By Sen. Bill Coleman-Sept 25
This week, I traveled to Washington, D.C., alongside many of my Republican legislative colleagues to attend the White House State Leadership Conference. One of the highlights of the trip was meeting Vice President J.D. Vance at Joint Base Andrews, a strategic military base in Maryland. I was part of a small contingent of Oklahoma lawmakers serving in key leadership roles who were invited to participate in the meet-and-greet. As part of the conference, I also met other senior Trump administration officials and members of the president’s Cabinet, who gave updates on the White House’s latest initiatives.
Speakers at the conference included Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, VA Secretary Doug Collins and Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner. We also heard from representatives of the Small Business Administration and the White House Domestic Policy Council. It was especially meaningful to hear from Oklahoma’s own junior senator, Markwayne Mullin, who shared insight into what’s happening in the U.S. Senate.
The summit was organized by the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs to strengthen relationships between the Trump administration and state leaders. It provided a valuable opportunity to collaborate on shared policy goals and discuss how we can work together to improve both Oklahoma and the nation. I was honored to represent Senate District 10 in these important discussions and look forward to sharing what I learned across the district.
Back at the state Capitol, interim studies are in full swing. I will host my next study on Wednesday, Oct. 1, in the Senate Public Safety Committee. In this hearing, I will explore the potential of using GPS to monitor individuals under protective orders to ensure they stay away from their victims. I believe this technology could be a valuable tool for many law enforcement agencies to better protect victims of domestic violence.
The hearing will provide a forum for victims to share their personal stories, and I’ll also relay experiences constituents have shared with me. To provide a legal and enforcement perspective, I’ve invited Jacobi Whatley, an assistant district attorney who serves as the state’s domestic violence and sexual assault resource prosecutor. She will bring a wealth of experience to this important discussion.
Domestic violence is an epidemic in Oklahoma. Our state consistently ranks as one of the worst states for domestic violence. At one point, a national survey reported that nearly half of Oklahoma women experience domestic violence in their lifetimes, which is simply unacceptable. I’m optimistic that my interim study will bring people together to find solutions to put an end to this epidemic of violence.
Your comments and concerns are of the utmost importance to me and my office. As always, please email me at [email protected] or call (405) 521-5581.
