WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- Rep. Tom Cole, R-Oklahoma, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Extended Shutdown Threatens Appropriations Conference Work on Full-Year Funding Bills House Appropriations Committee Cardinals are united behind the mission to restore regular order and fund the government with 12 appropriations bills. Democrats shut the government down, halting any progress on full-year funding bills and injecting hyper-partisan obstructi  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- Rep. Tom Cole, R-Oklahoma, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, issued the following news release: * * * Defense Defection: Senate Democrats Flip on the Troops After proudly advancing the FY26 Defense appropriations bill through committee with a 26 to 3 bipartisan vote, Senate Democrats executed a full retreat on the floor. They blocked the same legislation they once hailed for strengthening deterrence, investing in U.S. defense capabilities, and delivering c  more

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 -- The League of Women Voters of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, has submitted a public comment letter to the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) urging the agency to reject a petition from the America First Legal Foundation. This petition requests a ruling process that would impose a requirement for documentary proof of citizenship (DPOC) on federal voter registration forms. The League, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering voters and defending democracy ov  more