Sen. Kay Floyd’s Press Releases

Contact: Democratic Leader Kay Floyd

Capitol: (405) 521-5610

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Democratic Leader Kay Floyd

Senate Democrats released the following statements in response to the proposed congressional map announced today:

“It is clear from the proposed map released today, the goal was to draw gerrymandered congressional districts to protect incumbents from competitive elections,” said Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City.

Since 1990, presidents have approved congressional resolutions to honor this country’s Native American heritage during November.  Sen. Kay Floyd, Democratic Leader for the Oklahoma Senate, hopes citizens throughout the state will join in the national observance throughout the month.

The Senate Public Safety Committee on Wednesday heard testimony from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) and Office of the Attorney General in an interim study hosted by Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, regarding the state’s response to the sexual assault kits backlog.

State Sen.

OKLAHOMA CITY – For the past decade, suicide rates for Oklahoma youth have been above the national average.  According to a report issued by the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the state ranked 10^th highest in the nation for youth suicide rates from 2012 to 2016.  On the average, two Oklahomans ages 10-24 die by suicide every week.  Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd hopes events like September’s National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month can help shine a spotlight on suicide and reduce the stigma that may prevent Oklahomans from seeking the help they need.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma’s sexual assault and rape kit backlog is continuing to pile up, and Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd plans to study the progress of analyzing the backlog and provide an update on the current sexual assault cases pending testing.

Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd plans to study youth suicide during the interim as suicide rates across the state continue to skyrocket. Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, approved the three study requests earlier this month.

OKLAHOMA CITY - A joint legislative committee will help prioritize proposals for state government’s share of federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

Under federal law, ARPA funds for state governments are to be used only to respond to the public health emergency and negative economic effects caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Such uses can include payments to state agencies, nonprofits, industry and households. They can also include investments in public infrastructure.