Opinions 4 September 2025

Back to D.C.

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By U.S. Rep. Tom Cole
R-Oklahoma

This week lawmakers returned to Washington, D.C. after spending the past five weeks in their respective districts and states.

Personally, these past five weeks of District Work Period have been very beneficial to me, as I had the opportunity to travel throughout the entire Fourth District of Oklahoma. 

I visited with our selfless first responders at fire departments and police stations, as well as our military heroes at Oklahoma’s military bases. I conversed with small businesses owners throughout the district, including B&H Construction in Goldsby, Ten Arrows Roofing and Contracting in Newcastle, the Grissom Landscape Nursery in Noble, and more. 

On top of that, I spoke with many groups throughout the district like the Midwest City Rotary Club, which includes so many great veterans, business owners, and community members, the Heart of Oklahoma Chamber, the Oklahoma Indian Legal Clinic at ECU, which was celebrating their fifth anniversary, the Norman Chamber, a group of ALS advocates, and the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics. Additionally, I was lucky enough to visit both the Davis Public Library in Southern Oklahoma and the Noble Public Library, both of which are so important to our communities. I was also able to stop by some local media stations to sit for interviews and fill Fourth District Oklahomans in about the latest in Congress.

These critical conversations, tours, and visits are what I take back with me to Washington, D.C., as I know that my duty as a member of Congress is to the People and the August District Work Period is critical to ensuring that I am accurately representing them.

Now, as congressional leaders head back to Washington for a busy Fall, we have ample work to do. In fact, we have a deadline looming. 

By the end of the month, Sept. 30, we must fund the government – a constitutional obligation of Congress that will guarantee the federal government remains open and working for the American people. So, to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, let’s get to work.

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