ADA, Okla. – U.S. Rep. Tom Cole spoke to East Central University students on Tuesday, March 26 in the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center on the ECU campus.
In attendance were students from the Student Government Association, Tribal Politics class and the ECU Political Science and Legal Studies programs.
Cole is currently US House of Representatives Rule Committee Chair but is pursuing the Chair of the Appropriations Committee position as current Chair Rep. Kay Granger steps down.
Cole joked about the unusual Congressional session, including the House Speaker race. He mentioned that there had not been multiple ballots since 1856. He stated that he has a “big interest in not shutting down the government” over policy disputes. According to Cole, the recent passage of appropriations bills ensure that the government will stay open.
Cole mentioned that his district has the 16th most federal employees out of 435 districts so it is economically painful when there is a government shutdown.
He mentioned that the most pressing issues for Congress right now is handling President Biden’s request for a supplemental appropriation for defense of Taiwan, Israel, and Ukraine, as well as reforming the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Congress will focus on passing legislation until the summer, but then political elections will dominate their attention.
Cole answered many questions, including the fate of TikTok, legalizing marijuana, climate change and support for tribal nations.
Cole is one of four tribal citizens currently in the House and he is the longest serving tribal citizen in House history.
When asked about his approach to representing his constituents, Cole stated that he considers three things. He represents the view, values, and interests of his constituents. Sometimes what people say he should do is not actually in their interest.
Cole noted that in the history of the US, there has only been a total of 15,000 people who have served as members of Congress. He is “pretty lucky” to get to do it, he said. Serving in Congress is “An Incredible Privilege, A Great Privilege,” he said.