WASHINGTON, May 16 -- Rep. Tom Cole, R-Oklahoma, chairman of the House Rules Committee, issued the following remarks at a hearing on Police Week measures, on May 15, 2023: * * * Good afternoon. Today's hearing falls at the beginning of National Police Week. Each year, the nation sets aside this time to show special appreciation for law enforcement personnel at all levels. We pay tribute to the brave men and women devoted to keeping our communities and families safe. We also remember the sacrif  more

WASHINGTON, May 16 -- Sen. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma, issued the following news release on May 15, 2023: During Police Week, Senator James Lankford (R-OK) joined Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) and 27 of their Senate Republican colleagues to introduce the Back the Blue Act, which would increase penalties for criminals who target law enforcement officers and provide new tools for officers to protect themselves: "I remain grateful to the women and men in uniform, including my family and friends, who  more

WASHINGTON, May 16 -- Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, issued the following news release on May 15, 2023: U.S. Senators Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), and Steve Daines (R-MT) led a group of 13 senators in pressing the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to withdraw its proposed Public Lands Rule. The senators stressed the negative impact the proposal would have on western states as the rule would undermine the multiple use requirements established by Congress and lock away taxpaye  more

WASHINGTON, May 16 -- Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, issued the following news release on May 15, 2023: U.S. Senators Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) today led a group of 19 Republican senators in issuing a clear rebuke of U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona's proposed changes to Title IX and condemning the Biden administration's plan to force schools to allow biological males to compete against females. Mullin and his colleagues submitted a comment to Secretary   more

WASHINGTON, May 16 -- Rep. Tom Cole, R-Oklahoma, issued the following weekly column on May 15, 2023: * * * Restoring Order at the Border Chaos is the one word that accurately describes the current situation at the southern border. The present state of affairs that has gone on for more than two years as a direct result of reckless and thoughtless policy decisions by the Biden Administration is endangering lives and U.S. security. It cannot continue as is. However, last week House Republicans a  more