Press Releases
WASHINGTON, D.C.--Congressman Tom Cole announced today that the University of Oklahoma was recently awarded the Postal Service training contract, effective January 1, 2006. The contract provides $27 million over two years with three one-year renewable options. Assuming the contract goes for the full five years, the award would amount to $67 million, maintaining 217 full-time jobs in the Norman area.
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Cole voted for the Defense Authorization Conference Report (H.R. 1815) recently that includes multiple provisions to improve the quality of life for men and women in the nation’s active, guard and reserve forces.
“The men and women of our Armed Forces continue to sacrifice every day to ensure America’s success in the global war on terrorism, and they deserve the equipment, the training and the additional benefits we included in this bill,” Congressman Tom Cole said.
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Congressman Cole praised Chairman of the House Resources Committee Richard Pombo, today for his work to extend the December 31, 2005 statutory deadline for filing of claims against the Department of the Interior for alleged mismanagement of Indian trust funds. Early this morning the House passed, by unanimous consent, S. 1892 that will extend this deadline for one year.
WASHINGTON, D.C.--Rep. Tom Cole voted for the Deficit Reduction Conference Report early this morning which will help lower the rate of growth of government spending and reduce the deficit. This legislation includes savings recommendations from eight authorizing committees to achieve a net savings of about $41.6 billion in mandatory spending programs.
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Early this morning, Congressman Tom Cole voted the Defense Appropriations Conference Report (H.R. 2863) that provides $453.5 billion to fight the global war on terror, enhance our security and improve the lives of our service men and women, as well as providing funding for other national priorities such as hurricane relief and avian flu preparedness. This legislation also included a provision to allow drilling in Artic National Wildlife Refuge to increase our domestic supply of oil.
WASHINGTON, D.C.-- Congressman Tom Cole voted last night for immigration legislation that will help control America's borders and prevent illegal immigration in our country. Congressman Cole was a co-sponsor of the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005 (H.R. 4437), which passed in the House and must now be debated in the Senate.
****NOTE. Because of electronic problems with Congressman Cole's voting card, he was recorded as not voting. He spoke on the floor regarding this problem:
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Congressman Tom Cole voted today for the Department of Justice Appropriations Authorization Conference Report, H.R. 3402, which includes language to give tribal governments the ability to qualify for three different Department of Justice grants. Congressman Cole worked to include this language in the House passed version of the bill earlier this year.
WASHINGTON, D.C.--Congressman Tom Cole voted today for a resolution in the U.S. House that expresses the commitment of the House of Representatives to achieving victory in Iraq.
"I have been to Iraq five times and I have seen the progress our troops are making. They are neutralizing the insurgency, defeating the terrorists and creating a better life for the Iraqi people. They are advancing freedom and they are winning," Congressman Cole said.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Congressman Cole introduced a resolution in the U.S. House yesterday evening that condemns Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's hateful rhetoric directed toward Israel and his cavalier dismissal of the historical reality of the Holocaust.
Washington, D.C.--Rep. Tom Cole voted for H.R. 2830, the Pension Protection Act of 2005, which passed in the House. H.R. 2830 addresses the problem of under-funded pension plans. Congressman Cole used his position on the powerful Rules Committee to help protect a bipartisan compromise that was especially important to GM employees who were recently laid off due to plant closings.