Tom Cole
Representative for Oklahoma · Republican · United States
“Putin is a despot waging an illegal and ongoing war against a sovereign nation. Indeed, one of the European leaders I spoke with said Putin's attack on Ukraine is an attack on all of Europe, and that is true. That demands more than just condemnation. It demands consequences.”
House of Representatives16 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend and distinguished statesman in his own right for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, Vladimir Putin is a tyrant and a war criminal, and we should be clear about what drives him. He fears freedom, so he attacks it. He obscures the truth, so he can peddle lies.”
House of Representatives16 September 2026Source ↗
“This Congress, alongside the White House and our NATO allies, will continue to make clear that, with our help, a free people will defeat a despotic tyrant. Mr.”
House of Representatives16 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my very good friend, Chairman Westerman, for yielding me the time and for bringing this important piece of legislation to the floor. I also thank Congresswoman Betty McCollum of Minnesota for her collaboration, and Secretary Markwayne Mullin for his work on this legislation during his time in the Senate.”
House of Representatives14 September 2026Source ↗
“This straightforward, bipartisan piece of legislation will not only provide finality for the Miami Tribe, but also certainty to the landowners and farmers in Illinois who have been living on this land for generations. As a Tribal member myself, it is an honor to help a fellow Tribal nation and be a voice here in Washington.”
House of Representatives14 September 2026Source ↗
“Speaker, I invite the United States Senate, as a body, to join us in that and produce some product, post some numbers, do something so that we have some idea of what they are thinking about in terms of long-term appropriations. Then, we will sit down, appropriately, and we will bargain with them and hopefully come to a common conclusion.”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
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“This Congress, alongside the White House and our NATO allies, will continue to make clear that, with our help, a free people will defeat a despotic tyrant. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to support this bipartisan legislation and honor Senator Lindsey Graham's longstanding legacy of steadfastly defending democracy and American values and interests.”
House of Representatives16 September 2026Source ↗
“Putin is a despot waging an illegal and ongoing war against a sovereign nation. Indeed, one of the European leaders I spoke with said Putin's attack on Ukraine is an attack on all of Europe, and that is true. That demands more than just condemnation. It demands consequences. Today, the House will act to kneecap the Kremlin's war machine and cripple the cash flow fueling its pursuit of imperial dominance. This bill will implement an economic onslaught against Putin, his cronies, and the Iranian regime. It sanctions major buyers of Russian energy, targets Russia's leadership and financial institutions, closes sanctions loopholes, and strengthens President Trump's leverage for peace. {time} 1010 As Ukraine continues to bravely fight and Russia's economy strains, this bill will further choke Putin's ability to wage war.”
House of Representatives16 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend and distinguished statesman in his own right for yielding me the time. Mr. Speaker, Vladimir Putin is a tyrant and a war criminal, and we should be clear about what drives him. He fears freedom, so he attacks it. He obscures the truth, so he can peddle lies. He cannot build his power through accomplishments, so he takes it through bloodshed. None of this is without purpose. Putin seeks to weaken the United States, fracture the West, and undermine democratic institutions. This isn't rhetoric. It is reality and one I have seen directly. I recently traveled to Europe on a bipartisan delegation visiting Ukraine and Moldova, our new allies; old friends, Sweden and Finland; and also our historic allies like Great Britain and Denmark. What I witnessed only reinforced the truth.”
House of Representatives16 September 2026Source ↗
“This straightforward, bipartisan piece of legislation will not only provide finality for the Miami Tribe, but also certainty to the landowners and farmers in Illinois who have been living on this land for generations. As a Tribal member myself, it is an honor to help a fellow Tribal nation and be a voice here in Washington. Today is a testament of Congress upholding its trust and treaty responsibility, and I would like to thank Chairman Westerman again for his support. Chairman Hurd, Ranking Member Huffman, and Ranking Member Leger Fernandez were also instrumental, and I appreciate the efforts of their staff and their support and efforts on this important piece of legislation. Mr. Speaker, I urge the passage of S. 550.”
House of Representatives14 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my very good friend, Chairman Westerman, for yielding me the time and for bringing this important piece of legislation to the floor. I also thank Congresswoman Betty McCollum of Minnesota for her collaboration, and Secretary Markwayne Mullin for his work on this legislation during his time in the Senate. I rise today, Mr. Speaker, in strong support of S. 550, the companion legislation to my bill, H.R. 2827. The Miami Tribe of Oklahoma have been waiting more than 10 years for this legislation to pass, and today is finally that day. Mr. Speaker, that would not be possible without Chairman Westerman's help and support, and I am very appreciative. Resolving this land claim will remedy a mistake made by the Federal Government roughly two centuries ago.”
House of Representatives14 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays. The yeas and nays were ordered.”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
“I think we can do that again. This bill is a step in that direction. Again, I thank my friend for supporting the legislation. I hope our Senate colleagues recognize that we are trying to move along. We didn't want to fight over things, even the couple of things that we disagreed with. We wanted to bring this to the floor and begin a bipartisan process. Again, I think that is what we will accomplish today if we pass these bills. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
“Speaker, I invite the United States Senate, as a body, to join us in that and produce some product, post some numbers, do something so that we have some idea of what they are thinking about in terms of long-term appropriations. Then, we will sit down, appropriately, and we will bargain with them and hopefully come to a common conclusion. The last thing this country needs is a full-year continuing resolution. We need negotiated, bipartisan bills that achieve the common objectives that, despite the partisan rhetoric of an election year, I know we have together. We have worked together before to defend the country, to advance biomedical research, to take care of early childhood, to help first-time college students, to do all of the things that the United States Government ought to be engaged in and do it in a bipartisan way.”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
“For that to work, again, every person has to be at the table. Every point of view has to be represented, and we have to find common ground. We were able to do that last year by working together on almost everything--not quite, but almost--and I think we can do that again this year. It is important for the country that we do. Mr. Speaker, again, I thank my good friend, the ranking member of the full committee, for always being an honest and direct negotiating partner. I know that is going to continue. I know we have the same goal of trying to get all of these bills done by the end of the calendar year, if not the fiscal year. Mr.”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
“For us to go an entire fiscal year almost--we are about 30 days short of it--without a single Senate bill is just unprecedented. I do not blame that on my Republican colleagues. Frankly, they have the filibuster over there. They have to get to 60. They have not been able to do that, and that is going to mean that we are going to have an extraordinarily short time. I am pleased, however, that the Senate acted. When we passed our continuing resolution over here, we knew it would change when it got to the Senate. Some of those changes, I actually agree with. Some of them, I don't. They don't really change the substance or the fact that we bought the time that we need to get through the election cycle and, hopefully, the time that we need to get down to serious bargaining on the other side of it.”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I thank my friend, as always, for working with us in this matter cooperatively. Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased, honestly, with the progress of the House Appropriations Committee this year. Again, all 12 bills were reported out of committee in the fastest time since fiscal year 2020. I know those bills aren't in their final form, and so does my friend. We still need to sit down and bargain together and bargain with the Senate. Out of that, I believe we will emerge with a bipartisan compromise that both sides can be proud of and that we can send to the President for his approval. For that to occur, the United States Senate has to begin to act. They have to produce bills.”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Smith), my good friend and the distinguished chairman of the House Committee on Ways and Means. {time} 1240”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Alford), my good friend and a distinguished member of the Committee on Appropriations.”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
“Speaker, I urge all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to join me in voting for this responsible measure, and I look forward to continuing the FY 2027 appropriations process in the months ahead. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
“The bill before us is a clean, narrowly tailored continuing resolution that keeps the government open and operating, nothing more, nothing less. It gives the Nation and our constituents certainty: certainty that the government will remain open, certainty that our servicemembers will be paid, certainty that the TSA will remain operating, certainty that Social Security checks will go out on time, certainty that home buyers will be able to secure mortgages, certainty that the Nation will be protected from foreign threats, certainty that Americans will be able to access nutrition assistance and disaster relief, certainty that roads will be repaired and critical infrastructure projects will continue, and certainty that our elections will be secure. The choice is clear. Mr.”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
“The bill protects our national security, providing funding for our Armed Forces and security agencies as well as crucial authorities for core research and development programs to ensure our military remains the best armed and equipped services in the world. The bill contains no poison pills and no partisan riders. It doesn't mean I agree with everything in it, but I think the time to act is now. The bill has the support of the White House and notably the bill preserves the House's progress and the ability to pass full-year funding bills after the November elections. Over and over, I hear from my constituents that they want Congress to work together and do the right thing for the American people. That is precisely what we are doing in taking up today's bill.”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
“This clean, short-term continuing resolution simply keeps the government open, protects the progress we have made, and preserves the path to full-year appropriations. If enacted, the bill before us today will fund the government through December 11. This will allow Congress time to get past the November elections and allow us time to assess and move forward with further appropriations measures in November and December. Let me be very clear, Mr. Speaker, about what this bill does and does not do: The bill funds the government and keeps it open through December 11, ensuring our constituents will continue to get the services they need.”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
“Like it or not, the Constitution entrusts Congress, both the House and the Senate, with the responsibility of funding the government. The fact remains that this House cannot act solely on its own. The hard reality before us is straightforward: The fiscal year deadline is outpacing the work that remains. Recognizing that this was a possibility in July, the House proactively passed H.R. 9770, a continuing resolution to fund the government through December 4. I am glad to say the example we set helped paved the way for action in the other Chamber. The Senate built on our plan and before leaving for recess, our colleagues passed an amended version of that bill. We now have an opportunity to take this measure up and send it to the President for his approval.”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
“I am extremely pleased that the House Appropriations Committee largely fulfilled its responsibilities earlier this year. By the middle of June, the Appropriations Committee reported out all 12 of our fiscal year 2027 appropriations bills, the earliest we have done so since fiscal year 2020. The full House has also passed three of these bills. I had hoped that the House's quick actions would lead to sending a series of appropriations measures to the President's desk before the end of the fiscal year. Unfortunately, time is running short. Though the House acted expeditiously, our colleagues across the rotunda have not approached this problem with the same sense of urgency. Indeed, the Senate has yet to report a single bill out of the Senate Appropriations Committee, much less across the Senate floor.”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Senate amendments to H.R. 6500, the Continuing Appropriations Act of 2027. Mr. Speaker, today is the first day of September. At this time of year, some people think of fall. Some people, like me, think of football, but on the Appropriations Committee, our focus is on the end of the fiscal year. September 30 marks the end of the fiscal year 2026, and that means both the House and the Senate must act to fund the government for the coming fiscal year. The Constitution entrusts Congress with a solemn duty to fund the government. This is a responsibility I have never viewed as optional and one I have remained committed to honoring through regular order.”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 6500) to extend duty-free treatment provided with respect to imports from certain countries in Africa under the African Growth and Opportunity Act, to extend customs user fees, and for other purposes.”
House of Representatives1 September 2026Source ↗
“Again, we are willing to talk about other matters that our friends want to bring up. We just want to take the option of a shutdown off the table. It is that simple. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.”
House of Representatives21 July 2026Source ↗
“It ensures no artificial deadline, and it ensures we will get the election in the rearview mirror without shutting down the government as we move into an election. We think this is a prudent thing to do. I hope some of my friends on the other side will accept that view and vote accordingly. If not, we will try to do this on our own, but we would prefer to do it in cooperation with our friends. Again, that is all we are trying to do. I would urge, Mr. Speaker, that my colleagues support this bill, that we make sure there is no government shutdown come the end of the fiscal year, and that we make sure we can conduct our elections in November without the threat of a shutdown leading into those elections. Then we would prudently try to resolve our differences on the other side of the election. It is pretty simple stuff.”
House of Representatives21 July 2026Source ↗
“Why the Border Patrol is mixed up in this, I will never know, but I am happy to talk to my friends about it on the other side. Let's do the prudent thing, as my friend, Mr. Womack, said. Let's take out an insurance policy. Let's remove the option of a government shutdown, and let's continue to work in good faith. We have done that in this House. That is why all 12 bills are out of committee. I commend my friends on the other side. They made their points. They made their arguments. They supported a couple of those bills, others they might not. The point is, they worked in good faith. That has not happened in the United States Senate. We have had two shutdowns triggered by people that historically condemn any shutdown. Their argument has always in the past been: Let's keep the government open while we negotiate. That is all this CR does.”
House of Representatives21 July 2026Source ↗
“If there are other matters along the way, we are happy to sit down and talk about those. We just want to take the possibility of a government shutdown off the table. Some people may think that is being cautious. Those people would probably not be aware that we went through the longest full government shutdown in American history triggered by our friends in the United States Senate, the Democrats in the United States Senate. Some people might think that, you know, again, we run the risk of our borders. We had to resort to extraordinary measures to continue to fund the Border Patrol. Why anybody is mad at the Border Patrol, I will never know. All they have done is their job. We have had no known illegal entries in the United States in over a year. That is something to be proud of.”
House of Representatives21 July 2026Source ↗
“If we have to wait until after the election until our friends in the Senate want to sit down and work, then we will wait until after the election. We don't have to wait through a shutdown. We don't have to create the temptation for individual Members to exploit an artificial deadline of the end of the fiscal year. We just need to keep working, as we have, productively. That is all this bill does. There are no poison pills in it. There is no increase in funding. There is no other extraneous legislation attached to it. It is a clean, simple CR to avoid a shutdown before a scheduled election and to give us enough time after that election to sit down, either resolve our differences--which is what I hope we can do--or if we need additional time, we will look at that then.”
House of Representatives21 July 2026Source ↗
“We want to make sure between when we leave here on September 30 and that election, and sometime beyond that, December 4, that the government continues to function, and we are available to negotiate at any time. We, as my friends on the House side have done, have kept our word in those negotiations. They have been in good faith. All this does is make sure that we do not have a shutdown come September 30, nor do we have a wild effort by either individual Members or either party to demand things in exchange for keeping the government open. The government will be open until the election is over. I actually think that is a concession and a favor to everybody. It is a favor to the American people to make sure that they are not inconvenienced and endangered by a government shutdown.”
House of Representatives21 July 2026Source ↗
“If they want to put additional things in the bill, fine, we can talk about that, but let's just assure that funding is going to go on no matter what. That is all this clean continuing resolution does. Look, I have been around here long enough to know that tensions rise as you move toward an election. I have been around here long enough to see Members on both sides of the aisle try to leverage a shutdown to extract additional concessions. We want to avoid that. We want to continue to both move bills across this floor. Obviously, we have moved ours out of committee. We want to give the Senate time to do the same thing. Count me as skeptical that they are going to do much before the election.”
House of Representatives21 July 2026Source ↗
“Let's add more training for our men and women in ICE, you know, Department of Homeland Security. Let's have some additional training. Let's have some additional funding. Those were all things we agreed to, and then once again we got another shutdown. Frankly, we just want to make assurance. I have no doubt we can negotiate differences, including some of the concerns my friend raised today, in the time we have between now and September 30. What we don't want is a government shutdown used and perverted for political purposes 5 weeks before an election. We think that is a risk that we are running in dealing with the Senate. While we have worked productively, we have gotten bills out on both a partisan and a bipartisan basis, we haven't seen that in the Senate. Honestly, they haven't passed a single appropriations bill yet.”
House of Representatives21 July 2026Source ↗
“Quite frankly, they came to a bill agreement last year when we were trying to get the first three bills out--which we succeeded working together in doing--that, gosh, let's just keep working. What we want is a clean continuing resolution and a short date. We gave them both those things. Instead, they then added new demands unrelated to the subject at hand, demands that, frankly, we did not agree with, did not accept. What did we get? We got a 79-day full shutdown, as my friend pointed out. We don't think that is acceptable. We want to continue the process. Second, we negotiated again earlier this year. Again, we thought we had an agreement. We made concessions to our friends on the other side, concessions which we thought really weren't concessions. They were helpful suggestions from the Democrats.”
House of Representatives21 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I want to begin by complimenting my good friend, the ranking member of the full Appropriations Committee. She has bargained with us throughout this process in good faith, and it has been a pleasure to work with her. I have often been quoted, and I will say it here on the House floor, you can trust Rosa DeLauro. When she gives you her word, she keeps her word. We have no complaint at all with our friends on the other side of the aisle in the House and certainly not with our distinguished ranking member. I will tell you, we have not seen that same sort of good faith from the Senate of the United States, particularly the Senate Democrats.”
House of Representatives21 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Womack), my very good friend, and chairman of the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the full Appropriations Committee.”
House of Representatives21 July 2026Source ↗
“I know which options our troops, veterans, TSA agents, and government employees deserve. I know which option I will choose. I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for this responsible measure, and I look forward to continuing the fiscal year 2027 appropriations process in the coming months. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.”
House of Representatives21 July 2026Source ↗
“You see, it is never too early to do the right thing. In fact, after Senate Democrats forced the two longest government shutdowns in American history and abandoned previously negotiated funding agreements more than once, we have every reason to act early and every responsibility to do so. The House will make clear to the Nation where we stand, and it is on the side of stability, certainty, and the American people. Additionally, supporting this bill does not limit, hinder, or halt any work on the full-year appropriations for any of the 12 bills. The choice is clear: Either Members will vote to keep the government working or they will vote to risk another unnecessary shutdown. I know which option my constituents expect. I know which option gives families relying on nutrition assistance or disaster relief the certainty they need.”
House of Representatives21 July 2026Source ↗
“Our Conference refuses to let the obstruction and inaction of Senate Democrats trigger another manufactured shutdown at the end of September. That is why we are acting before a funding lapse crisis, not in response to it. This clean, short-term continuing resolution simply keeps the government open, protects the progress we have made, and preserves the path to full-year appropriations. For anyone questioning this legislation, the facts are simple: It extends the government funding deadline to December 4, denying any party the opportunity to manufacture leverage before elections. It contains no poison pills or partisan riders. It prevents harmful disruptions to our national security and the vital programs our constituents rely on. And it preserves the House's progress toward completing full-year fiscal 2027 appropriations.”
House of Representatives21 July 2026Source ↗
“This was accomplished before the end of June, the earliest date on record since fiscal year 2020. We have also passed three of these bills across this very floor with bipartisan support. I am deeply proud of the engagement, discipline, and focus of our cardinals and appropriators and the support of our colleagues in this Chamber. While I wish I could say the same momentum and determination is being exercised on the other side of the Capitol, it is not. Senate Democrats won't even allow markups to progress. It is impossible to negotiate full-year funding when circumstances make clear that one side is willing to bring the process to a standstill before it can even leave committee. The hard reality before us is straightforward. The fiscal year deadline is outpacing the work that remains.”
House of Representatives21 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 9770, the Continuing Appropriations Act, 2027. This Congress has a constitutional duty to fund the government. If Article I teaches us anything, it is that governing means doing the work, not waiting for a crisis. It is a responsibility I have never viewed as optional and one I have remained committed to honoring through regular order. Over the last year, Mr. Speaker, the House Committee on Appropriations has acted to fulfill our fiscal year 2027 responsibilities. Previous partisan shutdowns and political headwinds never deterred us from doing our work. In fact, we refused to let political dysfunction become an excuse for inaction. So, line by line, bill by bill, we delivered all 12 regular appropriations bills out of committee.”
House of Representatives21 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.”
House of Representatives21 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 1438, I call up the bill (H.R. 9770) making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2027, and for other purposes, and ask for its immediate consideration in the House.”
House of Representatives21 July 2026Source ↗
“Chair, I thank my friend from Florida and Ranking Member Frankel for their leadership, and I thank the staff on both sides of the aisle for their hard work. I urge my colleagues to support this bill. {time} 1230”
House of Representatives15 July 2026Source ↗
“It also demands greater accountability and raises expectations for our partners, recognizing that enduring alliances are strongest when responsibilities are shared. Further, it implements strategic investments that enhance U.S. leverage abroad and combat fentanyl trafficking and criminal organizations. It refocuses our diplomacy on core missions like embassy security, passport services, and promoting American businesses overseas. The bottom line is simple: This legislation recognizes that freedom and democracy are not mere ideals. They are principles that we will actively champion and advance. Chairman Diaz-Balart's bill directs resources to the highest impact priorities that strengthen America's position while cutting billions in unnecessary spending. This bill delivers security, strategic focus, and results. Mr.”
House of Representatives15 July 2026Source ↗
“Mr. Chair, I thank my distinguished friend and vice chair of the full committee, Chairman Diaz-Balart, for yielding the time and for his work on this bill. The fiscal year 2027 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs bill makes a clear statement about American leadership: We will engage where it matters. We will invest where it counts. We will demand accountability for every dollar spent. The legislation before us today, Mr. Chairman, implements a clear- eyed and unapologetic approach to our security and democracy efforts. It leaves no doubt about our Nation's posture. America will not be passive or simply write blank checks. Every investment we make must advance U.S. interests, strengthen our strategic position, and deliver measurable results for the American people.”
House of Representatives15 July 2026Source ↗
“I remember Wes Watkins with a great deal of fondness. In the course of his life, there were three things he loved the most. First was his family. When you think of his family, you always think of his wife, Lou. They were inseparable. Then, he loved the State of Oklahoma, and he served it proudly, as well. Finally, and I say this as an OU alumnus and a fierce Sooner, he was the proudest, most ferocious Oklahoma State graduate I ever met. He absolutely revered that institution and spent a lifetime working for it. I know the people of Oklahoma will miss Wes Watkins. He was, in many ways, a favorite son of the State. He certainly distinguished himself in public service and in his devotion to the interests of the State. I am going to miss Wes even more than that. I will miss him as a friend. I will miss him as a mentor.”
House of Representatives7 April 2025Source ↗
“As a matter of fact, on one occasion, I remember getting a call at 5:30 in the morning--actually, on more than one occasion. I would also get calls late at night. I called his beloved wife, Lou, once and said: Lou, I am getting calls at 5:30 in the morning and 10 at night. She said: Tom, he keeps a list of people he can call before 8 in the morning and after 8 at night, and somehow you have gotten yourself on both those lists. That is how hard he worked. That is how relentless he was. While he changed political parties over the course of his lifetime, I can tell you he never changed his political principles. Quite frankly, he symbolized and propelled the transformation of Oklahoma from a Democratic State to a Republican State. I never met Democrats who didn't like him or Republicans who didn't like him. He was simply a revered individual.”
House of Representatives7 April 2025Source ↗
“Wes was the only person ever turned down who had been a State senator for a cabinet spot because Democrats were so mad at him at the time. Frankly, he got the last laugh because, the very next year, he ran for his old congressional seat and won. Republicans thought so much of him. I remember calling Newt Gingrich, who was the Speaker of this institution at the time. I was Wes' campaign consultant and a good friend of Speaker Gingrich. I said: He really wants to go on the Ways and Means Committee. Speaker Gingrich said: If he runs, he has got it. I will absolutely put him there. Wes was one of the best Members of Congress. He was a pretty extraordinary guy. I will tell you, of all the different candidates I have worked with and for over the years, nobody ever worked harder and longer.”
House of Representatives7 April 2025Source ↗
“He is the only person I know of in Oklahoma history, maybe in American history, that ever carried his congressional district first as a Democrat, then as a Democrat running for Governor, and then as an independent seeking the governorship, and, finally, later as a Republican. He was so impressive on the campaign trail in his second term that the person who won the election, former Governor Frank Keating of Oklahoma--who was actually my friend, my mentor, and my client at the time--was so impressed that he would come back from the campaign trail and say: I love Wes Watkins. He is for everything I am for. He is such a great guy. As soon as Frank became Governor Keating, he offered Wes Watkins a cabinet position in his own administration.”
House of Representatives7 April 2025Source ↗
“Lucas said, in very humble circumstances, yet he succeeded in every single thing he did over the course of his lifetime. He succeeded in college. He succeeded as a businessman. He was a family man, and he was extraordinarily successful at that. He was in the National Guard. Finally, he began a political career, first in the State senate and then in the Halls of this distinguished institution. Wes Watkins served two different stints in Congress, but what my friend Mr. Lucas didn't say was that he served the first seven terms as a Democrat. Then he went home to run for Governor.”
House of Representatives7 April 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, this is a little bit unusual. I have comments on my friend Wes Watkins, as well. I want to talk a little bit off the cuff about the man that my good friend and colleague Frank Lucas was talking about a few minutes ago. Wes Watkins liked to think of himself as an ordinary man and a typical Oklahoman. I can assure everybody here he was neither ordinary nor typical. He was extraordinary. Wes Watkins was born, as my friend Mr.”
House of Representatives7 April 2025Source ↗
“Mr. Speaker, in that case, may I inquire as to how much time is remaining.”
House of Representatives11 March 2025Source ↗