Below is an update from Congressman Frank Lucas in his latest newsletter!
This month in Washington, on top of participating in some meaningful committee hearings, I was pleased to see one of my bills pass on the House floor. I was also able to travel back to Oklahoma for some productive discussions. Keep reading for my full January update.
IN WASHINGTON
PROTECT Taiwan Act
On the House Floor this month, my bill – the PROTECT Taiwan Act – passed. While the world watched Russia’s rogue invasion on Ukraine in horror, it is our responsibility to ensure China does not attempt to emulate such blatant aggression on Taiwan.
That’s why Congress must take the necessary steps to ensure Beijing would be subject to significant financial and economic consequences should it threaten our allies in Taiwan. I spoke on the House floor to explain how my bill will do exactly that, which you can watch by clicking here or on the image below. You can also read more about the PROTECT Taiwan Act here.
Honoring Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson
I also had the chance to speak on the House floor this month for more somber news, which was the passing of the former Science Committee Chairwoman, and my dear friend, Eddie Bernice Johnson.
Chairwoman Johnson, or EBJ as I liked to call her, was an exceptional human being. In the 28 years that we worked together, she proved to be a good steward of her constituents and an outstanding legislator. But what I admired most about her spirit was the fact that she was willing to give anyone the benefit of the doubt. She will be greatly missed. You can watch my remarks by clicking here or on the image below.
Science, Space, and Technology Hearing
As Chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, I joined the Subcommittee on Research and Technology for a hearing to review federal natural hazard research and development programs.
Oklahoma saw 74 tornadoes just last year, so I have a particular interest in this issue. That’s why I asked what research and development efforts are needed to better prepare for tornado season, especially in our rural communities. I also inquired as to how FEMA is working with other agencies to bolster our understanding of tornadoes and increase lead times for tornado warnings. Click here or on the image below to watch my line of questioning.
Financial Services Committee Hearing
The Financial Services Committee held a hearing this month to conduct oversight of the SEC’s climate disclosure rule, which imposes overwhelming climate-related disclosure requirements on public companies. This rule would negatively impact many in Oklahoma, particularly farmers and ranchers. At the hearing, I had the opportunity to hear directly from a farmer how the broad implications of this rule would affect him and his family’s business. Click here or on the image below to watch my line of questioning.
IN OKLAHOMA
Farm Bureau Award
Before I headed back to Oklahoma, I stopped in Salt Lake City to receive the Distinguished Service Award from the American Farm Bureau Federation. I consider my friends at the Farm Bureau to be family. And there’s nothing more important than having your family acknowledge that your hard work has been for a purpose. As a lifelong Farm Bureau member, I look forward to continue working with them to serve the national interests of American agriculture.
Sam’s Club Ribbon Cutting
I then made it home to Oklahoma, where I was able to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony of Oklahoma’s newest Sam’s Club Distribution Center. Walmart and Sam’s Club founder, Sam Walton, was born right here in Oklahoma’s Third District. His mission has created tens of thousands of jobs for Oklahomans, many of which have been veterans. This facility will create even more jobs and serve as a boon to our economy.
Tri-State Conference
The Tri-State Conference – a joint effort between Oklahoma’s AFR Cooperative, the South Dakota Farmers Union, and the North Dakota Farmers Union – was held in Oklahoma this year.
I spoke at the conference about the importance of learning from past mistakes that led to the Dust Bowl and Great Depression, and also the need to ensure our states receive the same federal protections as others. I’d like to thank the 50+ farmers and ranchers who participated in making the second annual Tri-State Conference a success!
Oklahoma Aerospace Institute
I joined the Oklahoma Aerospace Institute at Oklahoma State University for a workshop on for Civilians in Spaceflight and Space Habitation.
As a proud OSU alumnus and the chairman of the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, I enjoyed the opportunity to speak with them about the work of the committee and how it ties into their efforts to be a leader in aerospace. Working together, we can be certain that Oklahoma is a world leader in aerospace and in other science and technology fields.
University of Tulsa
I also visited the University of Tulsa to tour their research facilities, which housed cutting edge technology such as Hopper and Krypto – four-legged robotic dogs.
US Customer Harvesters Convention
Lastly, I attended the U.S. Customer Harvesters Convention in Oklahoma City. We discussed the current status of the Farm Bill in the House, including what hurdles need to be jumped before we can pass it and how it will look compared to the 2018 Farm Bill. This was the first time the convention was held in Oklahoma, so I am glad I was able to make the trip.
