Frank Lucas

Biography

Congressman Frank Lucas is a fifth generation Oklahoman whose family has lived and farmed in Oklahoma for over 100 years. Born on January 6, 1960 in Cheyenne, Oklahoma, Lucas graduated from Oklahoma State University in 1982 with a degree in Agricultural Economics. He was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in a special election in 1994.

Lucas proudly represents Oklahoma’s Third Congressional District, which includes all or portions of 32 counties in northern and western Oklahoma, stretching from the Oklahoma panhandle to parts of Tulsa, and from Yukon to Altus in the southwest. It takes up almost half the state’s land mass and is one of the largest agricultural regions in the nation. Lucas has been a crusader for the American farmer since being elected to Congress in 1994 and he has fought to protect Oklahoma values.

Congressman Lucas serves on the House Committee on Financial Services and as Ranking Member on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

Lucas also serves as a member of the Republican Whip Team. Representatives who are members of this team work with the Republican leadership to ensure every American’s voice is heard in Congress.

Prior to his service in Congress, Lucas served for five and a half years in the Oklahoma State House of Representatives, where he fought to defend the rights of private property owners and focused on promoting agriculture issues.

Frank and his wife Lynda have three children and three grandchildren. The Lucas family belongs to the First Baptist Church in Cheyenne.

Platform Issues

Agriculture

Ever since I arrived in Washington, I have been working to improve the future of agriculture in Oklahoma. I recognize the importance of the family farm to our state and to this nation. I served as a conferee on the 2002 and 2008 Farm bills. Additionally, I have worked to provide tax relief, less government regulation and promote fair trade in agriculture. I will continue to be a strong voice for production agriculture and work to ensure that farmers have the necessary resources to not survive, but to thrive. As Chairman of the Agriculture Committee, I have long been a champion of voluntary agriculture conservation programs. During the drafting of the 2002 Farm Bill, I worked to secure the largest ever increase in programs such as Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Conservation Reserve Program, and many others. In the 2008 Farm Bill, I advocated for renewable energy provisions to be included in the farm bill which would allow rural areas to play a larger role in making the U.S. less dependent on foreign sources of energy. I am proud that the 2008 Farm Bill devotes a funding stream to renewable energy research, development, and production.

Defense and Security

Today continues to be a dangerous time for our country. While we have not had a single, successful act of domestic terrorism since September 11th, we still remain a constant target for terrorists – both at home and abroad. However, Americans are fortunate to have a strong military force of brave men and women fighting to preserve our freedom. Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have always been fully committed to providing our men and women in uniform with the resources they need to succeed in their mission and I will continue to do so. I will continue to work diligently to ensure that our government focuses on strengthening our national defense, provides the necessary resources to our armed forces, and provides Americans with freedom and security at home and throughout the world.

Economy and Jobs

Recently, the American people have suffered through high unemployment rates and a sagging economy. Many are having to make tough choices and are finding it difficult to provide for their families. We need to put money back in the pockets of the American people by cutting taxes on American families and small businesses. This will raise the standard of living and encourage economic growth by lowering the cost to do business. As we have learned from history, increased taxes do nothing but grow the size of government and stifle economic growth. Second, just as families across this country are doing right now, the federal government must begin to tighten their proverbial belt and cut back on spending.

Health

A Solution for the Uninsured. There are approximately 47 million Americans without health insurance coverage in this country. When they become ill, they go to an emergency room where treatment and tests are dramatically more expensive, driving up the cost of health care. We must address this problem. One option might be to provide funding for private health insurance for those Americans who do not qualify for Medicare or Medicaid. Senator Coburn’s legislation the Patient’s Choice Act proposes a refundable tax credit of $2,300 per individual and $5,700 per family. This would be one way to help Americans cover their health insurance costs without a complete federal government takeover of the system. Lowered Costs and Maintained Choice. We need to lower the cost of medical procedures and the cost of health insurance. The best way to do this is to ensure transparency in the system. We need to allow patients to view the costs of procedures as well as the costs of insurance policies side-by-side. This will encourage competition within the market and help to lower prices without putting federal bureaucrats between patients and their doctors. Access for All Americans. Access to health care is a major issue in rural America. Right now, there are many Oklahomans who live in rural areas and have problems getting to hospitals or doctors in order to receive the treatments they need. One way to address this issue would be to expand the use of telemedicine technologies. In Oklahoma, Oklahoma State University sponsors a mobile clinic that drives to area towns that do not have a local hospital. Patients receive treatments directly from staff in conjunction with doctors and specialists via video without having to drive hundreds of miles. It has become a great asset to the communities it serves.