U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement praising the recent decision by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani to put the Ainkawa District of Erbil under the administrative control of its Christian residents, giving them the right to nominate civic leaders, appoint officials, manage their own security and more. “I am glad to see this recent decision by Prime Minister Masrour Barzani to put the Ainkawa District of Erbil under... Continue Reading »
Yesterday, U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) led their colleagues in urging Secretary of State Antony Blinken to prioritize engagement with the Moroccan government over human rights abuses, including calling for the release of political detainees and ending the harassment and threats against critics of the Moroccan government. Specifically, the senators are requesting that the State Department increase its focus on the human rights abuses against Sahrawi activists in... Continue Reading »
Yesterday, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) joined Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) to reintroduce a bipartisan proposal to help small businesses equip the next generation of manufacturers with the technical skills required for the job. S.2977, the Retain Innovation and Manufacturing Excellence (RIME) Act of 2021 would establish a pilot program to allow businesses to retain retiring employees long enough to train a replacement and transfer their institutional knowledge – tackling a growing... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) today voiced his opposition to the procedural motion to suspend the nation’s debt ceiling. “Even for ‘just’ a short-term increase—as long as Democrats continue to push their big government socialist agenda with a reckless tax and spend package that will destroy our economy, I cannot vote to authorize raising the debt limit.” Continue Reading »
Yesterday, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) joined Sens. John Cornyn (R-Texas), James Lankford (R-Okla.) and 35 of their Republican colleagues in sending a letter asking Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas to address reports that thousands of migrants in Del Rio, Texas, were released into the interior of the U.S. instead of facing removal as the administration had previously pledged.The senators wrote, “While we applaud the Administration’s original stated intent to expel the... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today delivered opening remarks at a hearing to consider the following nominations: Dr. David Honey, to be Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering; Brenda Fulton to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs; and Corey Hinderstein to be Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, National Nuclear Security Administration.As Prepared... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today questioned nominees for top national security positions at a committee hearing. He focused his questioning on past remarks made by Brenda Sue Fulton, nominated to be Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, regarding the religious freedom of military chaplains and describing conservatives who do not support abortion as “radicals.” In this role, Fulton would be responsible for... Continue Reading »
Today, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), senior member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, questioned witnesses at an EPW oversight hearing to examine the response by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to Hurricane Ida. Witnesses included: Major General William H. “Butch” Graham, Deputy Commanding General for Civil and Emergency Operations, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; Brigadier General Thomas J. Tickner, Commanding General, North Atlantic Division, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers;... Continue Reading »
Today, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), co-chairmen of the Senate Taiwan Caucus, sent a letter to Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen to extend their congratulations in advance of Taiwan’s upcoming 110th National Day (October 10). In addition to joining the citizens of Taiwan in celebration, the senators highlighted their enduring commitment to fortifying Taiwan’s security and the United States’ relationship with Taiwan.“As... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today delivered remarks on the Senate floor about what he and the members of the committee have uncovered about President Biden’s disastrous drawdown in Afghanistan from the initial oversight hearings and briefings. As Prepared For Delivery: Over the past two weeks, the Armed Services Committee held two classified sessions and two open hearings on Afghanistan. These were really eye-opening, and... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today delivered opening remarks at a committee hearing to consider the nominations of four civilian nominees for the Departments of the Army and Air Force. Nominees include: Gabe Camarillo to be Under Secretary of the Army; Rachel Jacobson to be Assistant Secretary of the Army for Energy, Installations and Environment; Alex Wagner to be Assistant Secretary for the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today questioned four nominees for top civilian leadership roles at the Departments of the Army and Air ForceNominees included: Gabe Camarillo to be Under Secretary of the Army; Rachel Jacobson to be Assistant Secretary of the Army for Energy, Installations and Environment; Alex Wagner to be Assistant Secretary for the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs; and Andrew Hunter to be Assistant Secretary of... Continue Reading »
Last week, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) joined Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) and a bipartisan group of senators in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra, urging him to establish an ambitious national goal to prevent Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias, and to develop a plan to achieve this goal.The senators wrote, “Alzheimer’s disease is a public health crisis that is expanding, with a projected increase to nearly 14 million... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, last week led Republicans at two open hearings on the situation in Afghanistan and the path forward for counterterrorism. Inhofe has iterated that these hearings were just the beginning, and he hopes to have additional oversight hearings on Afghanistan in October. After detailed questioning of America’s top defense officials and leading Afghanistan experts, Inhofe is sharing what he has learned so... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) today rejected the Senate confirmation of Tracy Stone-Manning, President Biden’s nominee to be the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Director.“Tracy Stone-Manning not only colluded with eco-terrorists, putting loggers’ lives in danger, but she then lied about her involvement in that criminal investigation,” Inhofe said. “The fact that she was still being considered for this position after the truth of her involvement in those heinous acts was revealed is... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) today voted against a continuing resolution proposed by Senate Democrats that fails to provide additional funding for U.S. defense and strips out funding for Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system. “I cannot in good conscience vote for this continuing resolution that falls way short for defense because it does not provide three to five percent real growth for our military as outlined in the National Defense Strategy. Worse, it strips out funding for the Iron... Continue Reading »
Last night, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution introduced by Senators Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) to honor the centennial of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. “It is a great privilege to introduce this resolution alongside Sen. Moran to commemorate the centennial of The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier,” said Sen. Inhofe, ranking member of the Senate Armed... Continue Reading »
At a hearing to receive testimony on Afghanistan, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today questioned witnesses about the implications of the Taliban victory in Afghanistan for Americans and at-risk Afghans left in the country and for jihadist terrorist networks globally. Witnesses included: Thomas Joscelyn, Senior Fellow, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and Senior Editor, The Long War Journal; and Dr. Vali Nasr, Professor of... Continue Reading »
At a hearing to receive testimony on Afghanistan, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today delivery opening remarks encouraging the Biden Administration to get serious about the threat of radical Islamist terrorism to protect Americans. Witnesses include: Thomas Joscelyn, Senior Fellow, Foundation for the Defense of Democracies and Senior Editor, The Long War Journal; and Dr. Vali Nasr, Professor of Middle East Studies and International... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, yesterday led the Senate Armed Services Committee in conducting the first of many public oversight hearings about the Biden administration’s disastrous Afghanistan withdrawal. After substantial questioning, Inhofe ensured General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and General Kenneth McKenzie, U.S. Central Command Commander, gave accurate answers about the withdrawal. Notably, each time,... Continue Reading »
