Our country is hurting. The COVID-19 pandemic has claimed more than 100,000 lives and put more than 40 million Americans out of work. Small businesses across the country have had to shut their doors and some of them may never reopen. Oklahomans are tough and resilient and are anxiously awaiting a return to normal. As our country began to see the light at the end of the tunnel of the pandemic, we were hit with another tragedy which should have never happened. It sparked protests, including some i...
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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...
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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...
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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 ...
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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...
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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...
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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 ...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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