Opinion

I’m proud to have passed yet another retirement reform to the governor’s desk. Senate Bill 453 will improve pension benefits for volunteer firefighters, who make up most of the fire personnel across Oklahoma. Although the governor vetoed my bill to boost police officers’ pension benefits, which would have helped cities recruit and retain new officers, I was grateful the attorney general expressed his support for a veto override.

The strongest border security bill in history passed the United States House of Representatives on May 11, 2023. This legislation — formally known as H.R. 2 or the Secure the Border Act – would put an end to President Biden’s reckless open-border policies by resuming construction of the border wall, increasing the number of Border Patrol agents, ending Catch-and-Release, requiring transparency from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding illegal crossings, ending the abuse of executive immigration authority, and more.

Since 1949, Mental Health America and its affiliates across the country have led the observance of May as Mental Health Awareness Month by reaching millions through the media, local events, and screenings. It raises awareness of trauma and the impact it can have on the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of children, families, and communities. Cities and businesses across the country hold various events to support mental health and open up the lines of communication. Many websites provide ideas for businesses to support their employees during May and beyond.

I’m proud to say a major reform I authored to improve police officers’ pensions advanced to the governor’s desk. The Senate recently gave final approval to Senate Bill 102 to increase the pension benefits an officer receives when they retire. To offset that increase in retirement benefits, police officers and the cities that employ them will be required to contribute more to their retirement accounts while they’re still working.

It seems like every time a new audit of state government is released, taxpayers get more bad news about how their tax dollars are being handled. One of my chief priorities since taking office last year has been to address a culture of corruption and scandal that has clouded state government in recent years. My office has stayed busier than I would like with this task.

Last week was National Police Week — a week that occurs every year to appreciate and thank our law enforcement officers, as well as remember and respect those officers whose lives were taken in the line of duty.

The Senate is putting a priority on appropriating millions of dollars to help Oklahoma communities recovering from the recent severe storms. The Joint Committee on Appropriations and Budget met recently to set aside $45 million to help tornado-impacted localities like Sulphur, Holdenville and Barnsdall. Although this funding will only help the seven counties that have been approved for FEMA disaster assistance so far, state and local resources remain available for other counties recovering from the severe weather.

Over the past few months, we have watched violent, antisemitic, un-American, and pro-terrorist mobs take over college campuses across the country, endangering Jewish students and other innocent bystanders. Yet, for months, many Democrats have refused to speak out against the protests.

For my constituents in Senate District 43 who were affected by the recent severe weather, one of the most important things you can do is to report your damage online at damage.ok.gov. Many local officials have already assessed storm damage in the district. But reporting the damage to your home, business or farm will help state authorities understand the areas of greatest need across Oklahoma.

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, it’s my honor and responsibility to ensure Oklahoma’s military installations and defense partners have what they need at the federal level to protect and serve our nation. What’s equally important, however, are the investments our communities make within themselves to support America’s warfighters and protect Oklahoma’s future as a national defense hub.

Iwas told last week that the Newcastle Pacer has too much Chickasaw Nation news amongst its pages.