Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member on the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Subcommittee on Oversight, today provided the following open statement at a hearing today titled "Fugitive Methane Emissions from Oil and Gas Operations:" As prepared for delivery: Chairman Whitehouse, thank you for holding this hearing today, and I appreciate our distinguished witnesses taking the time to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, made the following statement today after being appointed to the bicameral conference committee for the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA): "I am pleased to once again be a conferee for the WRDA bill," said Inhofe. "Maintaining and modernizing Oklahoma's ports and waterways is essential for supporting and expanding our state's booming industries.... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), and Congressman Tom Cole (R-OK-04) today praised the U.S. Army for awarding BAE Systems a contract to begin the Paladin Integrated Management (PIM) program. BAE Systems will conduct final assembly and testing of the various PIM platforms in Elgin, Okla. "Congratulations to the U.S. Army and BAE Systems on the beginning of the Paladin Integrated Management... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), today released the following statement concerning President Obama's scheduled meeting Friday with Iraq's Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki: "I warned in 2011 that the failure of the Obama Administration to negotiate a well-planned transition in Iraq would jeopardize the country’s long-term stability and would threaten to undo all that our men and women in uniform fought and... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) today sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry urging the United States leverage its influence to end the increasing practice in the Middle East to silence religious freedom. “The freedom of religion is one of our most precious constitutional liberties,” Inhofe wrote in the letter. “The increasing attacks against Christians and other religious minorities in the Middle East is a violation of the basic human right of the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today praised the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) for approving the Lesser Prairie-Chicken (LPC) five-state conservation plan and encouraged FWS Director Dan Ashe to expeditiously approve the Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (CCAA) associated with the LPC conservation plan. The plan was submitted by Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) released the following statement today on the passage of a Senate deal to fund the government through Jan. 15 and raise the debt ceiling until Feb. 7: "Since President Obama came into office, he has signed into law a costly 20,000 page health care law, authored a $787 billion stimulus, and raised the debt ceiling now six times. He has taken care of his pet projects while letting the most foundational elements of the Constitution — from... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) joined Sens. Jim Moran (R- Kan.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) in leading a bipartisan group of 50 U.S. Senators in reiterating to President Obama that the Senate overwhelmingly opposes the ratification of the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and will not be bound by its obligations. “The Senate spoke out against the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty this past March when 53 Senators voted for my amendment to the Senate budget resolution... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. -- Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement today on reports that Abu Anas al-Libi will appear today in federal court in New York: "It is despicable that under the direction of President Obama foreign terrorists who have targeted and killed innocent people are being provided the same rights as American citizens. We saw this in the way the Administration brought high profile terrorists Ahmed Warsame and Abu... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) along with Sens. Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) Wednesday sent a letter to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Michael Huerta requesting a review of FAA’s decision to close its Aircraft Registry Office despite its value in protecting national security and highlighted that the office has remained open through... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C.- U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today released the following statement after Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel announced the Fischer House Foundation, a private non-profit foundation, will ensure families of fallen service members continue to receive assistance despite the ongoing government shutdown: "The Fischer House's offer to provide benefits to the families of... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) released the following statement today on the Senate's upcoming vote on H.J.Res.72, Honoring our Promise to America's Veterans Act: “Yesterday the House passed legislation that would ensure our heroic veterans receive their rightful benefits earned while serving our country. The President has already issued a veto threat of this bill, and I call on my fellow Senate Democrats to not fall in line with this demand to solidify its failure. It... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of Senate Armed Services Committee, today issued the following statement on the Pay Our Military Act and the definition of "excepted" workers for the Department of Defense (DoD) civilians: "My staff and I have been in contact with the Department of Defense urging immediate issuance of new guidance to pay our men and women in uniform, as well as the civilians and contractors who support them, during a government shutdown. The... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) released the following statement about the shutdown of the federal government: “A government shutdown has real implications for Oklahomans, seniors, small business owners, veterans, and civilian employees that support our military installations. At this time, the U.S. House of Representatives has sent the Senate several common-sense solutions to fund the government while addressing the concerns Americans have for the President’s... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today congratulated the Lawton Metropolitan Area Airport Authority and the City of Stillwater for receiving grants through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Small Community Air Service Development Program. The two grants will support efforts to attract and maintain commercial air services to their respective communities. “Commercial air... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), today voted against final passage of the Continuing Resolution after Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Democrats passed an amendment to remove the provisions that would defund the Affordable Care Act, commonly known as ObamaCare. “Today I kept my promise to Oklahomans that I would not vote for a continuing resolution that funds the President's disastrous health care law," said Inhofe. "Sen.... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today made the following statement regarding the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changes’ (IPCC) Fifth Assessment Report: “Today’s release of the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Summary for Policymakers proves that the UN is more interested in advancing a political agenda than scientific integrity. The IPCC glossed... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), a senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, and Congressman Tom Cole (R-OK-4) today congratulated University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University and Langston University for being awarded a grant of approximately $2.5 million through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s University Transportation Centers (UTC) program. “Oklahoma’s central location positions our... Continue Reading »
AS PREPARED FOR DELIVERY: Thank you, Chairman Boxer and thank you to our panelists for making the time to be here as well. It is no secret that I am one of the strongest advocates of a robust federal investment in our nation’s transportation system. I think that the timing of this hearing is important to highlight the crisis that many seem to be ignoring. This will be my 5th highway bill and unfortunately I believe the threat to Congress’ commitment to authorizing the traditional... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) today sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry warning him about the United States becoming a signatory nation to the United Nations' Arms Trade Treaty. “Sec. Kerry and President Obama are at it again,” said Inhofe. “As we saw in 2009 with cap-and-trade in Copenhagen, Sec. Kerry and President Obama are being dishonest by telling the United Nations that we’ll be a part of the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty. This treaty... Continue Reading »
