We spent our time this week on the Senate floor, continuing to review House bills and move approved measures onto the governor’s desk for his approval. We must complete this work by Thursday, April 28, so it’ll be a race to the finish as we prioritize policy measures that will move our state forward.
While most of our floor work was business as usual, we took the time on Tuesday to mourn the 27th anniversary of the Alfred P. Murrah Building bombing by passing a resolution memorializing the 168 lives lost and recognizing the first responders and heroes who stepped up in the aftermath of the attack. I was honored to sign on as a coauthor of this resolution, and I hope you’ll join me in praying for all of those impacted by this horrific event.
Aside from floor work, I was busy meeting with several different groups throughout the week. I enjoyed sitting down with the Employees in Action Group, hosted by the State Chamber, and gave them an update on the human resources legislation I’ve been working on for the past few years. This includes HB 1933, which would index unemployment benefits based on the economic condition of our state, and SB 1691, which would allow those re-entering the workforce after a criminal conviction to have more opportunities to receive an occupational license for careers in cosmetology, plumbing, real estate and more. Oklahoma is open for business, and we must cut the red tape to ensure high-quality jobs are available for those who want to work.
I also joined U.S. Senator James Lankford at Seminole State College to meet with business and community leaders. I always enjoy hearing what issues are most important to citizens across the district, and this was a great way to share what we are working on at both our state and nation’s Capitols.
April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, and the south lawn of the state Capitol was filled with flags Thursday, representing the close to 15,000 victims of child abuse and neglect during 2021. Protecting our children must continue to be a priority moving forward, and my heart aches for these children who’ve experienced the unfathomable.