| Oklahoma State
Senate -- Communications Division -- State Capitol
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE – April 7, 2017
Senate Review
by Senator J.J. Dossett
We’re
quickly approaching the next deadline in the session—Senate
committees must conclude work on House bills by Thursday, April
13. After that we’ll focus on bringing the measures approved
by committee to the floor for further consideration. But the biggest
issues many Oklahomans have been waiting to find out about, like
the budget, potential cuts to services and whether there will
be any political will to follow through on funding a teacher pay
raise probably will remain unknowns until closer to the end of
the session.
In between
voting on bills on the floor, it’s customary for members
of the Legislature to honor individuals, high school sports teams
or organizations from our districts for their outstanding achievements
or contributions to their communities.
This past
week, however, the Senate welcomed a foreign dignitary who asked
us to convey a heart-felt message from his country to the people
of Oklahoma—in particular, he wanted to express his deepest
thanks on behalf of his country to those who served in Afghanistan
and to their families for their service, dedication and sacrifice.
There are
several members of the Senate who have served in the armed forces,
and a handful of us who were deployed to the middle-east as part
of the fight against terrorism following 9-11. Three members of
the Senate, including me, did tours in Afghanistan.
Another Oklahoman
who was sent to Afghanistan was Army Specialist Christopher Horton,
from Collinsville. You may know his story. He joined the Oklahoma
National Guard in 2008—in 2011, he was killed in Afghanistan.
His wife, Jane, has been working ever since then to help the families
of our fallen heroes and to make sure their sacrifices are never
forgotten.
Her journey
brought her to Washington D.C., where she now serves as a congressional
and military liaison on the staff of Dr. Hamdullah Mohib, the
Ambassador from Afghanistan. It was at her urging that Ambassador
Mohib came to Oklahoma and addressed the State Senate this past
week.
He told us
he came to Oklahoma for one simple purpose—to thank the people
of Oklahoma for their service Afghanistan. He said they wanted
us to know to know that the Oklahomans who went to Afghanistan
made a huge impact and that their sacrifices are not lost on his
country, which is now more stable and prosperous because of them.
He asked us to please pass my gratitude and the gratitude on behalf
of his country on to our citizens.
For me, for
Senator Jason Smalley, from Stroud, and Senator Adam Pugh, from
Edmond, this was huge. Those who serve in the military don’t
do it for thanks or praise—we do it because we want to serve
our country, and we want to do our part to protect and preserve
freedom. Sometimes that fight takes us to foreign soil. But it
meant so much to hear that it mattered—that it made a positive
difference and that they know that help came at very high cost
for many Oklahomans. We were grateful and humbled to receive that
message on behalf of all the Oklahoma troops who served in Afghanistan
and their families. It’s something I will never forget.
I welcome
your comments on state government and the issues before us. Please
feel free to contact me by writing to Senator J.J. Dossett at
the State Capitol, Room 522-B, Oklahoma City, OK, 73105; call
me at (405) 521-5566.
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