Press Releases

Washington, DC – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04), chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (LHHS), released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2016.

Washington, DC – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015. The legislation makes permanent for individuals and job creators more than 20 temporary tax provisions. In addition, the bill encourages comprehensive tax reform, boosts economic growth, reduces potential fraud and abuse within tax credit programs and includes measures to keep the IRS accountable.

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 158, the Visa Waiver Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015. The legislation relates to the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which currently has 38 participating countries and uses background information shared by those countries with the United States for screening individuals seeking entry and short-term travel to America.

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Conference Report for the Fixing America’s Surface Transportation (FAST) Act. The legislation provides authorization for five years of funding to maintain and improve the nation’s infrastructure, streamlines surface transportation programs, encourages innovation within the system and ensures the highest level of safety and efficiency for roads, bridges and rails.

Washington, DC – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04), chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies, released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Every Student Succeeds Act or ESEA Conference Report. The bill addresses and repeals the shortfalls of No Child Left Behind, which was signed into law in 2002 and greatly increased the federal government’s role in K-12 education across the country.

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after he supported H.R. 4038, the American Security Against Foreign Enemies (SAFE) Act of 2015, which passed the House by a vote of 289-137. In response to the increasing influence of ISIL/ISIS and the terrorist group’s suspected exploitation of refugees fleeing the escalating conflict in the Middle East, this legislation halts admission of Syrian and Iraqi refugees into the United States until the vetting process is strengthened.

Washington, DC – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after he was one of 110 House members who sent a letter today urging President Barack Obama to halt admission of refugees from Syria and Iraq to the United States until the vetting and monitoring process is improved and strengthened in order to keep Americans safe from potential terrorist threats.

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04), a member of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 511, the Tribal Labor Sovereignty Act of 2015. This legislation reaffirms the exemption of tribal governments from the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), upholds tribal sovereignty and protects self-governance on tribal lands.