Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1314, the Bipartisan Budget Agreement of 2015. The legislation provides topline spending allocations for fiscal years 2016 and 2017, invests in the nation’s military, reforms some entitlement spending and raises the debt ceiling until March 2017. The agreed upon increase to discretionary spending and debt ceiling increase is fully offset by reforms to entitlement programs.

Washington, DC – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) mourned the loss of Master Sgt. Joshua L. Wheeler, who was killed during a U.S.-Iraqi joint mission to free 70 hostages held captive by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL/ISIS) in Iraq. Wheeler was from Roland, Oklahoma.

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) reacted to Ways and Means Chairman Paul Ryan’s announcement that he will run for Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Washington, DC – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04), a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, released the following statement after President Barack Obama vetoed the bipartisan Conference Report for the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) sent to his desk by both chambers of Congress. The legislation vetoed today was intended to authorize critical funding for our nation’s military personnel, readiness and operations, and it reflected the president’s total budget request for defense spending.

Washington, DC – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04), a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, released the following statement after he supported H.R. 538, the Native American Energy Act. The legislation lessens the federal regulatory burden imposed on the Native American tribes or individual tribal landowners when they seek to develop the natural resources on land that is held in federal trust.

Washington, DC – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04), a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, praised an announcement made today by the Department of Interior along with the Chickasaw and Choctaw Nations. Under the $186 million total settlement to resolve trust claims, the Chickasaw Nation will receive $46.5 million and the Choctaw Nation will receive $139.5 million.

Washington, DC – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04), a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, released the following statement after he supported the Conference Report for H.R. 1735, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2016, on the House floor. The legislation authorizes funding for our nation’s military personnel, readiness and operations. It includes $515 billion in base spending for national defense and $89.2 billion for Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO), reflecting the president’s total budget request of $604.2 billion. The legislation passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 270-156.

Washington, DC – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed a short-term continuing resolution that funds the government through December 11 and prevents a government shutdown.