By Congresswoman Stephanie Bice
Your priorities are my priorities. Through communicating with my constituents in Oklahoma’s fifth district, I’m proud to have championed many initiatives my first year in Congress. I’d like to highlight some wins in three main areas:
Safeguarding Oil and Gas Jobs
In Oklahoma, the oil and gas sector accounts for nearly 134,200 jobs and over $57 billion in economic output. It is also a major source of Oklahoma’s tax revenues, funding schools, roads, hospitals, and first responders.
In response to the Biden Administration’s anti-American energy policies, costing thousands of jobs and causing record-breaking gas and heating costs, I continue to fight for Oklahomans through leading letters and cosponsoring legislation. From day one, I opposed the Administration’s actions to curtail oil and gas exploration, cancel the Keystone XL pipeline, rely on foreign production, and impose new regulations and taxes on methane emissions.
To address Biden’s recent decision to use the emergency-only Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) to lower gas prices, I introduced a bill that would block SPR sales until he cancels his executive orders halting energy development on federal land.
American energy companies can not only solve this problem but can boost the economy, develop clean energy, and create high-paying jobs while doing so.
Supporting Servicemembers and Their Families
It is crucial to support those who fight to keep us safe. I’m pleased that my bill, the Protecting Military Families with Disabilities Act, was signed into law in the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).
After hearing from military families who had been charged thousands of dollars by housing contractors to accommodate a disability, I crafted this legislation to ensure that needed disability upgrades within military base housing will be provided at no additional cost.
Additionally, I was successful in leading a letter urging the removal of red flag provisions within the NDAA that threatened the 2nd Amendment rights of our servicemembers. No one should have their constitutional rights infringed upon, especially those who risk their lives to keep our nation safe.
In response to Biden’s vaccine mandates, I introduced a bill to protect the paychecks of Oklahoma National Guard soldiers and airmen who decline the COVID-19 vaccine. Threatening the livelihood of soldiers based on their vaccine status is legally dubious, disgraceful to our brave servicemembers and their families, and threatens our military readiness and national security.
Protecting Oklahomans and Beyond
Finally, I proposed legislation that will not only protect Oklahomans, but our entire nation, and with that, two of those amendments were signed into law in the NDAA. One requires the Department of Defense to analyze the security impacts of the Taliban’s terrorist release during the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan and report to Congress on the threats to our homeland.
The other amendment reallocates $25 million of unused funds to Army National Guard operations support to assist US Customs and Border Protection with border security. The lack of control at the southern border is a critical national security issue that cannot be overlooked.
These wins from 2021 are due to the numerous conversations I have had with constituents. Please continue to reach out to my office so I can effectively serve the people of the fifth district.
Introducing legislation as opposed to “passing” legislation are wins??? C’mon!!!
Since when does “introducing” legislation and writing letters that don’t go anywhere constitute “wins”?? C’mon, don’t treat us as stupid!