Congressman Frank Lucas is a fifth generation Oklahoman whose family has lived and farmed in Oklahoma for over 120 years. Born on January 6, 1960 in Cheyenne, Oklahoma, Lucas graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1982 with a degree in Agricultural Economics. He was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in a special election in 1994.
Lucas proudly represents Oklahoma’s Third Congressional District, which includes all or portions of 32 counties in northern and western Oklahoma, stretching from the Oklahoma panhandle to parts of Tulsa, and from Yukon to Altus in the southwest. It takes up almost half the state’s land mass and is one of the largest agricultural regions in the nation. Lucas has been a crusader for the American farmer since being elected to Congress in 1994 and he has fought to protect Oklahoma values.
The agriculture industry is the lifeblood of our economy and the breadbasket of our Nation.
Oklahoma’s 3rd Congressional District is home to more than 19 million acres of farmland, and produces some of the most wheat and livestock in the country. Helping write the 2002, 2008, 2014, and 2018 Farm Bills and as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, I have long been a champion of providing tax relief and less government regulation, promoting fair trade in agriculture, and ensuring the successes of voluntary agriculture conservation programs. I also advocated for renewable energy provisions to be included in the 2008 Farm Bill which would allow rural areas to play a larger role in making the U.S. less dependent on foreign sources of energy.
There are no better stewards of the land than those whose livelihood depends on the land, which is why I will continue to be a strong voice for production agriculture and work to ensure that farmers have the necessary resources to not survive, but to thrive.
Recently, the American people have suffered through high unemployment rates and a sagging economy. Many are having to make tough choices and are finding it difficult to provide for their families. It’s time Congress put money back in the pockets of the American people by cutting taxes on American families and small businesses.
Congress must rein in the excessive regulations that stifle American agriculture and energy production, lower the tax burden for our families and job creators, and create a fairer and simpler tax system that results in better job opportunities, higher household income, and a significant improvement for all Americans. Additionally, just as families across this country are doing right now, the federal government must begin to tighten their proverbial belt and cut back on spending.
Congress must get back to the business of fiscal responsibility and strive for a balanced budget without raising the taxes of hard-working Americans.
I remain committed to working to cut regulations and taxes in Congress, ensuring Oklahoma’s families are able to keep more of their hard-earned money at the end of the day.
In order to achieve energy independence as a nation, we must work towards lessening our dependency on foreign oil, create American jobs, and promote energy efficiency. Oklahoma began its role as an energy-producing state with the establishment of the first oil refinery in the late 1800s, and has grown to be one of the largest producers of oil and natural gas in the country. The oil and gas producers in Oklahoma’s 3rd Congressional District provide a safe and affordable energy to our nation, and thousands of jobs to our people.
But it’s not just oil and natural gas that make Oklahoma great, our state is home to some of the United States’ largest wind farms. Not only are we creating cleaner, American-made energy, but our farmers are able to generate additional income by placing wind turbines in the wheat fields, boosting the American economy.
America’s energy supply should be stable, diverse, and affordable, which is why I support an all-of-the-above energy strategy that encourages domestic production, reduces our dependency on foreign oil, and explores renewable energy solutions.
If there is one message I have received loud and clear during my town hall meetings it has been this: our health care system needs reform. However, most people have argued the answer is not a federal government-run health care system in this country. I have long believed that health care decisions should be between a patient and their doctor- not the federal government.
In Congress, I am working to ensure every American has the right to accessible, affordable, quality health care. I am committed to finding solutions that ensures we lower the cost of health care, allows consumers to make choices for their healthcare- not the government, removes red tape bureaucracy accelerating the development of life-saving devices and therapies, and improves access to quality care for those who call rural America home.
I will always fight for solutions that provide accessible, affordable, quality care for Oklahomans, because without access to quality healthcare, our hard-working families in middle America are left high and dry.
The United States of America is a country founded by immigrants and built on their hard work and dedication to the idea of a country created by the people, for the people. But just as we are a Nation of immigrants, America is also a Nation of laws. Our current immigration system is broken and desperately needs comprehensive reforms.
Securing our border and protecting our citizens should be a top priority of the federal government. We must crack down on illegal immigration and those who employ illegal aliens without threatening the American dream for those who play by the rules. In Congress, I will work to support the United States Border Patrol and ensure they have the necessary tools to keep the American people safe.
I remain committed to supporting legislation that secures the U.S. – Mexico border and provides comprehensive visa reform for those seeking legal immigration.
The American people trust Congress to provide for their security by maintaining a strong national defense. While Americans are fortunate to have a strong military force of brave men and women fighting to preserve our freedom, Congress must remain committed to rebuilding our military readiness and capabilities to address the growing threats from our adversaries- such as China and Russia.
Oklahoma’s 3rd Congressional District has a rich military heritage, and I remain fully committed to providing our military installations the resources they need to attract new missions and keep Oklahoma at the forefront of our national defense.
I will continue to work diligently to ensure that our government focuses on strengthening our national defense, provides the necessary resources to our Armed Forces, and provides Americans with freedom and security at home and throughout the world.
I am a firm believer in the importance of the Social Security program. I am committed to making sure that these programs are there for all Americans – both current beneficiaries and future beneficiaries. Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have opposed proposals that would jeopardize the future viability of these programs.
Unfortunately, financial and economic analysts agree that Social Security, as currently structured, is fiscally unsustainable. This is mainly because of the great advances in health care over the last 30 years: as more Americans are living longer lives, the number of retirees as a percentage of the overall population grows. Consequently, the number of workers paying into the system will be too small to support the retirees who have already paid into the system.
One thing I will promise is that, whatever changes are made to Social Security, current beneficiaries will not see their benefits go down. Social Security is a promise that we made to our seniors, and I will fight to make sure that promise is kept.
I believe you can measure the character of a nation by the way they treat their veterans. Our Nation’s veterans made tremendous sacrifices to ensure Americans enjoy freedom and peace at the end of each day. Congress must keep its promises to our veterans who have served our country with honor.
I am committed to fighting for those who fought for our freedoms. We must ensure all veterans receive the benefits they earned and deserve- including access to affordable, high quality health care.
Oklahoma is home to a system of crucial V.A. facilities and more than 300,000 men and women who have served the United States in the Armed Forces. Congress must fulfill its obligations to those who have made the ultimate sacrifice, which is why I stand ready to provide America’s soldiers and veterans the best possible care we can.
Spending in Congress has reached historic levels during the 111th Congress. The fiscally irresponsible behavior of former Speaker Pelosi and President Obama has driven our national debt level to the point that it is almost equal to the size of our entire economy. This is unacceptable and it must stop.
I have opposed – and will continue to oppose – spending initiatives that dramatically increase the size and scope of the federal government while adding to our already massive national debt. I have long been a supporter of tax reform and will continue to fight against increases in taxes and wasteful federal spending. Congress must get back to the business of fiscal responsibility and strive for a balanced budget without raising the taxes of hard-working Americans.
Recently, the American people have suffered through high unemployment rates and a sagging economy. Many are having to make tough choices and are finding it difficult to provide for their families.
We need to put money back in the pockets of the American people by cutting taxes on American families and small businesses. This will raise the standard of living and encourage economic growth by lowering the cost to do business. As we have learned from history, increased taxes do nothing but grow the size of government and stifle economic growth. Second, just as families across this country are doing right now, the federal government must begin to tighten their proverbial belt and cut back on spending.
In order to achieve energy independence as a nation, we must work towards lessening our dependency on foreign oil, create American jobs, and promote energy efficiency.
Estimates put more than 800 billion barrels of untapped oil in onshore and offshore reserves in the U.S. Putting even a fraction of that on the market would undoubtedly help lower the cost of gasoline. Also, we must expand our ability to refine crude oil. A new oil refinery has not been built in this country in more than 30 years, pushing our existing refineries to their production limit. Without updating and expanding our refining capacity, we will be unable to effectively and efficiently convert our crude oil into gasoline.
It is also important to encourage the development of alternative fuels. Wind power is one of the most efficient forms of energy, as Oklahoma has learned. Oklahoma's wind industry is the number nine producer in the nation. Not only are we creating cleaner, American-made energy, but our farmers are able to generate additional income by placing wind turbines in the wheat fields, boosting the American economy. However, America's wind production potential is far from fulfilled. Many states have opposed wind turbines being built within their borders. In addition, more research and development is needed to effectively transport the energy harvested.
Oklahoma began its role as an energy-producing state with the establishment of the first oil refinery in the late 1800s, and has grown to be one of the largest producers of oil and natural gas in the country. With the recent interest in alternative fuels, we have maintained our position at the forefront of energy production by developing one of the most successful wind industries in the country. We have proudly been a major contributor to the nation's energy supply for more than 100 years and look forward to continuing in that role.
We are honored to serve as an energy provider for this country; however, the supply produced by Oklahoma and other energy producing states is no longer enough to meet the world demands. It is time for all Americans to get back in the business of energy production.