Representative Tom Cole
Representing the 4th Congressional District of Oklahoma
Weekly Columns
Obama's Policies Stifle Economic Growth
November 29, 2010In less than five weeks, tax hikes will go into effect for virtually all tax brackets unless Congress takes action. Despite public and bipartisan support for maintaining the current tax rates, President Obama and Democratic leaders in Congress have repeatedly...
10th Amendment Key to Protecting States' Rights
November 22, 2010The intrusion of the federal government into Americans' daily lives has become more extensive than the Founding Fathers ever intended. From burdensome taxes to excessive regulations, my fellow Oklahomans frequently share with me their frustration with government interference. Restoring the...
GOP Majority Focused on Reform
November 15, 2010The midterm elections sent a clear message that Congress must change, and House Republicans have already begun working to implement important reforms when the new Congress convenes in January. I was honored to be named a member of the House...
Voters Reject Big Government
November 8, 2010William F. Buckley defined conservatism as standing "athwart history, yelling 'Stop.'" In last week's midterm elections, it wasn't just conservatives but citizens of all political stripes, from across the nation, who went to the voting booth and yelled "Stop" to...
Controversial Policies in Store for Lame Duck Session
November 1, 2010This year's lame-duck session has the potential to be one of the most controversial in recent memory. Congressional Democrats have signaled their intention to hold votes on as many as 20 pieces of legislation in the period between this week's...
State Question 744 is Wrong Solution
October 25, 2010With the pivotal November 2 elections fast approaching, partisan conflicts are on display in political ads, debates and news reports across the country. However, there is remarkable consensus in Oklahoma among lawmakers and candidates from both parties regarding State Question...
More Wasteful Stimulus Spending
October 18, 2010With the latest jobs report showing an unemployment rate of 9.6 percent, it is indisputable that President Obama's stimulus plan failed in its central goal of keeping unemployment below 8 percent. But the $787 billion stimulus bill has been a...
Obamacare's Broken Promises
October 8, 2010Throughout the debate over health care, the Obama administration assured Americans repeatedly that Obamacare would not interfere with their current health insurance. A little over six months after the government health care takeover became law, that false promise is already...
Democrats Choose Campaigning Over Governing
October 4, 2010The House of Representatives adjourned abruptly last week, leaving essential work unfinished. In the interests of getting home to campaign for the mid-term elections, Speaker Pelosi and her party sent legislators home without even allowing a vote on tax relief.Without...
A Pledge to America
September 27, 2010Last week, House Republicans unveiled a new governing agenda to address America's most pressing problems. Titled "A Pledge to America," this plan contains specific policies to restore fiscal sanity and transparency to the government and encourage the private sector to...
Tax Cuts Crucial to Economic Recovery
September 20, 2010Facing declining polls and an all but certain electoral disaster in November, President Obama recently indicated a willingness to extend the Bush tax cuts for taxpayers with income under $250,000 -- while letting massive tax increases go into effect for...
A Window of Opportunity in Afghanistan
September 13, 2010On a recent visit to Afghanistan, I was privileged to meet with a number of Oklahomans whose service and dedication should make us all proud. It was an honor to thank them on behalf of our state for their courage...
Immigration Policy is Vital to National Security
September 3, 2010A car bomb explosion. Seventy-two civilians shot to death. We typically associate such tragic events with war torn countries halfway around the world. But both of these incidents occurred on the Mexican border in just the past two weeks. While...
Business Leaders: Obama Agenda Bad for Economy
August 30, 2010Distressing new economic headlines just keep coming. Unemployment claims reached a nine-month high in early August. Existing home sales tumbled by 27 percent from June to July, representing the largest one-month drop ever recorded. Sales of new homes reached the...
Employers Brace for Obamacare
August 23, 2010One year ago this month, the overwhelming public opposition to President Obama's health care agenda erupted in dozens of spirited town hall meetings across the nation. Many Oklahomans joined the debate, turning out in record numbers to protest the government...
Failed Stimulus Policy Continues
August 16, 2010Budget-conscious Americans were able to breathe a sigh of relief when Congress adjourned for the August recess. With lawmakers leaving Washington to spend a few weeks back home, taxpayer dollars seemed temporarily safe from the months-long Democratic spending rampage. After...
Energy Bill is Clearly Flawed
August 9, 2010Now that the Gulf of Mexico oil spill appears to be contained, the next great challenge is recovery. Although experts have concluded that the oil is disappearing from the water more quickly than anticipated, the spill will remain a significant...
Democrats Play Politics with Military Funding
August 2, 2010The American people are communicating loudly and clearly to Congress that out-of-control spending is unacceptable. Recent polls rank government debt as the top threat to the future well-being of our country. With a public more vigilant than ever about monitoring...
Deficit Spending Prolongs Unemployment Crisis
July 26, 2010The Obama administration has devoted an extraordinary amount of time and effort to convincing the American people that the president's big spending agenda is working. According to the Wall Street Journal, President Obama and White House officials have visited 172...
Democrats Consider More Job-Killing Taxes
July 19, 2010With the popular Bush tax cuts set to expire at the end of the year, House and Senate Democrats scheduled a meeting last week to begin discussing tax policy. Given that the majority party never met a tax hike it...
New Medicare Director Supports Rationing
July 12, 2010President Obama's choice to head the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will have enormous influence over the future of health care in America. With a budget larger than the Department of Defense, CMS is one of the key...
Financial "Reform" Legislation is False Advertising
July 2, 2010Headlines may be proclaiming the passage of "financial reform" legislation, but the policies approved in the House of Representatives on June 30 are far too inadequate to deserve the label "reform." Instead of true reform, congressional Democrats did what they...
A Failure to Govern
June 28, 2010Every year since 1974, the House of Representatives has passed a budget resolution. No matter which party was in power or whether the economy was booming or struggling, the House has never failed to pass a budget blueprint setting spending...
Obama Urges Even More Spending
June 21, 2010The White House budget director inadvertently made a very revealing statement recently when he admitted that it would be "fruitless" for the Obama administration to push for immediate spending cuts because such a request would "go nowhere" in the Democratic-controlled...
Oil Spill Response Flawed from the Start
June 14, 2010Last week marked a sad milestone: 50 days since the explosion on British Petroleum's Deepwater Horizon rig triggered the oil spill that is still gushing out of control. Sadly, almost two months into the disaster, precisely zero progress has been...
The Growing Threat in North Korea
June 7, 2010Recent developments on the Korean peninsula provide a stark reminder that – even in the post-Cold War era – peaceful nations remain vulnerable to the threat of conventional military attack. An international investigation has confirmed that North Korea is responsible...
Latest "Jobs" Bill Promises More Spending
May 28, 2010If the Democratic majority's latest stimulus legislation is good for the economy, why have the nation's leading job creators opposed it? The U.S. Chamber of Commerce stated, "We have no choice but to oppose this legislation as drafted because it...
Border Security Essential to Immigration Reform
May 24, 2010Arizona lawmakers are under fire for daring to attempt what the Obama administration has failed to do: enforce immigration laws. The state's new law simply grants law enforcement officials the authority to investigate the status of individuals suspected of being...
Report Confirms: Cap and Trade is a Job-Killer
May 17, 2010Last summer, House Democrats passed a "climate change" bill that, for all practical purpose, is nothing more than a national energy tax. I opposed the legislation because it was sure to result in increased utility costs for families and punishing...
Lessons from Greece
May 10, 2010The deepening financial crisis in Greece has officially gone global, sending stocks plummeting on Wall Street and around the world. Economists fear that neither the riot-inducing tax hikes and spending cuts nor the $146 billion in rescue funds from other...
New Report Confirms ObamaCare Flaws
May 3, 2010During the health care debate, House Speaker Pelosi famously declared Congress would have to pass ObamaCare before we could "find out what is in it." A new report from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on the effects...
Financial Plan Ignores Real Cause of Crisis
April 26, 2010Almost two years into the financial crisis, we remain without reforms to protect consumers from another Wall Street meltdown. Policies proposed by the Obama administration will do little to change that and will actually hinder economic recovery by punishing community...
Nuclear Policy Shift Undermines Security
April 19, 2010In a series of recent actions, the Obama administration has set about swiftly but steadily dismantling decades of established nuclear policy in favor of new mandates that undermine our allies and ultimately weaken our national security. Under new policies announced...
More Taxes May Be on the Way
April 12, 2010It might come as a shock to Oklahomans still smarting from paying income taxes this week, but the Obama administration doesn't think you're being taxed enough. White House economic adviser Paul Volcker said last week that the U.S. should consider...
Government Growth Can Be Stopped
April 5, 2010At town hall meetings throughout the 4th District this week, I’ve been hearing a lot from my fellow Oklahomans about how troubled they are with the direction of the country. There is a growing sense that the government is greatly...
Health Care Takeover Raises Costs
March 29, 2010Many Oklahomans are understandably concerned about the health care takeover President Obama signed into law last week and what it will mean for them. Some of the more jaw-dropping aspects of the law -- like the $569 billion in tax...
ObamaCare Is Not Health Reform
March 22, 2010After over one year and an extraordinary abuse of the legislative process, President Obama has managed to force his health plan through the House. While he and his liberal allies may consider this a victory, it's a defeat for the...
Tax Increases Not the Answer for Jobless Rate
March 15, 2010With headlines dominated by the Democratic party’s single-minded determination to pass their unpopular health care plan, vital economic issues are getting short shrift. That’s fine for members of the Obama administration, who would probably just as soon the American people...
Partisan Political Tactics Stifle Health Care Debate
March 8, 2010The process Democrats are pursuing to pass government-run health care has become as flawed as the legislation itself. And that's really saying something. From the beginning, the attempt to force through a government takeover of health care has been marked...
Health Care Summit Just More Political Posturing
March 1, 2010Last week, we were treated to another episode of political theater, courtesy of the Obama administration. The vaunted White House health care summit featured the same themes we've come to expect from previous performances: a partisan political ploy presented as...
Obama's Solution to Record Deficit: Study it
February 22, 2010When faced with a $212 billion budget deficit in 1985, President Reagan proposed 245 specific cuts to reduce unnecessary government spending. Having created a 2010 budget deficit of $1.6 trillion, President Obama’s response is to form a debt commission to...
One Year Later: Stimulus Bill Failed to Create Jobs
February 12, 2010Almost exactly a year after seeing 787 billion of their tax dollars evaporate courtesy of a so-called “stimulus bill,” Americans are justifiably running out of patience and asking “Where are the jobs?” President Obama and congressional Democrats rushed the stimulus...
State of the Union Speech Promises More Spending and Debt
February 1, 2010The agenda President Obama outlined in his State of the Union address essentially promises more of the same: more spending, more burdens on American businesses, and more symbolic measures that do nothing to provide real solutions to the challenges we...
Voters Reject Government-Controlled Health Care
January 25, 2010The outrage against nationalized health care has reached the voting booth -- and in dramatic fashion. Last week, Massachusetts voters stunned the nation by electing Republican Scott Brown to the Senate seat held for nearly 47 years by Ted Kennedy. ...
Health Care Negotiations Should be Public
January 18, 2010Time and again, Americans have made it absolutely clear that we don’t want a government takeover of health care. And, time and again, President Obama and Congressional Democrats have ignored our wishes and pressed ahead with their unpopular plans. Now the...
Terror Attempt Shows Flawed Security Approach
January 8, 2010On Inauguration Day, Barack Obama pledged to “seek a new way forward” in American foreign policy, “based on mutual interest and mutual respect.” Less than a year later, we received a stark reminder that al Qaeda terrorists have no intention...
Moving Forward in Afghanistan
December 3, 2009Recently, in a prime time address delivered at West Point, President Obama finally announced his long awaited plan for a new strategy in Afghanistan. I believe the President made a compelling case for why it is absolutely critical that America...
Pelosi's Health Care Reform is Bitter Medicine
November 4, 2009This week Speaker Pelosi and her liberal allies in Congress began the final push for their massive government takeover of our health care system. And in so doing, they made it abundantly clear that they either aren't listening to the...
Senate Health Care Proposal no Better than House's
September 28, 2009In August I held a series of public town hall meetings and met with doctors, nurses and other health professionals in special health care forums. During those meetings, an overwhelming majority of attendees expressed deep concerns with H.R. 3200, the...
Government-Run Health Care? Get a Second Opinion.
July 15, 2009Last week President Obama and his liberal Democratic allies in Congress announced plans for a government takeover of America's health care industry. This plan will cost more than a trillion dollars and will be paid for by tax increases and...
$100 Billion Boondoggle & Distraction
June 10, 2009This week Congress is gearing up to consider a troop funding bill. This legislation, an emergency War Supplemental, will provide the resources needed by the men and women serving in the Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. But members of...
Cap and Trade is a Costly Experiment
May 12, 2009Most Americans agree that our country must do more to achieve energy independence and to produce cleaner sources of energy. There are steps we need to implement over time to change the way we use energy and reduce our use...
Auditing the Fed
May 5, 2009Our nation's troubled financial industry has spurred calls for greater transparency, tougher accounting rules and greater oversight by federal regulatory agencies. Given what we now know about the irresponsible - and sometimes criminal - behavior of the executives of many...
Two Top Issues of Town Halls
April 22, 2009During the past two weeks I hosted a series of town halls throughout the Fourth District. These meetings were an important opportunity for me to listen, take questions and provide answers directly to my constituents. While the questions were diverse,...
"Bonus-gate" and Other Blunders
March 30, 2009The nation's capitol has recently been caught up in controversy surrounding Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner and American International Group (AIG). In what many are calling "bonus-gate," it was revealed that after receiving an additional thirty billion dollars in government bail...
An Unpopular Measure Robs the Worker of Secret Ballot
March 17, 2009Democrats in Congress recently introduced the so-called Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA), a bill more accurately described as "card check" legislation. The bill is a payback for years of big labor lobbying from unions and labor activists' groups. Those groups...
Big Government is Back with a Vengeance
March 9, 2009Coming on the heels of a $789 billion stimulus package, and a $410 billion Omnibus spending bill, President Obama has now presented the nation with the largest federal budget in our nation's history. The staggering $3.5 trillion budget proposal will...
Final Stimulus Package Contains Less Tax Relief, More Spending
February 17, 2009In late January, the Democrat Members of the House of Representatives brought forth a so-called stimulus bill with a price tag of nearly $820 billion dollars. I voted against this legislation, as did each and every other Republican Member of...
The Tax-Troubled Confirmation Circus
February 5, 2009The last several weeks have seen a whirlwind of Presidential appointments and Senate confirmations to many of the federal government's top posts. While most of the President's nominations have survived the scrutiny, several others have turned belly-up during the process. ...
Stimulus Process Demonstrates Little has Changed in the House
January 28, 2009We are facing a global recession and a federal response is needed. But the so-called stimulus package that was recently passed busts the federal budget while doing next-to-nothing to truly stimulate our economy. Congress just spent 300 percent more on...
Report from Iraq, Afghanistan
January 6, 2009Recently I returned from an official trip to Iraq and Afghanistan. I was honored to spend time with men and women from our Armed Forces and listen to their experiences serving overseas during wartime. And after having those conversations, meeting...
The Punishment Does Not Fit the Crime
December 18, 2008On February 17, 2005, Border Patrol Agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean noticed a suspicious van attempting to cross the border from Mexico into Texas. The agents took steps to apprehend the van which caused the driver of the van,...
The Detroit Three Must Embrace Reforms
December 8, 2008As Congress returns to Capitol Hill this week, a divisive issue that was put on hold before Thanksgiving has reemerged. Three Detroit-headquartered automakers - Chrysler, Ford and General Motors - have asked members of Congress to consider giving them a...
Less than 99 Days to Go
November 11, 2008In less than 99 days American television is going to go through a major change. On February 17, 2009, over-the-air broadcast channels will be distributed exclusively in a digital format. This means that televisions that are not digital television (DTV)...
Energy Awareness Month
October 27, 2008There's no time in our lives when we are more acutely aware of our dependence on energy than during a power outage. If and when a blackout occurs, most of us find our everyday lives grinding to a halt. In...
ACORN: A Repeat-Offender
October 15, 2008Much is being made in the news lately of the uncovering of massive, multi-state, multi-election cycle voter fraud, perpetrated by the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, also known as ACORN. In just the past year and a half...
Why I Voted Yes
October 6, 2008Last week both the House and Senate passed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008. As you may imagine, this was the most difficult vote I have ever been asked to cast as an elected official. Lyndon Johnson once said...
An Overdue Tribute to Code Talkers
September 30, 2008During a time of war, keeping tactical communications veiled from enemies is critically important. In World War I a special group of individuals were in charge of keeping the United States' tactical messages a secret from the enemy. These men...
The Clock is Ticking
September 23, 2008Time is running out - that is, the amount of time Congress has left to tackle a host of looming issues before the end of its legislative calendar. Last week, House Democrats approved a sham energy bill that locked up...
Highway Trust is Going Bust
September 8, 2008Every year Americans travel over three trillion miles on the nation's roads. All of that traveling not only leads to wear and tear on our vehicles it also greatly affects the quality of our highways and bridges. Unfortunately, one of...
National Preparedness Month
September 3, 2008Unpredictable weather is a reality in our state. And although weather-related incidents are not the only things we need to be prepared for, they are certainly among the most common in Oklahoma. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has designated...
Labor Day in the 21st Century
August 27, 2008Every September, most Americans take an extra day to relax, visit extended family or take one last trip to the lake before their children's school year is fully back in swing. This extra day of vacation is Labor Day, a...
Our Sooner Energy Heritage
August 11, 2008Last week I was pleased to host an energy summit in Norman with experts from across the state who shared their ideas and insights about Oklahoma's current energy situation and how our state can continue to be among the nation's...
Staying Late to Demand a Vote on Energy
August 4, 2008While citizens across the country go bargain-hunting for the “cheapest” gas prices in their areas, Speaker Pelosi and other members of House leadership have collectively put up their “will return after 5-weeks vacation” signs. Sound inconceivable? It should be, but,...
Preserving Second Amendment Rights
July 30, 2008On June 26, 2008, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a federal appeals court decision that the gun ban in Washington, D.C. is unconstitutional. This gun ban had been in place for over 30 years and during that time our nation's...
Respecting Habeas Corpus
July 30, 2008A new piece of legislation is being considered by the Armed Services and Judiciary committees that would irresponsibly amend the federal judicial code to allow detained, enemy combatants to apply for writs of habeas corpus. Habeas corpus is a Latin...
High Gas Prices are Hurting Families
July 21, 2008While Americans continue to pay ever increasing prices for gasoline, House and Senate leaders continue to block real solutions and instead appear to have adopted the policy of "pay more - drive less." What this absurd policy assumes is that...
Better Benefits
July 16, 2008It's no secret that our nation's veterans are enthusiastically using their higher education benefits when they return from service. In fact, last year over 523,000 American veterans took advantage of government education assistance. Protecting and bolstering opportunities for learning is...
A Message to Oklahoma Seniors
July 7, 2008The traditional tax deadline may have passed - but millions of taxpayers who are eligible to obtain economic stimulus payments have not filed the necessary paperwork to receive them. Those taxpayers will soon be at risk of losing their stimulus...
Two Triumphs
June 23, 2008Thomas Paine once said, "The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph." In the past few months two pieces of legislation have been the source of intense debate from both sides of the political aisle. Finally, after months and...
Real Solutions
June 17, 2008Last week the Republican members of the U.S. House unveiled an economic agenda designed to lower gas prices, eliminate wasteful government spending and prevent tax increases. These policies, if enacted, will help fix a broken Washington and support long-term economic...
Washington Should Heed Oklahoma's Example
June 6, 2008When I think about the contrast between the condition of our state and the condition of our country, I am reminded of the famous line from Charles Dickens novel, A Tale of Two Cities, "It was the best of times,...
Beating the Energy Crunch
May 23, 2008As each day goes by, Americans feel the growing pressure caused by steadily increasing energy prices. Oil is nearing $130 a barrel and gasoline is hovering around $4 per gallon nationally. In Oklahoma City, gas is forty cents a gallon...
Empowering our Law Enforcement Officers
May 19, 2008Last week the nation's Capitol was probably one of the safest places in the country. It received an extra measure of safety because thousands of law enforcement officials from across the United States came to lobby Congress, honor fallen heroes...
The Link Between Food and Fuel
May 8, 2008Last week the President urged Congress to pass legislation to help curb the rising costs of food worldwide. For months, Africa, Asia and other parts of the developing world have been experiencing waves of discontent and widespread hunger because of...
Congress is Fiddling while the Economy Crashes and Burns
May 1, 2008Earlier this week I spoke with constituents from the Fourth District about a number of national issues that are heavy on the minds of Oklahomans. There is no doubt that two of the most pressing issues are the price of...
Prices Peak at the Pump
April 21, 2008Memorial Day and summer vacations are just around the corner for many families. But this year, Oklahomans may find themselves forced to cut down on their drive time to their favorite vacation destinations. The source of their holiday headaches is...
The Landscape of Success
April 14, 2008Over seven months ago General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker each delivered first-hand accounts of the status of the mission in Iraq. Last week those men returned to Congress to give another report to the American people. They gave a candid...
Curbing Housing Concerns
April 8, 2008Last week I had the opportunity to join several of my colleagues in a meeting with Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke. During that meeting Chairman Bernanke discussed the importance of the government taking responsible and timely actions to address...
Filing Taxes: The Deadline is Looming
April 1, 2008It's that time of year again - time for individuals and families to file their yearly tax returns. Those who finished their taxes early are ahead of the curve, but those who have not are scrambling to get their taxes...
Five Years Later
March 24, 2008As we reflect on the past five years since the beginning of the conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan, it is important to recognize the progress that has been made, as well as the enormous sacrifices that were required to make...
Fatally Flawed FISA
March 17, 2008In August of last year the Protect America Act was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President. Hailed as a historic bipartisan achievement, the Protect America Act modernized the out-of-date Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). This critical...
A Detour on the Road to Fiscal Responsibility
March 12, 2008Several weeks ago I was proud to be part of a bipartisan majority who – recognizing that our economy was beginning to stall – passed a stimulus package designed to get the country back on track by infusing the economy...
Saving Medicare
March 3, 2008"Entitlement reform" has become a popular phrase over the past few years. As America's baby-boomer population reaches retirement age, the issue has gotten a lot of attention. There is serious reason to be concerned, considering more individuals are becoming eligible...
Top Issues at Town Meetings
February 26, 2008Last week I had the opportunity to host two community town hall meetings in the Northern part of the 4th district. I enjoy these events because it gives me a chance to hold a forum in which citizens can ask...
A Spring Break Vacation Advisory: New Travel Regulations in Effect
February 18, 2008As Spring Break approaches many Oklahomans are preparing to take family vacations, church mission trips or retreat to other sun-filled vacation spots. Groups are planning their trips outside of the country, but they may not be aware of recent passport...
An "A+" College Affordability Act
February 11, 2008In the next few months, soon-to-be high school graduates across the country are going to be weighing their college education options. One of the most practical deciding factors for most families and students is the cost of tuition at prospective...
Working Together for Success
February 5, 2008During his final the State of the Union address last week, the President voiced candid but optimistic words to the American people. He shared a vision for success and discussed issues that are affecting America's families and businesses. He focused...
Permanently Protecting America
January 28, 2008In August, Congress acted in a bipartisan fashion to pass a temporary law called the Protect America Act. This policy amended a number of out-of-date intelligence laws and gave our country's intelligence officials the legal ability to use advanced information-gathering...
Revving the Economic Engine
January 22, 2008As we enter the New Year, American families are finding themselves increasingly anxious about the economy. While we are still in a period of economic growth, that growth has become sluggish. There are fewer jobs being created and an increasing...
Digital TV: Get the Picture
January 8, 2008In just a little over a year there will be a big change in the way television is broadcast. By February 17, 2009, every television set in America will need to be digital television (DTV) compatible to continue to receive...
Pakistan in the Spotlight
January 3, 2008America's leaders understand that securing a strong and reliable relationship with Pakistan is a critical foreign policy goal. Global terrorism is thriving along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, radical Islamic practices are surging in the area, and most recently, former Pakistani Prime...
A Measure of Success
December 24, 2007Last week Congress finally finished its work for the year and recessed for the Christmas holidays. And while the 2007 congressional scorecard was marked by extreme partisanship, legislative gridlock and political stalemate, I am proud of several accomplishments we were...
A Year of Broken Promises
December 18, 2007Early this year a wave of new promises were spouted from behind lecterns at dozens of high-profile political events. It was the sound of a new majority in Congress, expressing its intention to run the most honest and ethical Congress...
Unparalleled Sacrifice, Eternal Remembrance
December 14, 2007Millions of people from across the world make the trek to Hawaii to see Pearl Harbor, a place that is now serene, showing little resemblance of its harsh past. For over fifty years, Americans have visited the resting place of...
All the World's a Stage
December 4, 2007Shakespeare wrote "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players." Right now, the international stage of world politics is chock-full of different players and powers. And, unfortunately, several of these players are dangerously unstable. America's...
Our Dependence Day
November 26, 2007This Thanksgiving, I was grateful for the opportunity to sit around a table surrounded by my family to laugh, talk and give thanks for all of the blessings we have been given. I know that many other Oklahomans celebrated their...
High Energy Costs Put Squeeze on Holidays
November 19, 2007As the holidays are approaching, Oklahomans are preparing to gather together with their families and friends around warm fires, busy kitchens and TV's dedicated to weekend football. While each of these activities are meant to help us celebrate and enjoy...
Centennial Reminds Us of Oklahoma's Emerging Future
November 12, 2007Last week I had the opportunity to speak at an Oklahoma Centennial reception held at the Old Executive Office Building of the White House. I was joined at the podium by other members of the Oklahoma Congressional delegation as well...
The Tax Bill to End All Tax Bills
November 5, 2007It seems like families are feeling the financial pinch more than ever these days. With the costs at the gas-pump climbing, college tuition rates getting higher and the price of consumer goods rising, the last thing Americans need is to...
Observations from Iraq
October 29, 2007Last weekend I was able to take a trip to Kuwait, Iraq and Germany with three other members of Congress. I began my trip with a visit to the troop entry-exit point at Camp Arifjan. The facility there is the...
We Should Do What is Best to Protect America
October 22, 2007In August Congress passed the bipartisan Protect America Act, a piece of legislation that has helped make America safer by closing a dangerous gap in our intelligence structure. That bill amended out-of-date intelligence laws while providing America's intelligence community the...
It's Time to Permanently Ban the Internet Tax
October 16, 2007Of all the inventions of this era, it is arguable that none have left a more significant impression than the Internet. Every day, hundreds of millions of people access the Internet to exchange e-mail, check their local news and make...
The Legendary Chief Standing Bear
October 8, 2007Last week I had the privilege of attending the Standing Bear Museum and Education Center dedication in Ponca City. The museum, which will house an extensive collection of Native American artifacts, is named for the Ponca tribe's Chief Standing Bear,...
Iran's Presence Reminds Us to Be Cautious
October 1, 2007Last week Columbia University in New York City invited the President of Iran to speak before students and faculty during a World Leaders Forum. While speaking at the event, President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad spoke in a manner that gave frightening insight...
Another Spending Showdown
September 25, 2007At the end of this month, the government will reach its annual deadline to fund the federal government for the next fiscal year. Here in the House of Representatives, we have passed all twelve of the required appropriations bills. On...
After the Report
September 17, 2007Last week, two of America's most respected leaders in Iraq, General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker, delivered a report on the progress and status of the war in Iraq. The report indicated that there have been substantial successes and...
Passports Requirements Change October 1st
September 10, 2007A critical deadline is approaching that will affect Oklahomans traveling by air within the Western Hemisphere. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that anyone leaving the U.S. on or after October 1st will be required to show their...
Update on Iraq
September 3, 2007Next week Congress will receive the long awaited and eagerly anticipated progress report from General David Petraeus regarding the impact of the recently enacted “surge” in Iraq. As the Commander of the multi-nation force in Iraq, General Petraeus is in...
A Dream Becomes Reality
August 27, 2007Over the past two weeks I have seen several exciting developments that are coming to the Fourth District of Oklahoma. In fact, last week I attended the kick-off ceremony in the future home of the Non-Line of Sight Cannon (NLOS-C)...
Back Home in Oklahoma
August 20, 2007August is a time that I always look forward to. In Congress, it is traditionally a period of recess from work in Washington for the month, which allows me the opportunity to return home to Oklahoma. It is a pleasant...
Congress Passes Common Sense Updates to National Security Laws
August 13, 2007In a rare moment of bipartisan common sense, Congress recently passed landmark legislation that will make the United States safer against those who wish us harm. This important policy change was passed in the form of the Protect America Act...
Static Intelligence Laws Need Updating
July 23, 2007Last week, the Director of the National Intelligence Council (NIC) presented a National Intelligence Estimate (NIE) to the President and the Congress. The findings in this document highlight, among other things, the escalating threat that our nation faces from terrorist...
Oklahomans Stand Strong Against Mother Nature
July 16, 2007Recently, I sent a letter to the President calling for flood assistance for Comanche county in accordance with Governor Henry’s emergency disaster declaration request. Pottawatomie, Comanche, Ottawa, and Washington counties are included in the initial request. Due to the intensity...
Independence Day Reflections
July 11, 2007Last week, millions of Americans across the nation gathered together to celebrate Independence Day. Though the traditions of this holiday never fail to trumpet the accomplished past and the promising future of the United States, what is the present-day state...
Bloated Spending Bills, Secret Earmark Slush Funds: What does the Majority have in store for Oklahoma?
June 18, 2007Each year Congress considers 11 or more appropriations bills which provide funding for numerous activities like national defense, education, homeland security and crime. Earmarking refers to a provision in legislation, in this case appropriations bills, which direct funds to be spent...
America: A Land of Opportunity and Laws
May 29, 2007America is a land of opportunity. And we are also a country that has always been comprised of immigrants searching for the promise of the American Dream. But just as we are a nation of immigrants, America is also a nation...
A Mother's Day Tribute to Helen Cole
May 14, 2007Last Sunday Americans across the country honored their mothers. When I think about my role in Congress, I think about how it all started with my Mom and the lessons she taught me as a boy that I have carried with...
A Breath of Fresh Oklahoma Air
April 16, 2007Washington D.C. is a busy place. Between the hustle and bustle of morning traffic, committee meetings and evening votes on the House floor, there is not much time to stop and catch your breath. This is why I love coming home to...
Ice Storm Recovery Update
January 15, 2007Last year was a remarkable Centennial year for Oklahoma for a number of reasons. But one unfortunate way it will be remembered is another year that Mother Nature hammered down on the heartland. Oklahomans are no stranger to this type...