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James Lankford
Credentials
- Bachelor’s degree in secondary education with emphasis on history and speech, University of Texas (1990). 1“LANKFORD, JAMES PAUL (1968– ).” Oklahoma Historical Society. Archived May 29, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/U5SHs
- Master’s degree in divinity, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, Fort Worth (1994).2“LANKFORD, JAMES PAUL (1968– ).” Oklahoma Historical Society. Archived May 29, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/U5SHs
Background
James Lankford is the Republican junior Senator for Oklahoma as of 2015, having served as U.S. Representative for Oklahoma’s 5th congressional district between 2011 and 2015.3“Senator James Lankford,” Congress.gov. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/SGb9K
Lankford has received donations from the fossil fuel industry, including the billionaire Koch brothers. During his political career, Lankford has accepted an estimated total of $1,192,545 from oil and gas companies including Devon Energy, OGE Energy and Chesapeake Energy, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.4“Sen. James Lankford – Oklahoma,” Center for Responsive Politics. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/nd6yd
As a Congressman, Lankford sat on the U.S. House committees on Budget, Transportation, and Oversight and Government Reform. He was chairman of the subcommittee on Energy Policy, Health Care, and Entitlements. He was elected Chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee where, according to his website, he worked “behind the scenes to push the Republican Conference toward conservative solutions for the issues facing our nation.”5“Who I am,” James Lankford. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/GiJO3
In the Senate, Lankford sits on the Committee on Appropriations; the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, where he is chairman of the Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management; the Select Committee on Intelligence; and the Indian Affairs Committee.6“Who I am,” James Lankford. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/GiJO3
Lankford has focused on opposing federal regulations on small businesses and the Obama-era Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.7“LANKFORD, JAMES PAUL (1968– ).” Oklahoma Historical Society. Archived May 29, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/U5SHs
According to his website, Lankford says he is “committed to God, Family and the Constitution.” Before entering Congress, Lankford was Director of Student Ministry for the Baptist Convention of Oklahoma and Director of the Christian Falls Creek Youth Camp, the largest youth camp in the United States.8“Homepage,” James Lankford. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/yPRtt 9“About James,” Senate.gov. Archived April 15, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/lpJ75
During his Senate campaign, Lankford received endorsements from fellow Republican politicians Mike Huckabee and Darrell Issa, both of whom have previously rejected climate science.10“Endorsement,” James Lankford. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/X0dxK
Lankford has consistently opposed legal protections for LGBT people, telling Think Progress in an interview that LGBT workers should not be protected from workplace discrimination because “it’s a choice issue.”11Josh Israel. “What The Oklahoma Congressman Who Just Announced A Senate Campaign Thinks About LGBT Americans,” Think Progress, January 21, 2014. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/7oaDZ
Lankford has spoken regularly at the annual conference of the American Conservative Union, chaired by Matt Schlapp, formerly employed in the Washington, DC, offices of Koch Industries.12“Sen. James Lankford,” Conservative Political Action Conference. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/0wKq7 13“The Hon. Matt Schlapp,” American Conservative Union. Archived February 6, 2018. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/Or1aM
Stance on Climate Change
June 3, 2014
In a statement responding to planned climate change measures announced by President Obama, Lankford said:14James Lankford. “Lankford: What Difference Will New Climate Change Regulations Actually Make for Our Climate?” Vote Smart, June 3, 2014. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/Or1aM
“When all is said and done, what will we actually gain in our effort to preserve our environment, if this change takes effect? Right now, the President says we need to be a world leader in climate change mitigation. But will these changes actually improve our climate, or will they just cost struggling American families more money?”15James Lankford. “Lankford: What Difference Will New Climate Change Regulations Actually Make for Our Climate?” Vote Smart, June 3, 2014. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/Or1aM
February 16, 2010
Lankford said in a debate ahead of Congressional elections:16James Coburn. “5th District candidates united against cap and trade,” The Edmund Sun, February 16, 2010. Archived May 31, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
“This whole global warming myth will be exposed as what it really is — a way of control more than anything else.”
“The federal government takes a new commodity, air, and begins to tax the use of air… It’s a ridiculous concept. It’s basically just a tax increase and not a way to control environmental issues.”17James Coburn. “5th District candidates united against cap and trade,” The Edmund Sun, February 16, 2010. Archived May 31, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
On Energy
Lankford’s position on energy policy states that “all forms of American energy” should be developed:18“Energy,” James Lankford. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/zIhdr
“Wind, geothermal, solar, and hydroelectric all show great promise for the distant future, but right now all of them combined can provide only a tiny fraction of our energy needs. We must explore, develop and transport all forms of American energy in a safe and efficient way for all Americans.”19“Energy,” James Lankford. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/zIhdr
Key Quotes
August 4, 2015
In response to an announcement of the EPA’s Climate Action Plan, Lankford told the Senate:20“Senator Lankford Advocates For Pro-Growth Energy Policy On Senate Floor,” YouTube video uploaded by user Senator James Lankford on August 4, 2015. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.
“It used to be that Democrats supported also all the above energy but at some point they shifted to the ways of Solyndra and determined that if you’re going to be in that party, you have to commit to a certain environmental orthodoxy.”
“This thing seems to be about fear. Severe weather, imminent danger, if you don’t change everything in your life to the way that we think you should live your life, the whole earth is going to fall into chaos and ruin.”21“Senator Lankford Advocates For Pro-Growth Energy Policy On Senate Floor,” YouTube video uploaded by user Senator James Lankford on August 4, 2015. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.
February 16, 2010
Lankford shared a Wall Street Journal article, tweeting:22“WSJ article: Climate Meltdown http://ow.ly/17SHc US Youth will be ticked realizing they’ve been duped by climate debate. #fb #oktcot,” Tweet by @jameslankford, February 16, 2010. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.
“US Youth will be ticked realizing they’ve been duped by climate debate.”23“WSJ article: Climate Meltdown http://ow.ly/17SHc US Youth will be ticked realizing they’ve been duped by climate debate. #fb #oktcot,” Tweet by @jameslankford, February 16, 2010. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.
March 28, 2009
Lankford tweeted:24“http://twitpic.com/2jbgk – Snow in my backyard March 28! Wow Snow in the Spring, bring on the global warming.” Tweet by @jameslankford, March 28, 2009. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.
“Snow in my backyard March 28! Wow Snow in the Spring, bring on the global warming.”25“http://twitpic.com/2jbgk – Snow in my backyard March 28! Wow Snow in the Spring, bring on the global warming.” Tweet by @jameslankford, March 28, 2009. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.
Key Deeds
February 28, 2019
Lankford spoke on “faith, government and religious liberty” at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), an annual event organised by the American Conservative Union.26“CPAC, Senator Lankford on Faith and Religious Liberty,” C-Span, February 28, 2019. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/ER3kI
June 21, 2018
Lankford was one of four senators to condemn the National Science Foundation for funding a program designed to increase climate reporting by meteorologists, calling it “propagandizing.” The other senators in the group were Ted Cruz of Texas, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Jim Inhofe, also of Oklahoma and a significant recipient of Koch funding.27James Rainey. “GOP senators challenge funding for global warming education program,” NBC News, June 21, 2018. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/cQFPC
January 21, 2015
Lankford voted against an amendment stating that human activity was a significant contributor to climate change, according to a report by Wired.28Victoria Tang. “Here Are All the Senators Who Do and Don’t Believe in Human-Caused Climate Change,” Wired, January 21, 2015. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/CbhaC
July 2013
Leaked emails between Aaron Cooper, Director of Public Affairs for then Attorney General, Scott Pruitt, and Matt Ball, Oklahoma State Director for Americans for Prosperity, revealed plans for an event featuring Pruitt, Lankford and William Yeatman, a senior fellow at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. The planned event aimed to attack the Environmental Protection Agency, with Ball recommending that Pruitt should “focus on what the AG does best, opposing the Obama administration and its nasty tactics on the environment.” Both the AFP and CEI form part of the Koch-funded network of free market think tanks.29David Armiak. “Pruitt Emails Show Close Ties to the Koch-Funded ALEC,” Exposed by CMD, March 7, 2017. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/ivbK4
May 2011
Lankford voted in favour of opening the Outer Continental Shelf to oil drilling.30“James Lankford,” On The Issues. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/2fOrX
November 2, 2010
Lankford signed the “No Climate Tax Pledge” which opposed “any legislation relating to climate change that includes a net increase in government revenue.” The pledge was organised by a group of Koch-funded, free market thinktanks: the Competitive Enterprise Institute, the National Taxpayers Union, the Institute for Liberty and Americans for Prosperity.31“10-AFP on Nov 2, 2010,” On The Issues. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/WJMj8
Affiliations
- Koch Industries — Recipient of donations.32“Sen. James Lankford – Oklahoma,” Center for Responsive Politics. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/nd6yd
- Republican Party — Republican junior Senator for Oklahoma. 33“Senator James Lankford,” Congress.gov. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/SGb9K
- American Conservative Union (ACU) — Conference speaker.34“Sen. James Lankford,” Conservative Political Action Conference. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/0wKq7
- Americans for Prosperity (AFP) — Planned anti-EPA event together and supported “No Climate Tax Pledge.” 35David Armiak. “Pruitt Emails Show Close Ties to the Koch-Funded ALEC,” Exposed by CMD, March 7, 2017. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/ivbK4 36“10-AFP on Nov 2, 2010,” On The Issues. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/WJMj8
- Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) — Planned anti-EPA event together and supported “No Climate Tax Pledge.”37“10-AFP on Nov 2, 2010,” On The Issues. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/WJMj8
- National Taxpayers Union — Supported “No Climate Tax Pledge.”38“10-AFP on Nov 2, 2010,” On The Issues. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/WJMj8
- Institute for Liberty — Supported “No Climate Tax Pledge.“39“10-AFP on Nov 2, 2010,” On The Issues. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/WJMj8
Social Media
- @SenatorLankford and @lankford.for.america on Facebook.
- @SenatorLankford and @jameslankford on Twitter.
- James Lankford on LinkedIn.
Publications
- “What Difference Will New Climate Change Regulations Actually Make for Our Climate?” Vote Smart, June 3, 2014.
Other Resources
Resources
- 1“LANKFORD, JAMES PAUL (1968– ).” Oklahoma Historical Society. Archived May 29, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/U5SHs
- 2“LANKFORD, JAMES PAUL (1968– ).” Oklahoma Historical Society. Archived May 29, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/U5SHs
- 3“Senator James Lankford,” Congress.gov. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/SGb9K
- 4“Sen. James Lankford – Oklahoma,” Center for Responsive Politics. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/nd6yd
- 5“Who I am,” James Lankford. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/GiJO3
- 6“Who I am,” James Lankford. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/GiJO3
- 7“LANKFORD, JAMES PAUL (1968– ).” Oklahoma Historical Society. Archived May 29, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/U5SHs
- 8“Homepage,” James Lankford. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/yPRtt
- 9
- 10“Endorsement,” James Lankford. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/X0dxK
- 11Josh Israel. “What The Oklahoma Congressman Who Just Announced A Senate Campaign Thinks About LGBT Americans,” Think Progress, January 21, 2014. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/7oaDZ
- 12“Sen. James Lankford,” Conservative Political Action Conference. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/0wKq7
- 13“The Hon. Matt Schlapp,” American Conservative Union. Archived February 6, 2018. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/Or1aM
- 14James Lankford. “Lankford: What Difference Will New Climate Change Regulations Actually Make for Our Climate?” Vote Smart, June 3, 2014. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/Or1aM
- 15James Lankford. “Lankford: What Difference Will New Climate Change Regulations Actually Make for Our Climate?” Vote Smart, June 3, 2014. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/Or1aM
- 16James Coburn. “5th District candidates united against cap and trade,” The Edmund Sun, February 16, 2010. Archived May 31, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 17James Coburn. “5th District candidates united against cap and trade,” The Edmund Sun, February 16, 2010. Archived May 31, 2019. Archived .pdf on file at DeSmog.
- 18“Energy,” James Lankford. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/zIhdr
- 19“Energy,” James Lankford. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/zIhdr
- 20“Senator Lankford Advocates For Pro-Growth Energy Policy On Senate Floor,” YouTube video uploaded by user Senator James Lankford on August 4, 2015. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.
- 21“Senator Lankford Advocates For Pro-Growth Energy Policy On Senate Floor,” YouTube video uploaded by user Senator James Lankford on August 4, 2015. Archived .mp4 on file at DeSmog.
- 22“WSJ article: Climate Meltdown http://ow.ly/17SHc US Youth will be ticked realizing they’ve been duped by climate debate. #fb #oktcot,” Tweet by @jameslankford, February 16, 2010. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.
- 23“WSJ article: Climate Meltdown http://ow.ly/17SHc US Youth will be ticked realizing they’ve been duped by climate debate. #fb #oktcot,” Tweet by @jameslankford, February 16, 2010. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.
- 24“http://twitpic.com/2jbgk – Snow in my backyard March 28! Wow Snow in the Spring, bring on the global warming.” Tweet by @jameslankford, March 28, 2009. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.
- 25“http://twitpic.com/2jbgk – Snow in my backyard March 28! Wow Snow in the Spring, bring on the global warming.” Tweet by @jameslankford, March 28, 2009. Archived .png on file at DeSmog.
- 26“CPAC, Senator Lankford on Faith and Religious Liberty,” C-Span, February 28, 2019. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/ER3kI
- 27James Rainey. “GOP senators challenge funding for global warming education program,” NBC News, June 21, 2018. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/cQFPC
- 28Victoria Tang. “Here Are All the Senators Who Do and Don’t Believe in Human-Caused Climate Change,” Wired, January 21, 2015. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/CbhaC
- 29David Armiak. “Pruitt Emails Show Close Ties to the Koch-Funded ALEC,” Exposed by CMD, March 7, 2017. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/ivbK4
- 30
- 31“10-AFP on Nov 2, 2010,” On The Issues. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/WJMj8
- 32“Sen. James Lankford – Oklahoma,” Center for Responsive Politics. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/nd6yd
- 33“Senator James Lankford,” Congress.gov. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/SGb9K
- 34“Sen. James Lankford,” Conservative Political Action Conference. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/0wKq7
- 35David Armiak. “Pruitt Emails Show Close Ties to the Koch-Funded ALEC,” Exposed by CMD, March 7, 2017. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/ivbK4
- 36“10-AFP on Nov 2, 2010,” On The Issues. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/WJMj8
- 37“10-AFP on Nov 2, 2010,” On The Issues. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/WJMj8
- 38“10-AFP on Nov 2, 2010,” On The Issues. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/WJMj8
- 39“10-AFP on Nov 2, 2010,” On The Issues. Archived May 31, 2019. Archive.fo URL: http://archive.fo/WJMj8