Testimony presented during an interim study on drones gave members of the Senate Public Safety Committee an opportunity to better understand some of the potential positives and the sometimes competing concerns regarding constitutional rights when contemplating possible state policy on the use of drones.
The study was requested by Sen. Frank Simpson who said it was important to take into account privacy concerns, constitutional questions and the need to balance those with public safety issues and the potential for economic development in the state.
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The Senate Transportation Committee held an interim study Wednesday to look at the both the costs and the benefits of the Heartland Flyer, the AmTrack line that brought back passenger rail service between Oklahoma City and Fort Worth after a 20 year absence.

Sen. Frank Simpson, R-Springer, requested the study. His district includes Ardmore, one of the stops on the Heartland Flyer line. That community and Oklahoma City are both making millions of dollars in infrastructure investments in their railway stations and other related improvements to capitalize on the rail line.

State Senator Frank Simpson has been recognized by the Department of Defense for the second consecutive year for his work on public policy changes that positively impact the quality of life of service members and their families residing in Oklahoma.
Ronald T. Keohane, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense, directed that the award be delivered to Simpson.

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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