Bipartisanship Works for Oklahoma

Bipartisanship Works for Oklahoma

As election-year politics heat up and we hear more about red and blue states and who will control Congress, it would be easy to think nothing is being accomplished in Washington. But when it comes to getting things done for Oklahoma there are many examples of our state's delegation putting politics aside. Whether we are Democrats or Republicans, we are all Oklahomans first.

BOREN/COLE: The first bill I introduced in Congress was a bipartisan effort with Congressman Cole to address our nation's meth epidemic. The bill was modeled after Oklahoma's overwhelmingly successful state law that put over-the-counter cold medicines used in methamphetamine behind the pharmacy counter.

Many similar bills were introduced in Congress - by both Democrats and Republicans. Due to the wide bipartisan support for legislation to address this problem, a law based on these many proposals was passed by Congress and signed into law by the president earlier this year.

BOREN/SULLIVAN: Since coming to Congress my top priority has been creating jobs in Oklahoma. One of the most effective tools for attracting these jobs has been the Indian Lands Tax Credit. With two-thirds of our state qualifying, Oklahoma benefits tremendously.

In February 2005, Congressman Sullivan and I introduced legislation to make the tax credit permanent. Just this month, the entire delegation called on House and Senate leaders to make extension of the credit a part of any tax bill that moves through Congress this year.

BOREN/INHOFE: Senator Inhofe and I recently collaborated to address the long-standing environmental and health hazard of depleted uranium stored in Gore, Okla. for the past 13 years. As a result of our efforts, the Secretaries of Defense and Energy will be required to submit a plan to Congress for the removal of the radioactive material, and the Army will remove it once and for all by March 31 of next year.

BOREN/LUCAS: I have worked with Congressman Lucas over the past 18 months on a number of issues important to Oklahoma's farmers and ranchers. When the Farm Service Agency announced plans to close a third of FSA offices nationwide - including many in Oklahoma - I joined Congressman Lucas in offering legislation to put a stop to the plan. Because of the outcry from both parties in Congress the plan was scrapped.

BOREN/COBURN: When veterans in Eastern Oklahoma proposed renaming the VA center in Muskogee to honor the devoted service of a local veteran, I teamed up with Senator Coburn to introduce legislation to make the renaming a reality. Earlier this month the president signed that bill into law.

BOREN/ISTOOK: All of Oklahoma's representatives in the House joined Congressman Istook in offering legislation last year to commemorate the 10-year anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. The bill passed the House unanimously.

Much of what I have been able to accomplish has occurred because of the willingness of our delegation to work together. I wish others in Congress could lead by Oklahoma's example of cooperation.

http://www.house.gov/list/press/ok02_boren/20060626bipartisan.html