May is National Lupus Awareness Month and this week, the Senate approved a resolution to help raise awareness of the disease that kills more women each year than breast cancer. Senate Resolution 55, authored by Sen. Constance N. Johnson, recognizes May 3, 2012 as Lupus Advocacy Day at the State Capitol.

“Lupus is a devastating disease that strikes many women in the prime of their lives. It not only impacts women, but their families who have to deal with the complications and consequences of this horrible disease,” said Johnson, D-Oklahoma County.

Sen. David Holt, R-Oklahoma City, praised the final passage of Senate Bill 1875, a measure allowing counties in Oklahoma to create community service programs for convicted criminals, putting offenders in position to make a positive contribution to their communities while serving their sentence.

The legislation, authored in the House by Rep. Gary Banz, R-Midwest City, was named the “Safari McDoulett Community Service Act,” after an employee in the office of Oklahoma County Commissioner Brian Maughan.

State Sen. Jerry Ellis said Tuesday the House of Representatives got it right when they amended a Senate Bill dealing with water policy in Oklahoma. The House voted last Thursday to amend a section of the Senate Bill 1327 dealing with the creation of regional water groups. He’s urging the Senate to accept those changes.

A measure to help returning veterans use their military training and skills to better qualify for employment is on its way to the Governor’s desk after receiving overwhelming support from both legislative bodies. Senate Bill 1863, by retired Army Lt. Colonel Sen. Steve Russell and Rep. Ann Coody, creates the Post-Military Service Occupation, Education and Credentialing Act.

The Oklahoma District Attorneys Association has presented state Sen. Rob Johnson with its Liberty Bell Award. The award was presented during a June 21 ceremony at the Faculty House Restaurant in Oklahoma City.

Johnson was honored by the state’s prosecutors for his work to amend the state’s expungement statutes during the recently completed legislative session. Expungments clear the criminal records of first time offenders.

Sen. Dan Newberry today issued the following statement following the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act:

“The Supreme Court’s ruling is an extraordinary disappointment, but it provides the public with valuable information about Obamacare. Today’s ruling lays bare the deception of the Obama administration in assuring the public that the Affordable Health Care Act was not a massive tax increase. This is an extraordinary fraud – if presented to the American people as the huge tax increase it really is, the proposal would have been overwhelmingly rejected.

Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman, R-Sapulpa, released the statement below following the Supreme Court announcement on the president's health care law:

State Sen. Clark Jolley has been named Legislator of the Year by the Oklahoma State Troopers Association (OSTA). Jolley was author of legislation directing a supplemental appropriation of $5 million to the Department of Public Safety to fund an Academy to train 40 Highway Patrol cadets.

In just the last three years, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol (OHP) has lost about 80 troopers, primarily because of retirement. Jolley has advocated funding annual trooper academies to fully restore and maintain optimum numbers in the OHP.

State Senator Charles Wyrick said Monday the public has lost confidence after a series of ill-conceived decisions at GRDA. He’s calling on Greg Grodhaus, incoming Chair of the GRDA Board of Directors, to resign.

On Wednesday, Sens. Tom Ivester and John Sparks, along with Rep. Emily Virgin, will host the second Annual Oklahoma Legislative Interfaith Iftar Dinner at the state Capitol.

Iftar is the breaking of the fast at sunset during the month of Ramadan.

Sparks said Oklahoma’s Muslim community is diverse and dynamic, and includes numerous professionals, business owners and educators contributing to the state’s vitality.