May is National Foster Care Awareness Month and as adoptive parents of three, Christie and I are committed to ensuring every child has a safe, supportive, and forever family. With more than 400,000 young people in the foster care system across the country, we need to make sure the system in place is effective and functions properly. In Oklahoma alone, there are 7,789 children in the custody of the Oklahoma Department of Human Service, with a need for 898 foster families. These kids, and the fami... Read more

Many Americans think of Memorial Day as a day off of work and an excuse to enjoy a long weekend marking the beginning of summer. But it is much more than just another holiday. Memorial Day is a day of remembrance where we honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice defending our country. We must never forget we are the land of the free, because of the brave. The bravest among us are the men and women who put on the uniforms of our armed forces every day and risk their lives to keep us safe. Even... Read more

The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the most challenging times in our nation’s history. It has affected everyone differently and for some, stress and uncertainty may negatively impact their mental health. This month is National Mental Health Awareness Month and during this pandemic, when everyone is focused on their physical health, please remember taking care of your mental health is equally important. Throughout my time in Congress, I have been an advocate for ensuring people have access to ... Read more

We are experiencing an epidemic of violence in our tribal communities: 80 percent of Native men and women experience violence, 34 percent of Native women experience sexual violence in their lifetimes, and murder is the third-leading cause of death for American Indian and Alaska Native women. Native women and girls are also disproportionately likely to become victims of sex trafficking. We don’t even have a full picture of the number of women who go missing each year because the databases that ho... Read more

Oklahomans are no strangers to severe weather. From one day to the next, we know Mother Nature can have a mind of her own, but springtime often delivers the worst storms of the year. It’s important to ensure our families are prepared to handle emergencies and severe weather. Make sure you are signed up for emergency notifications in your area and that your weather radio is working so you are informed of the latest information. Take the time now to clean out your storm shelter or pick a safe room... Read more

Small businesses are the backbone of our economy. Small businesses make up 99 percent of businesses in Oklahoma and employ 52 percent of our state’s workforce. The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged our communities in ways we have never seen before and our small businesses have been among the hardest hit. Between closing non-essential businesses and reducing services to help slow the spread, small businesses have been forced to make tough decisions. Congress acted to help suffering small business ... Read more

This weekend, Oklahomans will join together to remember the victims of the Oklahoma City bombing and the loved ones left behind on that horrible day 25 years ago. As we mourn the worst act of homegrown terrorism in our country’s history, we also reflect on a term that Oklahomans have always lived by, but what the rest of America discovered after April 19, 1995: the Oklahoma Standard. The Oklahoma Standard has long echoed the goodwill and compassion of Oklahomans. In times of difficulty, Oklahoma... Read more

Easter is usually a time for us to gather together to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and His victory over sin and death. We’re used to churches filled with people to hear the gospel, families coming together to share a meal, and kids hunting for eggs. This Easter, our country is facing an unprecedented public health crisis. Our world looks very different now than it did just a couple months ago. While we may not be able to celebrate with our usual ways, we still can be showing friends, neig... Read more

Last week, Congress passed and President Trump signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. We are in the middle of an unprecedented public health crisis and the American people need help. Over the past couple weeks, I have had countless calls with constituents and they have all said the same thing: they’re hurting. Our small businesses, our farmers and ranchers, our teachers, our Tribal governments, our health care workers and first responders on the front lin... Read more

Coronavirus is impacting everyone and changing our everyday lives. This is a difficult time, but together we will get through this. I wanted to take this opportunity to share some resources for those who need them. The Oklahoma State Department of Health has created a website full of information regarding what you should know about COVID-19 and what to do if you are sick. You can visit the website at www.coronavirus.health.ok.gov. There is also an Oklahoma COVID call center that is open 24/7 whe... Read more