing. Witnesses included: Secretary of the Army Christine Wormuth and General James McConville, Army Chief of Staff.Inhofe: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First of all, let's get another shot at the Army budget cuts. As I stated in my opening remarks, the Army bears the... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), James Lankford (R-Okla.) and Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03) announced, after months of work with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), Harmon Memorial Hospital in Hollis, Oklahoma has received an extension of their designation to continue to serve the community as a Critical Access Hospital (CAH). In March, Inhofe, Lankford and Lucas sent a letter to then-Acting CMS Administrator Liz Richter to push for Harmon Hospital to remain a critical access... Continue Reading »
Today, the Oklahoma Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) presented Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) with the Legislator of the Year Award for outstanding veteran support and service. Inhofe has worked for years to ensure Oklahoma veterans receive quality care. He outlined these continued efforts in the Tulsa World here.“I am honored to be presented this Legislator of the Year award today from Oklahoma Veterans of Foreign Wars,” Inhofe said. “Our veterans have sacrificed so much for Oklahoma and our... Continue Reading »
Yesterday, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) senior member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, questioned witnesses at an EPW hearing entitled: PFAS: the View from Affected Citizens and States.Witnesses included: Joanne Stanton, Co-founder, Buxmont Coalition for Safer Water; James Kenney, Cabinet Secretary, New Mexico Environment Department; G. Tracy Mehan III, Executive Director of Government Affairs, American Water Works Association; Scott Mandirola, Deputy Secretary for External... Continue Reading »
