Press Releases

Washington, DC – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04), a member of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 4870, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2015. The legislation passed by a vote of 340-73 and includes an amendment authored by Cole that addresses the Administration’s proposed cuts to the United States Air Force.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.