U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), lead Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), today spoke on the Senate floor about the need to increase the U.S. defense budget to support the strong U.S. military that underwrites the nation’s alliances and partnerships. President Biden has stated that strengthening our alliances and partnerships is one of his top national security priorities, but his budget proposes a defense topline that amounts to a cut below last year’s funding levels... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), lead Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), today questioned President Biden’s nominees for top Department of Defense civilian leadership positions about the need to provide adequate resources to advance national security objectives. Nominees before the committee today included: Michael McCord, nominated to serve as Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller); and Ronald Moultrie, nominated to serve as Under Secretary of Defense for... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), lead Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), today delivered opening remarks at the nomination hearing of Michael McCord to serve as Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) and Ronald Moultrie to serve as Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security.As Prepared for Delivery:Thank you, Chairman Reed, and thanks to our witnesses for being with us and for their willingness to serve the nation. Our nation’s top military and... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) led a number of his colleagues in sending a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers requesting them to prioritize and commit robust funding to the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System in the President’s Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Request. Members who also signed the letter include U.S. Sens. John Boozman (R-Ark.), Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), James Lankford (R-Okla.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Roger Marshall (R-Kan.), U.S. Reps. Stephanie Bice... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) joined Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), along with several of their Senate GOP colleagues, this week to introduce the Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act. This legislation will allow individuals with concealed carry privileges in their home state to exercise those rights in any other state with concealed carry laws, while still abiding by that state’s laws.“The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, praised the Senate passage of the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act (DWWIA) of 2021 and announced provisions in the legislation that will benefit Oklahoma. Inhofe is a cosponsor of the legislation.“Everyone agrees we need to support state and local efforts to protect our clean, safe drinking water,” Inhofe said. “I am glad to see the Senate pass the bipartisan Drinking Water... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), lead Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), today questioned witnesses at a SASC hearing on worldwide threats.Witnesses included: the Honorable Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence, and Lieutenant General Scott Berrier, Director, Defense Intelligence Agency.Inhofe: Thank you, Chairman. As I said in my opening statement, we have been repeatedly warned in this committee about what Russia and China are doing in terms of their nuclear... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), lead Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), today delivered opening remarks at a SASC hearing on worldwide threats. Witnesses included: the Honorable Avril Haines, Director of National Intelligence, and Lieutenant General Scott Berrier, Director, Defense Intelligence Agency.As Prepared for Delivery:Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I join you in welcoming our witnesses. Since its release in 2018, this Committee’s top priority has been ensuring... Continue Reading »
Today, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) provided the following video response to President Biden’s joint address to Congress. Specific areas he addressed included the coronavirus, the Biden “infrastructure” plan and big government spending spree –as well as noting concern on the border crisis and how investing in our military to compete with Russia and China wasn’t given sufficient priority. Click here to watch Inhofe’s full remarks. Remarks as prepared for delivery:I was... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, made the following statement after voting against S.J. Res. 14, a Congressional Review Act resolution of disapproval of the Trump EPA’s methane policy rule.“The Biden Administration is barreling ahead on a methane regulatory strategy that will be extremely hard hitting on small oil and gas producers in Oklahoma and around the country. This CRA – by eliminating key regulatory steps otherwise... Continue Reading »
Today, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), senior member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, questioned Michael Regan, Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), at an EPW hearing on the Fiscal Year 2022 Proposed Budget for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.Inhofe: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Regan, confession is good for the soul. I confess that I came from the House to the Senate in 1994, and during that time, I can’t think of any person that has possessed... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, senior member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, spoke on the Senate floor yesterday on surface transportation, the American Jobs Plan and the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021. As Prepared for Delivery:This week we have a real opportunity before us – to pass the bipartisan Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act of 2021.If you only listen to the national media, you’d think Congress can’t come together to get much done... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) sent a letter this week in support of the 2021 Halifax International Security Forum (HFX) and plans to award the John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service to President Tsai Ing-wen.The senators wrote: “As the Co-Chairs of the Senate Taiwan Caucus, we write you in support of the 2021 Halifax International Security Forum (HFX) and plans to award the John McCain Prize for Leadership in Public Service to President Tsai Ing-wen. As... Continue Reading »
Today, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the EPW Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate and Nuclear Safety, gave opening remarks and questioned witnesses at a legislative hearing on S.283, National Climate Bank Act.As Prepared For Delivery:I would like to welcome our panel to the first Clean Air subcommittee hearing of the 117th Congress. I’d like to give a special thanks to Mr. Isaac and Commissioner Bell for joining us today. Before I discuss my thoughts on the Chairman’s bill, I’d... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, lead Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined all Republicans present in voting to reject the nomination of Dr. Colin Kahl to be Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Kahl’s nomination was approved by the Senate, 49-45.Kahl is President Biden’s first nominee not to earn a single Republican vote, highlighting how extreme his nomination was and how it broke decades of bipartisan precedent for nominees for top Department of Defense (DOD) positions.“The Under... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, lead Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined all Republicans present in voting to reject the nomination of Dr. Colin Kahl to be Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Kahl’s nomination was approved by the Senate, 49-45. Kahl is President Biden’s first nominee not to earn a single Republican vote, highlighting how extreme his nomination was and how it broke decades of bipartisan precedent for nominees for top Department of Defense... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) voted against the nomination of Janet McCabe to be Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on the Senate floor today. “I oppose Janet McCabe’s nomination because she was the architect of Obama’s 2015 Clean Power Plan,” Inhofe said. “In this new position, she will work to implement Biden’s radical environmental agenda that threatens to do even more damage to the Oklahoma energy industry. This will threaten the... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), lead Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), spoke on the Senate floor today to urge his colleagues to reject the nomination of Colin Kahl to serve as Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, highlighting the long tradition of bipartisan support Department of Defense nominees typically receive. In March, Kahl’s nomination failed to advance the Armed Services Committee after all 13 SASC Republicans voted in opposition; last week, Vice... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), lead Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), today questioned witnesses at a SASC hearing on management challenges and opportunities at the Department of Defense. Witnesses included: the Honorable Peter Levine, former Deputy Chief Management Officer, Department of Defense, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Defense Analyses; Dr. Adam Grant, Saul P. Steinberg Professor of Management, Wharton School of Business, University of Pennsylvania;... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), lead Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), today delivered opening remarks at a SASC hearing on management challenges and opportunities at the Department of Defense. Witnesses included: the Honorable Peter Levine, former Deputy Chief Management Officer, Department of Defense, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Defense Analyses; Dr. Adam Grant, Saul P. Steinberg Professor of Management, Wharton School of Business, University of... Continue Reading »
