Markwayne Mullin lands spot on Armed Services Committee

Freshman Oklahoma Sen. Markwayne Mullin landed spots Wednesday on the Armed Services and Environmental and Public Works committees, two panels that had been led by his predecessor, Jim Inhofe. Mullin also will serve on the Indian Affairs Committee.

“Being selected to represent our state on the Armed Services Committee is a tremendous privilege,” Mullin, a Republican, said. “With Oklahoma’s long and distinguished history of military support, I look forward to using my position to ensure that our service men and women have the resources they need to remain the greatest in the world.”

Mullin has a steep learning curve on the committee — Inhofe served on it for 28 years and had stints as chairman and the top Republican — but he has been touring the state’s military installations and getting tutorials on their missions.

Oklahoma has five major military installations: Air Force bases in Oklahoma County, Altus and Enid; a U.S. Army post near Lawton; and an Army ammunition plant in McAlester.

Mullin was elected last year to serve the last four years of Inhofe’s term.

A member of the Cherokee Nation, Mullin said, “The Indian Affairs Committee plays a vital role in ensuring that the federal government upholds its trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribal nations. I look forward to strengthening tribal sovereignty, pursuing self-determination policies, and fostering economic growth in Indian Country.”

The Environment and Public Works Committee has broad jurisdiction that includes the EPA and highways. Inhofe also served as both chairman and top Republican on that panel.

More:Five things to know about Oklahoma's clout in the US House

Democrats have a slim majority in the Senate, giving them control over committees and the agenda.

Sen. James Lankford, who won another six-year term last year, will return to the Finance, Homeland Security and Ethics committees, and he was assigned again to the Intelligence Committee.

The Finance Committee, which has long been among the most coveted assignments, oversees tax and trade policies and entitlements such as Social Security and Medicare. Lankford's focus on the Homeland Security Committee has been on U.S.-Mexican border policies and problems.

“I am honored to serve and represent our state’s interests on these committees,” Lankford said. “I look forward to ensuring our state’s voice is part of the conversations on tax, health care, finance, energy, trade, border security, national security, intelligence and counter-terrorism strategies — as we have much work to get done in the days ahead.”

Lankford has served previously on the Intelligence Committee, which generally meets in private and produces a budget for the national intelligence community.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Markwayne Mullin will serve on Armed Services, Indian Affairs panels