Sen. Frank Simpson said another veteran’s death at the Oklahoma Veterans Center in Talihina on Tuesday is evidence that the center must be relocated as soon as possible. In January, he filed Senate Bill 544 directing and authorizing the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) to relocate the facility to another location that meets the requirements of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs as a State Veterans' Home.
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Late Wednesday, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved legislation 30-10 to pursue possible relocation of the Talihina Veterans’ Center. Navy veteran and Chairman of the Senate Veterans Committee, Sen. Frank Simpson is the author of the Senate Bill 544 that he filed following the questionable deaths of two center residents in the last five months.
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The Senate approved a trio of veterans bills Tuesday afternoon addressing various needs of Oklahoma’s military men and women. Navy veteran and Chairman of the Senate Veterans Committee, Sen. Frank Simpson, R-Springer, is the author of the measures.

Senate Bill 544 authorizes the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs (ODVA) to work with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in relocating the Talihina Veterans Center following the deaths of two residents in the last five months.
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The Senate gave unanimous approval Wednesday to legislation to create a state veteran’s cemetery in Ardmore. Sen. Frank Simpson and Rep. Pat Ownbey are the authors of Senate Bill 543, which Simpson says will provide more options for veterans.
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More than 14 percent of Oklahomans suffer from Type 2 diabetes with 52 people diagnosed each day. One in four Oklahomans don’t realize they have the disease and it’s estimated that over one million more Oklahomans are prediabetic and most are unaware of it.

Sen. Frank Simpson will hold an interim study on Tuesday, October 10th at the state Capitol to find ways to better educate the public about this preventable disease as well as decrease the number of Oklahomans suffering from the disease. read more.

“Members of the Oklahoma Legislature Veterans Caucus are deeply disappointed in the verdict handed down today in the Bergdahl case. We agree with our Commander in Chief that the sentence handed down was a disgrace and a slap in the face of every combat veteran who, while serving our nation, has placed their life in harm’s way. In our opinion, the 14 year sentence recommended by the prosecution was very lenient and much more appropriate.

Sen. Frank Simpson announced today that he will ensure that teachers at the School for the Deaf and School for the Blind are included in teacher pay raise legislation this session.

“Our teachers at the schools for our deaf and blind children perform a wonderful job. Being special education teachers, they face challenges that teachers in our public schools may not face,” said Simpson, R-Springer. “If any teacher deserves a pay raise, it is these devoted teachers. I will work to make sure they are not overlooked.”
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The I-40 and I-35 corridor makes Oklahoma a prime location for not only drug trafficking, but human trafficking. Truck stops are major targets for traffickers, which is why Sen. Frank Simpson and Rep. Steve Vaughan authored House Bill 2651 that received final approval in the Senate Wednesday and is moving on to the governor’s office.
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Sen. Frank Simpson and Rep. Pat Ownbey thanked their colleagues and Gov. Fallin Friday for their support of legislation to help diabetics get reimbursed for life-saving training and education. The legislators are authors of Senate Bill 972, which will direct the Oklahoma Health Care Authority (OHCA) to examine the feasibility of submitting a state plan amendment to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to enable the Oklahoma Medicaid Program to reimburse providers for diabetes self-management training (DSMT).
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It is estimated that around two million Purple Hearts have been awarded by the U.S. Military since World War I. Sen. Frank Simpson authored Senate Bill 232 to recognize Oklahoma’s 1,340 recipients by designating Oklahoma a Purple Heart State.

“So many Oklahomans have sacrificed life and limb for our country,” said Simpson, R-Springer. “We want to honor their service and sacrifice and ensure it’s never forgotten by designating Oklahoma a Purple Heart State.”
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