Rep. Tom Cole Mourns Death of Soldier from Lawton Brandon J. Landrum
Rep. Tom Cole, R-Moore, issued the following statement on Wednesday about the death of U.S. Army 1st Lt. Brandon J. Landrum, who was one of five soldiers killed Saturday by a roadside bomb in Kandahar Province, Afghanistan. He was assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 36th Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division, Fort Bliss, Texas. Landrum is survived by his parents, wife and children.
“Words cannot express the debt of gratitude this nation owes Lt. Landrum,” said Cole. “Many of us will never understand the true price of freedom, but it is because of the bravery of those who wear the uniform that our country is safe and our freedom is secure.…
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Rep. Markwayne Mullin to Present Purple Heart, Honor Veterans in Tahlequah Next Week
Rep. Markwayne Mullin, R-Westville, plans to present a Purple Heart to U.S. Navy veteran Paul Phillips on April 19 in a special ceremony in Tahlequah that will also honor the service of all veterans. The ceremony is open to the public.
Phillips, of Tahlequah, was a chief petty officer who served in Vietnam. Phillips and other Seabees were working in a building when an explosion burned 29 percent of his body and sent him to the hospital for over a year, according to Mullin’s office.…
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Justice Department Gets More Time in Behenna Case
The U.S. Supreme Court has given the Justice Department another month to submit its arguments about whether 1st Lt. Michael Behenna should get a new trial and now has until April 29. Behenna was convicted in 2009 of unpremeditated murder in a combat zone for killing an Iraqi man linked to the roadside bombing that killed two members of Behenna’s platoon.
The highest military appeals court upheld Behenna’s conviction last summer. Behenna is asking the Supreme Court to review his case.…
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Rep. James Lankford Mourns Death of Edmond Native SSgt. Rex Schad
Rep. James Lankford, R-Oklahoma City, issued a statement Wednesday about the killing of SSgt Rex Schad, an Edmond native shot in Afghanistan on Monday during a firefight started by a man dressed as a member of the Afghan police force. Schad graduated from Edmond Memorial High School in 2005.
“I am grieved by the loss of another Oklahoma son in Afghanistan,” said Lankford.
“Our hearts are broken to learn that SSgt. Rex Schad was taken from his family at such a young age while bravely serving his country in a hostile environment.…
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Rep. Frank Lucas Comments on Upcoming Budget Cuts
On the same day President Barack Obama went to Newport News, VA to criticize Republicans for not compromising to replace the looming budget cuts known as the sequester, Rep. Frank Lucas, R-Cheyenne, said:
“I am disappointed President Obama and leaders in the Senate have yet to come up with a solution to replace the sequester.
“The House has already acted twice to replace sequestration with commonsense spending cuts that do not unfairly target the U.S. Department of Defense. While our country is still fighting a war in Afghanistan, it is imperative that we prevent harmful cuts to national defense.…
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Supreme Court Gives Justice Department More Time in Behenna Case
The U.S. Supreme Court has given the U.S. Justice Department an additional month to file a response to 1st Lt. Michael Behenna’s request for the justices to hear his case.
The Justice Department initially declined to respond to Behenna’s appeal from the U.S. Court of Appeals of the Armed Forces decision to uphold his conviction for unpremeditated murder in a combat zone. However, the high court asked the Justice Department to respond and gave a deadline of Feb. 27. On Wednesday, the court extended the time until March 29.…
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Sen. Jim Inhofe Charges “Cover-Up” on Benghazi
BENGHAZI HEARING OPENING STATEMENT
In his opening statement Thursday at a hearing of the Senate Armed Services Committee, U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe blasted the Obama administration about its preparation and response to the Sept. 11 attack on U.S. diplomats last September in Libya. Inhofe, R-Tulsa, is the top Republican on the committee. Here is a text of his opening statement, as prepared for delivery.
“Thank you Mr. Chairman. I join you in welcoming our witnesses. Secretary Panetta, this may be one of your final times testifying before this committee—a joyous occasion, I’m sure.…
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U.S. Supreme Court Wants Justice Department to Respond to Behenna Petition
The U.S. Supreme Court has asked the U.S. Justice Department to respond to the appeal filed by 1st Lt. Michael Behenna, who is seeking to have his conviction of unpremeditated murder in a combat zone overturned.
Attorneys for Behenna filed his petition on Jan. 2, but the Justice Department declined a few days later to give a government response. Supreme Court justices were scheduled to consider whether to hear Behenna’s case on Feb. 15. However, on Monday, the court asked the government to file a response by Feb.…
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U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe Expresses Concern About New Policy on Women in Combat
U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe, of Tulsa, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, released a statement Thursday after a briefing with Defense Department officials regarding changes to the policy on women in combat.
“I was on the House Committee in 1994 when Les Aspin first made these changes,” said Inhofe. “Because that policy has worked so well for so long, I am concerned about the potential impacts of completely ending this policy.
“While the Pentagon has rescinded the 1994 Direct Combat Definition and Assignment Rule, not all of the 237,000 positions previously closed to women will now be automatically open.…
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Sen. Jim Inhofe Comes Out Against Chuck Hagel Nomination for Defense
Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Tulsa, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, announced Tuesday evening that he would not support former Sen. Chuck Hagel for secretary of defense.
In a news release, Inhofe said he told Hagel Tuesday during a “cordial” meeting that they were too philosophically opposed.
“Chuck Hagel is a good person, and it was a pleasure to serve with him in the United States Senate. I am so very appreciative of the sacrifices he and his brother made to serve this country during the Vietnam War.…
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