R-Bristow, District 12
March 3 marked the deadline for Senate committees to vote on bills that were introduced by members of this chamber. We lost a couple of days of work the previous week due to the sleet and ice storms, but because we’d adopted a faster-paced schedule this year, we were in a much better position to make up for it this week—granted, it meant some long committee meetings, but by Thursday, we met our deadline.
In addition to our committee and floor work at the Capitol, there are also other events and meetings taking place. Last summer, the Senate and House formed the Joint Committee on Pandemic Relief. This committee and its working groups were charged with evaluating proposals for the use of $1.87 billion that is Oklahoma’s share of federal funding under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to assist in our recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. Once the recommendations have been thoroughly vetted and voted on, they’ll be presented to Governor Kevin Stitt for his approval.
I’m the Senate co-chair of the Transportation, Infrastructure, and Rural Development working group, and on Tuesday, we met to begin the process of vetting proposals on how best to use these one-time federal funds. For years, I have been concerned about the lack of broadband access in our rural communities. As I’ve shared before, it’s one of the first things businesses ask about when considering locations, but unfortunately, we are one of the lowest ranked states in the nation for rural broadband access. The need was underscored during the pandemic as government, schools and private businesses pivoted to the internet. It’s something I’ve been working to address as chair of the Senate’s committee on Business, Commerce and Tourism, and co-chair of the state’s Rural Broadband Expansion Council.
Fortunately, this is one of the areas ARPA funds can be used for, and I’m hopeful that through this process, we will be able to make significant investments to ensure our rural communities have access to the same highspeed internet services at the metro areas of the state.
I also want to mention that this past Tuesday was FFA Day at the Capitol. I’m sure most of you are familiar with this outstanding organization, and many of you likely were members growing up. We probably have families in this district who’ve participated in FFA for generations. FFA underscores and mirrors key values that Oklahomans hold dear, making a positive difference in the lives of young people by developing their potential for premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agricultural education.
As part of FFA Day at the Capitol, we had members from Bristow, Kellyville, and Depew join us for this event. I’m very proud of these students, their hard work and their dedication to this outstanding organization. I applaud all our FFA members and thank them for representing District 12 and our state so well.
I thank you for the privilege of being your voice at the state Capitol. If you have any questions or concerns about legislation or other issues at the state level, please feel free to contact my office by calling 405-521- 5528, or email James.Leewright@oksenate.gov.