WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), senior member of the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, and Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska), along with a bipartisan group of 32 Senators today sent a letter to Secretary of Department of Energy (DOE) Ernest Moniz urging the department to prioritize and expedite decisions on permit applications to export Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG). In the letter, the Senators wrote: “We appreciate the attention... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), today made the following statement in honor of Independence Day: “On this Independence Day, let us set aside our partisan grievances and pay tribute to the patriots who stood strong for the beliefs of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and declared independence from the British to form these United States of America. Independence was a gradual and painful process,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), today responded to the political demonstrations that have led to the political instability in Egypt and forced Egyptian President Morsi to step down and allow what looks like an interim government take his place until democratic Presidential and Parliamentary elections are able to take place. “Since President Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood... Continue Reading »
CATOOSA, OKLA. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, in partnership with the Arkansas Oklahoma Port Operators Association, announced the resumption of 24-hour operations and the adoption of a more efficient maintenance procedure plan for the locks and dams along the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System (MKARNS), one that saves not only time but also money while helping to maintain the integrity of the system for those who ship cargo on the waterway. As a result of the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), senior member of Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today voiced his frustration with the Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) for denying a bipartisan request to amend a Settlement Agreement with environmental groups governing the process of determining whether to list the Lesser Prairie Chicken (LPC) under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). “I am disappointed and frustrated that the Service is not... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), today opposed the Border Security Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act (S. 744). The bill passed by a 68-32 vote. “I am disappointed with today’s Senate passage of the Immigration bill which gives amnesty to illegal immigrants, and does so before meaningful border security is achieved,” said Inhofe. “The law only requires that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)... Continue Reading »
As prepared for delivery: "Chairman Boxer, Ranking Member Vitter, thank you for holding this hearing to discuss the recent tragedies in Texas and Louisiana. One of the accidents in Louisiana involved a firm headquartered in Oklahoma, and I have been talking with them to make sure we understand exactly what happened and what we can do to help. My thoughts and prayers are with all of the victims and their families. ... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), together with Sens. David Vitter (R-La.), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and John Cornyn (R-Texas), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), today introduced the Federal Lands Freedom Act (FLFA) of 2013. The bill would give states the authority to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), a senior member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today reintroduced the Fracturing Regulations are Effective in State Hands (FRESH) Act of 2013 (S.1234) for the 113th Congress. The bill is cosponsored by the EPW committee’s ranking member Sen. David Vitter (R-La.) along with Sens. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Tom Coburn (R-Okla.),... Continue Reading »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, responded to the announcement from the U.S. Army that it would inactivate 10 brigade combat teams (BCTs) as part of plans to reduce active-duty end strength by 80,000 Soldiers. “While it is unfortunate that the Army plans to inactivate ten brigade combat teams, I understand the Army is working under difficult circumstances brought on by leadership... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), a senior member of the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today released the following statement after President Obama’s speech on global warming: “Unfortunately, the president has once again failed to be honest with the American people about the realities of his global warming rhetoric, and the dozens of new energy regulations he plans to shove through the EPA. Instead of forcing these... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. –Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), joined Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) and others as an original cosponsor of the Academic Partnerships Lead Us to Success (A-PLUS) Act. This bill would allow for states to receive federal funding for education in block grants that would reduce administrative burdens on the state while increasing transparency on both the use of federal funds and student academic achievement. “Too often, the federal... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), senior member of Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today sent a letter to Dan Ashe, Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), requesting that he immediately approve the range wide conservation plan (RWP) and its corresponding Candidate Conservation Agreements with Assurances (CCAAs). The RWP and CCAAs were developed by the wildlife conservation agencies of the five states affected by an LPC listing, including... 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 responded to a lawsuit filed by environmental groups against the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its review of ozone air quality standards: “The EPA is actively considering a new Ozone standard that would put nearly 2,800 counties out of attainment nationwide, including all of Oklahoma’s,” said... 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 in response to President Obama’s speech in Berlin announcing negotiations with Russia to reduce further the United States strategic nuclear arsenal by up to one-third: “The president’s announcement to pursue negotiations with Russia to reduce U.S. deployed strategic nuclear warheads by up to one-third represents the... 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 after the SASC completed the markup of the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY 2014 (FY'14). The bill includes several provisions that were authored and supported by Inhofe and will be beneficial to Oklahoma’s military installations, active-duty service members, civilian employees and veterans. The bill was passed... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), senior member of Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) and unwavering proponent of achieving domestic energy independence, today sent a letter with Sens. David Vitter (R-La.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Ala.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) , Michael Enzi (R-Wyo.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) warning President Obama against using discretionary powers to... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), senior member of Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, today sent a letter to Dan Ashe, Director of the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), requesting a six-month delay of the listing of the lesser prairie chicken (LPC). The letter also requests Ashe to consider amending the settlement agreement governing the LPC listing decision so that a final listing decision is not required until June 11,... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today was presented with the Association of Defense Communities' (ADC) Congressional Leadership Award in recognition of leadership and excellence in supporting defense communities and the military at the first-ever Defense Communities National Summit in Washington, D.C. Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, Okla. was also awarded ADC's DOD Installation of the... Continue Reading »
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), today in two procedural votes opposed the consideration of the Border Security Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act (S. 744). The motions passed by an 82-15 and 84-15 vote respectively. “This is an amnesty bill that fails to address the serious problems and dire need for reform that is plaguing the U.S. immigration system," said Inhofe. "We must effectively secure our... Continue Reading »
