Oklahoma has seen several major wins in recent weeks, a number of which will directly benefit Oklahoma’s Fifth District. From historic investments in rural health care to targeted funding for clean water, public safety, and infrastructure, these efforts reflect a strong commitment to improving quality of life across our communities. Together, these wins show real progress for families, and rural communities across the state.
In December, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services announced historic funding from the Trump Administration aimed at strengthening rural health care nationwide. While all 50 states received funding, Oklahoma is among the top five states receiving the largest allocations. In total the state has been awarded $223,476,949 to support rural health care improvements, and this is entirely due to the Working Families Tax Cut Act, landmark legislation I supported that passed last year.
For Oklahoma, this funding represents a major step toward building a future where every community has access to high quality, locally grounded health care. A key provision under this effort is the “Moving Upstream” approach, which focuses on preventing chronic disease before it leads to costly hospitalizations or emergency care. In addition, the plan emphasizes proactive, community-based prevention supported by modern tools like remote monitoring and data driven care.
Another cornerstone of this effort is the creation of Community Led Wellness Hubs, which will provide competitive microgrants of up to $50,000 to local health departments in rural counties to address unmet wellness needs and expand access to preventive services.
Together, these initiatives are designed to address key barriers to access, quality, and sustainability in rural health care. They will help reduce preventable hospitalizations and emergency department visits. These efforts will also improve outcomes for chronic disease and maternal health and strengthen the long-term stability of health care systems across Oklahoma.
In addition to these historic health care investments, last week’s appropriations package delivered additional wins for Oklahoma’s Fifth District. Within the Interior, Environment, and related Agencies portion of the package, several clean water and wastewater projects across the district are receiving critical funding. These investments will help modernize infrastructure, improve water quality, and support growing communities. Funding to update wastewater infrastructure in Wewoka, Yukon, Bethany, and Seminole was included in the final bill.
The package also includes investments in water distribution infrastructure which includes the communities of Konawa, Piedmont and Spencer.
Another portion of the appropriations package, Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, delivered investments focused on public safety and emergency response. This includes security modernization funding for Oklahoma Children’s Hospital and the 911 Center in Logan County, as well as funding for the University of Central Oklahoma Forensic Science Institute.
Beyond these district-specific investments, this appropriations package provides important wins for the nation as a whole. It strengthens our nuclear defense systems, reinforces critical infrastructure, and supports American energy dominance. It also backs law enforcement, defends Second Amendment rights, funds emergency weather services, and strengthens efforts to combat the scourge of fentanyl. Together, these investments reflect a commitment to public safety, economic growth, and strong communities across Oklahoma and the nation. I was proud to champion these initiatives and look forward to future investment in Oklahoma’s Fifth District.
