Tom Coburn

May 26, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) today released an oversight report called “Washed out to Sea” that details how billions of federal dollars have been wasted on beach nourishment projects while critical infrastructure needs go unmet.

“Taxpayers know that Congress wastes money. Yet, many Americans may be surprised to learn that billions of taxpayer dollars have literally washed out to sea through questionable ‘beach nourishment projects’ while critical infrastructure needs have gone unmet. In the wake of major natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, and in the midst of our current financial difficulties, it’s time for Congress to use a little more common sense in its management of taxpayer dollars,” Dr. Coburn said.    » read more »

May 22, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Representatives Dan Boren, and Tom Cole, together with Senator Jim Inhofe and Senator Tom Coburn, continued discussions today with the United States Coast Guard officials to settle recent licensing issues for fishing guides at Lake Texoma.

Lake Texoma, considered "navigable waters" by current federal statute because of its location between two states, is under the jurisdiction of the United States Coast Guard. For the past fifteen years, the Coast Guard has not been enforcing licensing requirements for operators of uninspected passenger vessels like many fishing guides on Lake Texoma.    » read more »

Legislation would expand public information available on USASpending.gov

June 3, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) today introduced the Strengthening Transparency and Accountability in Federal Spending Act of 2008 (S.3077), which would expand the information available on USASpending.gov, as well as make the data more accessible and readable.

USASpending.gov screenshot    » read more »

September 20, 2007 -- [WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK) announced today that their bill, The Trafficking in Persons Accountability Act, was unanimously passed by Senate Judiciary Committee and will be sent to the floor for further action. This important bipartisan legislation will close a legal loophole that currently prevents the U.S. Justice Department from prosecuting people in the United States who have committed the crime of human trafficking in other countries.    » read more »

June 27, 2007 -- [WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law, and Senator Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK), who serves as Ranking Member of the subcommittee, today introduced legislation that will close a legal loophole that currently prevents the U.S. Justice Department from prosecuting people in the United States who have committed the crime of human trafficking in other countries.    » read more »