Frankly Speaking
Never Forget
Sep 11, 2014Thirteen years ago, our nation suffered one of the most devastating terrorist attacks in modern history. The lives of thousands of innocent Americans were suddenly taken by an evil we did not yet fully understand.
September 11th was a sobering moment for the entire country. When it finally hit home, it came as a complete shock.
Filed under: Foreign Affairs, Homeland Security and DefenseMixed Signals on Immigration
Jul 17, 2014This year we have witnessed an astounding surge of illegal immigration, specifically from the countries of Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras. It’s been estimated that over 57,000 unaccompanied minors have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border since October of last year. Consequently, state and local governments are finding themselves overwhelmed by the sudden responsibility to provide care and housing for these thousands of children and teenagers.
Filed under: ImmigrationOne Step Closer to the Truth on Benghazi
May 9, 2014It has been almost two years since the horrific Benghazi terrorist attack occurred, taking the lives of four innocent, brave Americans; however we continue to seek answers from the Administration on what took place that day.
Filed under: Foreign Affairs, General, Homeland Security and DefenseInviting Third District Students to Apply for U.S. Service Academies
Apr 25, 2014As the Congressman representing Oklahoma’s Third District, it is always a privilege to invite young men and women to apply for the United States service academies. Each year, I have the honor of nominating students from the district to attend the academies, and I am very pleased to announce this year’s application process has begun.
Filed under: Constituent Services, Economy, Foreign Affairs, GeneralCrisis in Ukraine
Mar 27, 2014After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Russia signed a treaty that delineated its borders with former soviet states and defined the terms of their future relationship with Russia. Last February, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, a longtime dictator with pro-Russian opinions, fled the country due to mass protests regarding citizen disagreements about the direction of the country. Shortly thereafter, a new president was designated to restore a sense of democracy and represent their interests on the international level.
Filed under: Economy, Foreign Affairs, GeneralPresident Obama’s Irresponsible Budget
Mar 7, 2014President Obama recently released his fiscal year 2015 budget proposal. While Congress ultimately has jurisdiction over drafting the budget and appropriating funding, the president’s budget serves as a blueprint and sets his administration’s agenda for the upcoming year. Sadly, the president has offered a plan to Congress that adds to our mounting debt, hikes taxes and makes indiscriminate cuts to our national defense.
Filed under: Constituent Services, Economy, General, TaxesAnnouncing the 2014 Congressional Art Competition
Feb 21, 2014Oklahoma’s Third Congressional District is home to many talented young artists who deserve the chance to show their artistic skills to the world. As your Representative, I am always excited to help make this possible by hosting the annual Congressional Art Competition.
Filed under: Constituent Services, GeneralFarm Bill Provides Safety Net for Producers and Consumers
Feb 6, 2014Congress delivered America’s farmers, ranchers and consumers what they deserve by passing the Agricultural Act of 2014 – commonly referred to as the farm bill. This five-year comprehensive bill ensures producers have the tools they need to provide an affordable and stable food and fiber supply.
Filed under: Agriculture, Agriculture Committee, Economy, Energy, General, TaxesObamacare: More Than a Web Site Problem
Nov 1, 2013On October 1, the Administration launched the Affordable Care Act enrollment web site. “Page not found,” “system down for maintenance,” “account cannot be created this time,” are the messages Americans have experienced while trying to sign-up. The rollout has been a systematic failure full of error messages, coding problems, and glitches. But, while the Administration’s failure to initiate an enrollment site that works efficiently is extremely frustrating and unwarranted, the problems with Obamacare go far beyond web site glitches.
Filed under: Constituent Services, Economy, General, Health Care, TaxesTime to Cut Spending and Open the Government
Oct 10, 2013On October 1, the United States experienced the first government shutdown since 1996. The constituents of Oklahoma’s Third District and many others across the country have felt the negative effects of the shutdown and are sadly still feeling them today. Everything from the closure of the national parks, USDA stopping collection of market data, VA administrative delays, and the furlough of many federal workers has directly impacted Americans nationwide at a time when they can ill afford it. The longer the shutdown lasts, the more they will suffer.
Filed under: Agriculture, Constituent Services, Economy, General, Health Care, Homeland Security and Defense, Immigration, Science and Tech Committee, Taxes