—  We have just completed week 10 passing 96 bills plus 59 appropriation bills off the Senate floor.

We will continue to hear House bills on the Senate floor for the next two weeks. The deadline for these bills is April 22, so the next two weeks will be very busy.

This past Wednesday was 4-H Day at the Capitol. 

This is one of my favorite days of the legislative session being that 4-H is so close to my heart. 



HUNDREDS ATTEND

We had hundreds of 4-H students, teachers and supporters spend the day sharing their stories with legislators and staff about this wonderful program. I really appreciate everyone who came to help educate others about the wonderful contributions that 4-H is making to our local communities and our state as a whole.

4-H is the largest youth organization in Oklahoma, serving nearly 150,000 youth between the ages of 5 and 19 through the fourfold development of the "Head, Heart, Hands, and Health" of every member. 

It’s a tremendous program that has been bringing young people together for over 100 years to learn leadership, citizenship and life skills that will play a vital role in their success as adults



PROGRAM VALUED

Oklahoma's 4-H program also has around 1,000 youth volunteers and 3,400 adult volunteers.  The value of our 4-H volunteers' community service here in Oklahoma is estimated as a nearly $800,000 investment in the future - a future that we must all share. 

These are the kinds of things that we're hoping to open people's eyes to by having this special day at the Capitol.  People misunderstand the organization, thinking it's only about raising and showing farm animals, but it is so much more than that.

The organization, part of the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service provided by Langston University and Oklahoma State University, is a program where youth learn together through various kinds of projects, events and activities.

We had a special presentation on the Senate Floor recognizing all of our special guests from 4-H. We had two outstanding young men address the Senate about their experiences in 4-H. 



MACK ELECTED

EJ Mack is a member of the Langston Community 4-H Club and was selected to represent Oklahoma and Langston University 4-H at the 2010 National 4-H Conference in March at Chevy Chase, Maryland. 

We also heard from Hartshorne High School senior Kyle Pingleton.  He has been in 4-H for nine years and is the current Southeast District 4-H Vice President, State 4-H Council At Large Representative for Clusters 1 and 4, and is a Past President for Pittsburg County 4-H.

We were also pleased to recognize our special guests in the gallery including Sam Durbin, the State 4-H President from Canadian County, along with 23 members of the Oklahoma 4-H State Leadership Team. 

We were also happy to welcome to the Senate Dr. Marvin Burns, Dean of the School of Agriculture and Applied Sciences at Langston University and Dr. Robert Whitson, Vice President, Dean and Director for the Division of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Oklahoma State University.



OTHER NEWS

In other legislative news, I’m pleased to say that the Governor signed two of the House bills that I carried in the Senate. HB 2862 modifies the Wildlife Conservations Commission Special Use Passport by changing name and location requirements to include land owned/designated by the commission.

It also specifies a 3 day validity period, cost of fee and an exemption for the permit.

Under HB 2969, wreckers are no longer allowed to use flashing red and blue lights at the scene of an emergency. Amber lights will be used instead.  Within two hours of a wreck, the towing service will provide info to the local police department.

I was also privileged to have Dawson Weathers from Hinton to serve as a page this week.



 It’s always enjoyable to see the enthusiasm, hard work, and leadership of the young people who help us as pages.