“Rather than growing our economy, the overall impact of stimulus spending may prove to be harmful to our economy. For example, Washington’s efforts to ‘stimulate’ the economy are increasing utility costs, repairing bridges nobody uses, building tunnels for turtles, and renovating extravagant train stations in remote areas while widely-used bridges and roads in poor shape are passed over,” Coburn said.

Lucas, of Cheyenne, is the top Republican on the Agriculture Committee.

He said, “A thousand-page bill of this magnitude deserves thoughtful consideration and debate. Instead, Speaker Pelosi is rushing it through Congress to the detriment of all of us.”

The bill is expected to come to the House floor some time this summer.

Rep. Dan Boren, D-Muskogee, voted for the bill; Reps. Tom Cole, R-Moore; Mary Fallin, R-Oklahoma City; and Frank Lucas, R-Cheyenne, voted against it. Rep. John Sullivan, R-Tulsa, was absent.

Inhofe will lead an effort to assure detainees at Gitmo won’t be transferred to prison facilities in the United States.

And Lucas is holding a news conference to say rural America will suffer disproportionately from the president’s goal of slashing greenhouse gas emissions.

Warning: This clip is full of Defense Department acronymns and jargon.

Boren’s resolution is the same as one that has been offered in previous years by Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, that apologizes for the “many instances of violence, maltreatment and neglect.”

Boren said, “My congressional district has the third highest concentration of Native Americans in the country. We have a community with deep Native American roots and long standing traditions. Native American tribes are one of the greatest driving forces for economic development across my district and state, and make an immeasurable contribution to the lives of all Oklahomans.

“The U.S. government broke hundreds of treaties it made with Indian nations; these were government-to-government treaties ratified by the U.S. Senate. The impact of many U.S. policies is the source of many of the social and economic disparities that tribes face today. It is time for our nation to face these injustices and reconcile our relations with the Native Americans.

“It’s important that we acknowledge injustices such as forced removal and painful events like the Trail of Tears. While this apology doesn’t recognize the complexity of those wrongs, it’s an important step in moving forward. From my seat on the House Natural Resources Committee, I will work with Chairman Rahall and Senator Sam Brownback to see that it gets the attention it deserves.”

And if he has his way, there won’t be any.

Boren and a Republican congressman from South Carolina have introduced a bill that would prohibit the import of foreign-made American flags — perhaps the ultimate buy-American bill.

“The most important symbol of the United States should be made by U.S. companies that employ hard-working U.S. citizens,” said Boren.  “It is imperative that we pass this legislation before foreign companies continue to gain a foothold in the manufacture of U.S. flags.”