A bipartisan group of lawmakers is working to make permanent the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR), which provides USDA food boxes to low-income Native American households. Established as a pilot in 2018, the program served about 50,000 people by 2023 and offers an alternative to SNAP with healthier food options. Legislation introduced by Rep. Sharice Davids aims to allow federally recognized tribes to administer the program themselves, increasing tribal self-determination. Despite uncertainty about support from Republican House leadership, the program addresses serious food insecurity issues on reservations and will be part of upcoming farm bill discussions.
by Em Luetkemeyer, Oklahoma Watch July 4, 2025
A bipartisan group of lawmakers is pushing to give low-income households on Native American reservations easier access to healthier food by making a food program established during the first Trump administration permanent.
The chances of the bill getting across the finish line are unclear. The lawmakers would need the backing of Republican House leadership for it to get a floor vote, and it’s at odds with much of the Trump administration’s priorities to cut federal funding.
But the lack of availability of healthy food on reservations is a rare issue that is of at least some concern to both parties.
“As my old committee colleagues know, I work on all sides of the aisle with every open-minded variety,” Rep. Frank Lucas, one of the co-sponsors of the bill, said as he squeezed into an elevator full of lawmakers when asked about bipartisan work on tribal affairs.
The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations provides a box of food from the U.S. Department of Agriculture each month to income-eligible households on reservations. It began as a pilot program with the Cherokee and Chickasaw nations in the 2018 farm bill, and about 50,000 individuals were using the program monthly by 2023. The USDA describes the program as an alternative to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that allows participants to choose from fruits, vegetables, proteins, cooking essentials and more.
After seeing its success, lawmakers are hoping to use the legislation introduced by Democratic Rep. Sharice Davids to make the program permanent. Any federally recognized tribe that participates in the program could administer the program itself.
“I would call it an overarching effort to make sure that tribes can have more self-determination,” Davids, who represents a competitive district in Kansas, said. “It’s a really good way to make sure that these resources get straight to tribal governments, so that they can then, as effectively as possible, get this nutritional food out to their communities.”
Davids, a Ho-Chunk Nation citizen, has lived and worked on a reservation, where access to grocery stores — let alone healthy foods and produce — can be scarce. She said this act is “a really good way for everyone to remember that these aren’t just statistics.”
“I lived in a place where it would take 45 minutes to get to a very small grocery store, and 90 minutes to get to what I think a lot of people might consider like a regular-sized grocery store,” Davids said.
Food insecurity is significantly greater for Native American and Alaska Native households than all U.S. households, according to a 2024 report from the Government Accountability Office.
Ben Goldey, communications director for the House Committee on Agriculture, said in a written statement that the program would be part of upcoming farm bill negotiations.
“This is very similar to something that was part of the bipartisan farm bill that passed out of Committee last year, but ultimately did not make it across the finish line,” Goldey said.
“The One Big Beautiful Bill that just passed includes many of the farm bill programs that could pass through reconciliation, however many critical programs remain,” Goldey said, in reference to the reconciliation bill Congress passed this week. “As we turn our focus to what Chairman Thompson is calling Farm Bill 2.0 … this will be part of those discussions.”
The offices of Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise did not respond to Oklahoma Watch’s requests for comment.
Tribal leaders praised the pilot version of the program at a field hearing with members of Congress in April but said they wanted more agency over buying and distributing the food.
“The addition of the self-determination-type program, where we can purchase certain foods ourselves, is certainly something we welcome, and it has proven to be a very good change,” Gov. Bill Anoatubby of the Chickasaw Nation said in the hearing.
Oklahoma is home to nearly 40 federally recognized tribes and would be one of the states that stand to benefit the most if the bill were passed.
“It worked spectacularly successful,” Lucas said of the program. “So we’re trying to make sure that opportunity is available for the other 500-some tribes.”
Rep. Tom Cole, a Chickasaw Nation member who, like Lucas, is a Republican, signed on as another co-sponsor of this act last week.
“A lot of [reservations] are food deserts, and the population is scattered and isolated — very, very rural,” Cole said. “There’s not the consumer base in many cases that you need to get the food diversity that, honestly, every American ought to have access to.”
Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The article presents a balanced and factual overview of bipartisan efforts to improve access to healthy food on Native American reservations. It highlights cooperation between Democratic and Republican lawmakers, quoting representatives from both parties without favoring one side. The language is neutral and focuses on the policy’s merits and challenges, avoiding partisan framing. The coverage of the topic respects tribal perspectives and policy details without editorializing, reflecting an objective tone typical of centrist reporting.
Republican Rep. Tom Cole, serving Oklahoma’s 4th Congressional District since 2003, plans to run for a 13th term, motivated by his influential roles on the House Appropriations Committee. Oklahoma’s delegation holds unprecedented power, with Cole as chair, Rep. Stephanie Bice as vice chair of a subcommittee, and Sen. Markwayne Mullin as a Senate appropriator. Cole emphasizes his commitment to protecting federal funding vital to Oklahoma, which relies heavily on federal grants. He has actively defended local facilities from budget cuts and maintains bipartisan relationships. Cole’s campaign is financially strong, preparing for the 2026 election, with a final decision expected by April 2026.
by Em Luetkemeyer, Oklahoma Watch July 30, 2025
Republican Rep. Tom Cole, who has spent more than 20 years in the House, says he is planning on running for a 13th term, in large part because of what he and other members of the Oklahoma delegation are able to deliver now that they’ve accumulated more power.
Oklahoma, he said, is “probably better positioned on this committee than we’ve ever been as a state,” due to his own chairmanship, rising power in Rep. Stephanie Bice’s position as vice chair on an appropriations subcommittee, and Sen. Markwayne Mullin’s perch as a Senate appropriator. Cole is expected to have at least one more term as Appropriations chair, as long as Republicans retain the majority.
“I like to work,” Cole said. “This is an extraordinary opportunity, a great privilege to have. I think we’re able to do some pretty important things for Oklahoma.”
Though he hasn’t come to a final decision on his 2026 election plans, the 76-year-old said after an eight-hour appropriations bill markup last week that the committee motivates him to stick around.
“I have a federal-heavy district in a pretty federal-heavy state, so there’s lots of things we can do to protect and advance the interests of the state, and we’re not shy about doing that,” Cole, who has been in office since 2003, said.
Oklahoma’s state government received more than 40% of its revenue from federal grants in 2022, ranking as the 13th highest recipient state.
Cole has repeatedly stepped in this year when major cuts to federal funds have threatened facilities in his district that he finds valuable. For example, he said DOGE was responsive to him when he negotiated to keep several federal operations safe from cuts in his district.
Cole said he will make a final decision on whether he will run for reelection between January and the filing deadline in early April of 2026. In the 2024 election cycle, Cole claimed victory in a five-way Republican primary for Oklahoma’s 4th Congressional District, defeating businessman Paul Bondar, who gave his campaign about $5 million of his own money.
Cole spent about $3 million on the race, but he had six times as much cash on hand as Bondar.
This time around, Cole’s campaign is in an even stronger position, he said.
As of June 30, his campaign had $2.5 million in cash on hand, compared to the almost $1.8 million he had at the end of 2024, according to FEC filings.
“We certainly are preparing as if we’re going to run,” Cole said. “I think if you look at our finances, you’d find they’re in pretty healthy shape. I think we raised more money last quarter than we have in any quarter ever, and I think we have more cash on hand than we certainly had last time around, having gone through a self-funder.
“We’re getting ready,” he said.
In Congress, Cole has a reputation for reaching across the aisle as a negotiator. He’s kept friendships with Republicans and Democrats alike, notably with Democratic Rep. Rosa DeLauro, the ranking member of Cole’s committee, as the institution has increasingly become more bitter and partisan.
“I love the members I get to work with, I love the staff that I have and get to work with both in the personal and the Approps office, and I love the challenge,” Cole said. “We’ve got both Houses and we’ve got a Republican president, so not that it’s not challenging, but it’s fun.”
Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Right
The content largely focuses on Republican Representative Tom Cole, highlighting his long tenure, leadership roles, and efforts to bring federal resources to Oklahoma. It portrays him in a positive light as a pragmatic legislator who works across the aisle while emphasizing his alignment with Republican Party priorities, such as maintaining federal funding for state interests and Republican leadership in Congress. The tone is factual and respectful, with no overt criticism or partisan rhetoric. The Center-Right rating is due to the subject matter centering on a Republican official’s perspective and accomplishments, without strongly framing issues through an ideological lens.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Andrew Rice | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-08-19 17:06:00
Oklahoma will require teachers relocating from California or New York to pass a 50-question certification exam on American citizenship, religion, gender, and government to ensure their values align with the state’s. Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters criticized New York and California’s teaching standards as opposing Oklahoma’s, citing California’s stance on biological sex differences. The exam, developed with Prager University—a nonprofit used by ten other states—covers constitutional knowledge and U.S. government structure. Teacher union leaders, including Randi Weingarten and Cari Elledge, condemned the move as politically motivated, arguing Walters should prioritize student education over political agendas.
(The Center Square) – Oklahoma will begin requiring teachers who move to the state from California or New York to pass certification exams proving their values align with Oklahoma’s.
The test reportedly contains 50 questions on American citizenship, religion, gender and makeup of the U.S. government.
Ryan Walters, the Oklahoma superintendent of public instruction, said teaching standards in New York and California are “antithetical” to Oklahoma’s standards. He said an example of this is California requiring teachers to assert there are no biological differences between sexes.
“We want to make sure, as we are recruiting the best and the brightest in the country, that they align with our values,” Walters said.
Walters said the state is working with the nonprofit organization Prager University, which produces educational materials, to conduct the exam. Ten other states, including Florida, Idaho and South Carolina, use educational materials provided by PragerU.
Some of the questions on the exam reportedly include:
What are the first three words of the Constitution?
Why is freedom of religion important to American identity?
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress?
How many U.S. Senators are there?
Why do some states have more Representatives than others?
Randi Weingarten, president of the union American Federation of Teachers, criticized Walters’ decision in a statement.
“His priority should be educating students,” Weingarten said of Walters. “But instead, it’s getting Donald Trump and other MAGA politicians to notice him.”
Cari Elledge, president of the Oklahoma Education Association, agreed. She told USA Today the decision by the Oklahoma Department of Education was made as a “political stunt.”
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Right
The article primarily reports on the new teacher certification exam in Oklahoma and includes statements from both supporters and critics of the policy. While the piece presents factual information about the exam and quotes from Oklahoma’s superintendent of public instruction, it also highlights the involvement of PragerU, a conservative educational organization, and includes critical responses from union leaders who frame the policy as politically motivated. The language used to describe the exam and the inclusion of critiques suggest a slight lean toward a Center-Right perspective, as it emphasizes conservative values and the alignment with Oklahoma’s standards, but it also fairly presents opposing viewpoints without overt editorializing. Overall, the article reports on ideological positions without strongly promoting one side, though the framing and source choices indicate a moderate conservative bias.
Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin has twice violated the STOCK Act by late-disclosing nearly three dozen stock and bond transactions worth $1.4 to $3.5 million. These tardy filings follow previous delays of up to two-and-a-half years. Mullin’s office attributes the delays to amendments for accuracy and states an independent firm manages his portfolio, reporting bi-weekly to Senate Ethics. Numerous lawmakers from both parties have also violated the STOCK Act recently. In response, bipartisan bills have been introduced to ban or restrict congressional stock trading, with some progress in the Senate and expressed openness from leaders, though no full votes have occurred yet.
by Dave Levinthal, Oklahoma Watch August 15, 2025
For the second time in two weeks, Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin has disclosed trades showing that he violated a federal conflicts of interest and financial transparency law.
A NOTUS analysis of a financial document Mullin filed Tuesday with the U.S. Senate revealed the Oklahoma lawmaker was months late disclosing nearly three dozen stock and bond transactions by him and his wife.
Taken together, the transactions — mostly sales — are worth between $1.4 million and $3.5 million. Lawmakers are only required to disclose the value of their trades in broad ranges.
The late disclosures follow an earlier slate of hundreds of thousands of dollars’ worth of tardy stock and municipal security filings — some up to two-and-a-half years past a 45-day deadline enshrined in the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act — that Oklahoma Watch reported Aug. 5.
As it did last month, Mullin’s office declined to answer specific questions about the late filings and emailed Oklahoma Watch the same statement about the senator’s finances.
“Much like tax returns, financial disclosures occasionally need to be amended to reflect the most accurate, up-to-date information,” said a Mullin spokesperson. “That’s what we did here.”
Mullin uses an independent, third-party operator firm that manages all stock portfolio investments on his behalf. He does not conduct nor inform trades. The independent firm reports bi-weekly to Senate Ethics to ensure compliance with federal law, the spokesperson added.
Dozens of other federal lawmakers — Democrats and Republicans alike — have violated the STOCK Act’s disclosure provisions in recent years. The latest example — Democratic Rep. Shri Thanedar — told NOTUS that he is in the process of selling off his individual stocks.
Federal lawmakers have introduced several bills this year that would ban, or otherwise restrict, members of Congress and their immediate family from trading individual stocks.
The measures have attracted an unlikely coalition of Republicans and Democrats. Together, they broadly argue that the current STOCK Act is too weak to adequately defend against the specter of insider trading and conflicts of interest and too permissive toward lawmakers who violate — sometimes repeatedly — its transparency and disclosure provisions.
One such bill, the Halting Ownership and Non-Ethical Stock Transaction Act, advanced last month out of a Senate committee thanks to Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri teaming with the committee’s Democrats.
President Donald Trump has said he’s open, in principle, to signing a congressional stock-trade ban, although he’s warned Congress that he doesn’t want the ban to extend to the White House.
Both House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries have expressedopenness to a congressional stock-trade ban. But no such bill has yet received a vote in either the full House or Senate.
Oklahoma Watch, at oklahomawatch.org, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that covers public-policy issues facing the state.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Left
This content critically examines Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin’s violations of financial disclosure laws, highlighting concerns about transparency and accountability. While it notes that lawmakers from both parties have committed similar infractions, the framing emphasizes ethical shortcomings within the Republican ranks and points to bipartisan legislative efforts to tighten regulations. The tone is investigative and somewhat critical of political corruption, aligning with a Center-Left perspective that values government oversight and reform without overt partisan bias.
