Frank Lucas
RAre you a senior in high school interested in attending a Service Academy next fall? I want to help you achieve that dream. Seniors in OK-03 will need to fill out an application for a nomination. Deadline is October 16! https://t.co/9Iofn8Wx35
Congratulations to Oklahoma Transportation Secretary Tim Gatz on a remarkable 37-years. I am incredibly grateful for his decades of investment into Oklahoma and the way he has grown the state’s infrastructure. His impact will felt and known for several generations to come. https://t.co/NndAegVH35
I am grateful that this critical and cost-effective legislation will be signed by @POTUS in the near future. Thank you @RepLisaMcClain, @FinancialCmte, and @RepMaxineWaters for working closely with me this Congress to get this bill across the finish line. It’s great to see the hard work pay off. https://t.co/1OLAFeMNkD
I’m grateful that the House passed the AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act last week. I was proud to support this legislation, which serves OK-03 well by maintaining emergency alerts, weather updates, and other critical programming to Oklahomans when they need it most.
This morning, on the 25th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, we pause to remember the senseless act of evil and mourn the thousands of innocent lives who perished. We also honor the brave and courageous first responders that selflessly and without hesitation ran towards the direction of danger to save as many lives as they could. Many died putting themselves in harms way to save others. Let us never forget.
Electricity is important to everyday life. When severe weather hits, it is important to have people you can rely on working to restore your power. OG&E reliably delivers electricity to OK-03, and I enjoyed having discussions with their staff. https://t.co/dGAadEY59x
Stillwater Regional Airport is beloved by both the Stillwater community and its visitors. I was delighted to visit the airport to see and celebrate the new Regional Airport Terminal. The growth of this airport will only further enable tourism and visitors from all over the country to see this great part of our district.
I attended the Grand Opening of the Oklahoma Blood Institute in Oklahoma City. Blood donations save lives of people that are in desperate need of blood transfusions. This facility will enable donors to safely and efficiently give life-saving treatment to patients. https://t.co/mLtBWofQON
The Senate needs to swiftly take up and pass the INVEST Act, which includes my bill, the Retirement Fairness for Charities and Educational Institutions Act. Hardworking Americans with 403(b) plans should have access to the same investments as other plans to allow them to best prepare for retirement and providing for their families.
I visited the health center at the Community Health Centers of Oklahoma Highland Park. Their facility was impressive, and their hardworking staff has a direct impact on their local community. https://t.co/0x1rFFygXx
I had the privilege of meeting with the Perry Rotary Club last month. I always appreciate hearing concerns and questions from constituents. We discussed a variety of topics, including big wins in the Farm Bill along with the impacts of the Working Families Tax Cuts Act. https://t.co/DjZXG9hiRD
I wholeheartedly agree with @SenKatieBritt. Americans that use 403(b)’s for retirement should have access to the same investments as others to maximize their ability to provide for their families. Our legislation has passed the House, and I hope to see it pass the Senate in the near future.
Washington, DC – Today, Representative Frank D. Lucas (OK-03), a member of the House Financial Services Committee and Chairman of the House Financial Services Task Force on Monetary Policy, Treasury Market Resilience, and Economic Prosperity, delivered remarks on the House floor advocating for fiscal responsibility by supporting the Common Cents Act. The legislation would codify President Trump’s order to the Treasury to stop production of the one-cent piece, along with allowing the Mint to produce a more cost-effective nickel. Remarks as prepared for delivery: I rise today in strong support of the Common Cents Act. This bill has been over a year in the making with my colleagues Ms. McClain and Ranking Member Waters, and I am proud of the product we have put forward. The one-cent piece, or the penny as it’s commonly called, costs almost four cents to produce. 2024 was the 19th consecutive year the U.S. government lost money keeping the penny in circulation. That is why last year the President rightly ordered the Treasury Department to stop wasting hard-earned taxpayer dollars to produce the coin and why we’re excited to move forward in codifying this action. The Common Cents Act also gives flexibility to the Mint to produce a nickel with cheaper materials. In 1866, Congress mandated the nickel be produced from an ally of copper and nickel, and we haven’t updated the composition since. This bill gives the Mint flexibility to produce a cheaper coin while retaining Congress’ responsibility of coining money. Finally, the bill provides certainty for businesses in their cash transactions with customers, without mandating price controls from the government. We are proud to boast endorsements from the National Retail Federation, National Grocers Association, United Steelworkers International Union, and the American Bankers Association, among many others. I want to thank Ms. McClain and Ranking Member Waters for their leadership on this issue, and I look forward to enjoying broad bipartisan support from this Body today. I reserve the balance of my time. ###
Washington, DC – Today, Representative Frank D. Lucas (OK-03), Chairman of the House Financial Services Task Force on Monetary Policy, Treasury Market Resilience, and Economic Prosperity, delivered an opening statement at the House Financial Services Committee hearing on The Federal Reserve’s Semi-Annual Monetary Policy Report. The hearing is Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh’s first testimony before Congress as Chairman of the Fed. Remarks as prepared for delivery: Welcome Chairman Warsh to your first hearing as Chairman and congratulations on your confirmation. We look forward to your testimony today on the Monetary Policy Report. In your first meeting you announced a number of welcome reforms including establishing five task forces that many members are eager to get your thoughts on. For example, former Chair Powell had committed to a review of the Fed’s communications tools, and though we expected that to be completed last August alongside the review of the consensus statement, it has yet to be done. A review of the Fed’s communications tools is long overdue, and we look forward to your focus on completing that project through the task force. We’ve also spent time this Congress examining the composition and size of the Fed’s balance sheet, an effort that you are now undertaking at the Fed. It is vital that the Fed get this right; we welcome continued collaboration on that front. We have a lot to talk about today – I look forward to your testimony and our discussion. I yield back. ###
Full transparency from the Fed is critical to restore its credibility and faith to the American people. I applaud Chairman Warsh for his commitment to both periodic and end of the year updates from his new task forces to provide this accountability to the public. https://t.co/cAFDs89lwT
Any changes to the Fed’s balance sheet must come with clear communication from the FOMC. I welcome Chairman Warsh’s pledge to preview, explain, debate, and disclose changes to the Fed’s balance sheet with well-advanced notice given the major impact this policy has on the global economy.
I appreciate Chairman Warsh’s acknowledgement that the Fed should be especially careful during benign times of any market distortions they may cause due to the size and composition of their holdings. https://t.co/NZxYopeegB
I am pleased to see the Common Cents Act pass the House. This fiscally responsible legislation ensures taxpayer dollars are protected while providing certainty for businesses in their cash transactions with customers. https://t.co/GhcoBj4CG3
I had a great time speaking to the Gage Rotary Club! We discussed the policies coming out of Washington to help the community fight against New World Screwworm. https://t.co/vvNp9IGMgP
It was great to be back home last week speaking to the Watonga Lions Club! https://t.co/kfxEePb0aA
I’m pleased to see Taiwan open a trade office in Oklahoma to expand trade investment. This will only strengthen our partnership with Taiwan, and I look forward to seeing this relationship only grow even further. https://t.co/jkoZUpC0bu
Washington, DC – Representative Frank D. Lucas (OK-03) applauded the announcement of Vance Air Force Base (AFB) as the fourth T-7A Main Operating Base. The Air Force will replace T-38C aircraft at Vance AFB with T-7A deliveries. The Department of the Air Force (DAF) will support all aspects of the T-7A recapitalization, including the construction and upgrades to operations, support, and maintenance facilities to support pilot training and aircraft operation and maintenance. In aircraft alone, this decision represents an investment of up to $2 billion at Vance AFB. “I’m pleased to see Vance Air Force Base’s selection as home for the new T-7A, which is an investment into the community of Enid,” said Representative Lucas. “With the largest military operating area, cheapest pilot training pipeline cost, and a fourth runway, Vance Air Force Base is a seamless partner for the Air Force to integrate the T-7A. I thank our community that has worked for decades at the local, state, and federal level of government to ensure that Vance Air Force Base is best equipped to best support the next generation of USAF pilots and their loved ones.” “We very much appreciate being selected as the premier location for the maximum deployment of the new T-7A aircraft,” said Michael Cooper, Chairman of the Vance Development Authority. “Due to our excellent community and base relationship, we continue to be successful in our efforts to enhance the base, bringing support from all levels to assist with increasing mission capabilities. With this decision and new personnel it brings to Vance AFB, Enid will need to continue our efforts to develop more affordable available homes and expand our efforts to create water resiliency and alternative energy options for the base.” “I was very pleased to learn that Vance AFB will be receiving the T-7A,” said David Mason, Mayor of Enid, OK. “I think this shows the trust and relationship the Air Force has for Enid and the relationship Enid has for Vance and its continued mission to train the best pilots in the Air Force. Our community will continue to diligently work towards providing all the Infrastructure and Quality of life needs for Vance AFB to increase and enhance its mission capabilities. I’m proud to live in Enid, home of Vance AFB.” Background: The U.S. Air Force T-7A Recapitalization Program replaces the aging T-38C fleet with a modern advanced trainer designed to better prepare pilots for 4th-, 5th-, and future 6th-generation aircraft. It fields a new training system that integrates the T-7A aircraft with advanced simulators, ground-based training, and updated infrastructure across key pilot training bases. The decision is intended to provide the Air Force with operational flexibility, and inclusion of this alternative in this EIS provides analysis to evaluate future capacity needs. ###
Happy Independence Day! Today, we celebrate 250 years of our great nation. https://t.co/jJnj8tALYT
Washington, DC – Yesterday, Representative Frank D. Lucas (OK-03) delivered remarks on the House floor supporting landowners facing natural disaster damages by imploring his colleagues to vote in support of the Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act. Remarks as prepared for delivery: Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S.629, the Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act, introduced by Senator Fischer of Nebraska. The Emergency Conservation Program and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program are two critical cost-share programs available to landowners following a natural disaster. Given the natural disasters we’ve witnessed, including wildfires, hurricanes, and flooding, these programs have remained critically important. Wildfires continue to present significant challenges, especially in the West, due to their increasing intensity and the extensive number of acres burned each year. Forest managers and wildfire experts have been predicting that 2026 will be a particularly challenging fire year. So far this year, we have already witnessed approximately 2.7 million acres burned in over 34,000 fires, and it is only June. Recently, devastating wildfires have occurred on the plains of Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas and Texas, instead of just being confined to the forests and mountains of the West. This year, we saw approximately 300,000 acres burn after multiple wildfires ignited in Oklahoma and Kansas this past February. In addition, due to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, we have observed significant needs for emergency assistance resulting from the devastation in southeastern states, including the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Natural disasters have inflicted great damage on private property across the country at no fault of the landowners. Under ECP, landowners can receive both technical and financial assistance for repairs and restoration of land adversely affected by natural disasters, including floods, hurricanes, wildfires, and droughts. Additionally, EFRP provides financial assistance to non-industrial private forestland owners to support recovery efforts following similar natural disasters. While these programs are critical, participants have reported ongoing issues with payment delays and insufficient upfront assistance to cover the costs of urgent conservation needs. To address this issue, S.629 allows for advanced payments of up to 75% of the total project cost for both programs, clarifies eligibility for cost-share payments, and allows for a longer period for the use of ECP payments. I support this legislation and encourage my colleagues to vote favorably. ###
The hearing focused on the structure of the Federal Reserve System Oklahoma City, OK – Recently, Representative Frank D. Lucas (OK-03), Chairman of the House Financial Services Task Force on Monetary Policy, Treasury Market Resilience, and Economic Prosperity, hosted a field hearing in Oklahoma City discussing the importance of the federated structure of the Federal Reserve system with the Reserve Banks providing geographic and industrial expertise. “It was a great day in Oklahoma City hosting several respected witnesses and hearing their perspective on the importance of our Federal Reserve structure,” said Representative Lucas. “The private-public partnership Reserve Banks have with our central bank serves as a check against the federal government dominating our monetary system. Our nation has many differing viewpoints, and our central bank is at its best when it reflects a comprehensive perspective of economic conditions. I thank the witnesses and my fellow colleagues for their time in my home state, and I look forward to continuing this discussion during this critical time.” The witnesses included: Mr. Thomas Hoenig – Distinguished Senior Fellow, Mercatus Center at George Mason University Ms. Ester George – Former President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Mr. Gary Kelly – Deputy Chair, Board of Directors, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas Mr. Benjamin Keen – Associate Professor of Economics, University of Oklahoma Click here to watch Rep. Lucas’s opening remarks. Click here to watch the Federal Reserve’s impact on agriculture economy in the heartland. Click here to watch the Beige Book’s impact on bringing regional perspectives to the Federal Reserve. ###