Press Releases
June 20, 2014
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) joined Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers and several other subcommittee chairs from the Appropriations Committee in sending a letter to President Barack Obama that opposes his handling of the surge of unaccompanied illegal minors crossing our borders. This population of individuals, usually from Central America, has grown from 6,000 in 2011 to 66,000 last year. By next year, this number is projected to climb as high as 150,000.
Issues:Immigration
June 20, 2014
Washington, D.C. – Several senior members of Congressional Committees with jurisdiction over border and immigration issues today sent a joint letter to President Barack Obama, demanding immediate action from federal agencies on the immigration crisis at the Southwest border.
Issues:Immigration
June 11, 2014
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after the House unanimously passed H.R. 4810, the Veteran Access to Care Act of 2014. This legislation allows veterans to seek medical care through a non-Department facility if they are unable to get an appointment secured within 14 days or if they live more than 40 miles from a VA medical facility.
Issues:Veterans & Military Retirees
June 5, 2014
Washington, DC – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after it was discovered that Fort Sill Military Base in Lawton is expected to begin housing at least 600 unaccompanied minors who illegally immigrated to the United States. Since fiscal year 2011, the number of these individuals, usually from Central America, has grown from 6,000 to 66,000 last year. By next year, this number is expected to climb even higher to 127,000.
June 2, 2014
Washington, DC – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) made the following statement after the release of Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, an American soldier who was captured by the Taliban in 2009. Bergdahl was released by the Taliban on Saturday in exchange for five senior Taliban leaders who were detained by the United States at Guantanamo Bay.
May 30, 2014
Washington, DC – Congressman John K. Delaney (MD-6) and Congressman Tom Cole (OK-4) filed today the Social Security Commission Act of 2014. The legislation creates a bicameral and bipartisan commission that is modelled after the 1983 Social Security Commission.
Issues:Social Security
May 29, 2014
Washington, DC – Today, Representatives Earl Blumenauer (OR-03) and Tom Cole (OK-04) introduced the Rural Wind Energy Development Act to provide an investment tax credit to ranchers, farmers, and small businesses to offset the up-front costs of owning a distributed wind turbine. This modest expansion of current law will keep small business energy jobs growing across the United States.
Issues:Energy & Environment
May 22, 2014
Washington, DC – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 4435, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2015. Before reaching the House floor, this legislation was passed out of the House Armed Services Committee on May 8 by a unanimous vote.
May 19, 2014
Washington, DC – Today, Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Representative Tom Cole (R-OK) introduced an amendment to prevent furloughs for federal Department of Defense employees paid through working capital funds. The amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) would ensure that thousands of workers across the country would not face unpaid leave days due to furloughs as a result of across-the-board budget cuts.
May 16, 2014
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) joined Congressman Pete Sessions (TX-32), Senator John Cornyn (TX) and several other colleagues in signing an amicus brief in support of Hotze v. Sebelius. While numerous lawsuits have been filed against the Affordable Care Act, this litigation brought forth last May questions the constitutionality of the law according to the Takings Clause of the Fifth Amendment and the Origination Clause.
Issues:Healthcare