U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee; Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.), member of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs; Representative Kevin Hern (OK-01); Representative Markwayne Mullin (OK-02), citizen of Cherokee Nation; Representative Frank Lucas (OK-03); Representative Tom Cole (OK-04), citizen of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma and co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus; and Representative Stephanie Bice (OK-05) made the following... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, today questioned witnesses at a committee hearing on why civilian control of the U.S. military is critical and how this might affect the intended nomination of Lloyd Austin to be Secretary of Defense for President-Elect Joe Biden. Witnesses included: Dr. Lindsay P. Cohn, Associate Professor at the U.S. Naval War College; and Dr. Kathleen J. McInnis, Specialist in International Security at the... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, today delivered opening remarks at the committee’s hearing on civilian control of the military in light of President-elect Joe Biden’s intention to nominate Lloyd Austin to be the next Secretary of Defense. Witnesses include: Dr. Lindsay P. Cohn, Associate Professor at the U.S. Naval War College; and Dr. Kathleen J. McInnis, Specialist in International Security at the Congressional Research... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) made the following statement ahead of Wednesday’s Joint Session of Congress:“On Sunday, I was sworn in for my fifth full term in the United States Senate. While being sworn, I took an oath to ‘support and defend’ the Constitution and to ‘bear true faith and allegiance to the same.’ It is an oath I take very seriously, and in my 34 years in federal office, I have not and will not violate my oath.“When talking about my work in the Senate, I often reference the... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) released the following statement after being sworn in as a United States Senator for Oklahoma for the 117th Congress yesterday. “I am extremely humbled to be chosen by my fellow Oklahomans to represent them for a new term in the 117th Congress. I have never and will never take this responsibility lightly. While November 3rd may not have gone the way we thought it would overall, I will continue to fight for our shared constitutional, conservative values.... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today commended the final Senate vote on the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. “Today, the Senate sent a strong message of support to our troops by voting to make the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act law,” Inhofe said. “Not only does this bill give our service members and their families the resources they need, but it also makes our nation... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today released the following statement on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021:“The NDAA has become law every year for 59 years straight because it’s absolutely vital to our national security and our troops. This year must not be an exception. Our men and women who volunteer to wear the uniform shouldn’t be denied what they need— ever. This NDAA cements all the remarkable gains our... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, praised the inclusion of America’s Water Infrastructure Act of 2020 in the year-end appropriations bill and announced provisions in the legislation that will benefit Oklahoma. Inhofe’s provisions focus on the future of Oklahoma, including the next step in ensuring the Tulsa-West Tulsa Levees project becomes a reality.“I am incredibly pleased we have passed the fourth consecutive two-year... Continue Reading »
U.S. Senator Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) made the following statement after voting for legislation that would provide needed coronavirus relief to families in Oklahoma and fund the government until September 30, 2021.“After Senate Republicans have been working to pass additional COVID relief for months, I am pleased to announce we finally have responsible, bipartisan legislation that will provide direct and targeted coronavirus relief for families, hospitals and small businesses. In addition to... Continue Reading »
Today, U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) released the following statements after receiving the COVID-19 vaccine:“Today, because I wanted to show my confidence in the safety of the vaccine and as part of the continuity of government protocols, I received the COVID-19 vaccine from the Office of the Attending Physician,” Inhofe said. “Because of the incredible work of scientists and researchers, along with the health professionals at the FDA, Operation Warp Speed and the... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.), chairman and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today released the following statement on the extensive cyber hack that breached the cyber networks of U.S. federal agencies and private companies:“We have received initial information on the significant, sophisticated, and ongoing cybersecurity intrusion against the United States. We are closely monitoring the situation and will continue to get updates.“There is still much... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today released the following statement regarding the Trump administration's announcement that it will impose sanctions on the government of Turkey as a result of its purchase of the Russian-made S-400 air and missile defense system: "President Trump has taken the right step in holding Turkey to account for the ill-advised step of acquiring a Russian air and missile defense system instead of turning to its... Continue Reading »
Today, U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) introduced a resolution to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the United States African Development Foundation (USADF), an independent U.S. government agency that supports community development in sub-Saharan Africa. “I am proud to introduce a resolution today with Senator Coons honoring the United States African Development Foundation’s 40th anniversary,” Inhofe said. “USADF has for years given local entrepreneurs resources... Continue Reading »
This week, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) spoke on the Senate floor about successes we have seen under President Donald Trump’s leadership. I was listening to the previous speaker from Rhode Island and I figure it’s time to clarify a few things that are said about our President. I know that right now a lot of people are believing that we are going have a change—have a democrat president. A lot of decisions are being made. But, to show you that there is a big difference of opinion, I want to... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, praised the Senate passage of the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act Conference Report. The legislation passed with a bipartisan vote of 84-13. “For the 60th year in a row, we have successfully come together to pass the National Defense Authorization Act Conference Report,” Inhofe said. “I am incredibly proud of the work put in to this for our nation’s military and especially the... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today praised Senate passage of the Conference Report on the William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. The Senate approved the Conference Report with a vote of 84-13. “There isn’t much that happens around Capitol Hill with the kind of track record that the National Defense Authorization Act has, but there’s a reason this bill gets done every single year for the last 59... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor to urge his colleagues to vote for the Conference Agreement on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. The legislation will receive a final vote at 12:30 p.m. Eastern. It is my honor to present the 60th annual National Defense Authorization Act. For 59 straight years, you can’t say this about any other piece of legislation, all year or any time,... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) made the following statement on Western Sahara: “ I think that all countries should recognize Israel, and applaud the president’s unprecedented efforts to foster recognition between Israel and Arab nations through the Abraham Accords. “Today’s White House announcement alleging Morocco’s sovereignty over Western Sahara is shocking and deeply disappointing. I am saddened that the rights of the Western Saharan people have been traded away. “In 1966,... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor in support of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021:Mr. President, I will sound a little redundant here because we’ve been talking about this bill for a long time now, for several months. People don’t realize how long it takes to get a defense authorization bill all the way through the system. There is no doubt in my mind this is the most important bill of... Continue Reading »
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today spoke on the Senate floor regarding arms sales to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).I support the pending sales to the United Arab Emirates, and therefore oppose the Joint Resolution of Disapproval. The agreement between Israel and the UAE – one of the Abraham Accords - is one of President Trump’s signature achievements and a major step forward in the Middle East.Arab-Israeli peace is not unprecedented, but... Continue Reading »