Being bestowed with OCA’s Legislative Appreciation Award
I recently was honored by the Oklahoma Cattlemen’s Association (OCA) with a Legislative Appreciation Award for my continued work on issues important to farmers and ranchers. As I have always said, one of my main drivers in seeking legislative office was to strengthen the voice of rural Oklahomans. To be honored for this work is very humbling.
I’ve also stated in the past that one of the benefits of this position is meeting people I probably would not cross paths with otherwise. This happened at the OCA banquet trecently. I sat at a table with Kelli Payne, the manager of the Oklahoma National Stockyards. This is one of the oldest stockyards in the country, but what is really amazing to me is that this is an industry historically dominated by men. Now, it has an outstanding young lady at the helm. I have followed her career through industry magazines, but to have the opportunity to sit and visit really was a highlight of the evening.
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Also last week, Lance Terry, state director for Emergency Management, came through Wilburton. Lance and his staff are assembling a promotional video about the need for a statewide upgrade pertaining to 911 emergency calls.
I was asked to share some of the stories we heard at my interim study last summer that described voids in the system. It is great to know sometimes that you may provide the spark that initiates change. I was happy to play a small role in this project.
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At this point, not a lot is going on at the Capitol. We are still in special session, adjourned to a call of the chair. This will allow us to vote on legislation that will appropriate additional American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds to various projects once those are recommended. We’re also waiting for interim studies to be scheduled to various committees. Some already are on the calendar starting in late August. We’ll have those through early November. I’ll discuss some in future columns.
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As always, thank you for allowing me to serve you. It is a true pleasure. If there is ever anything I can do for you, I can be reached by telephone at (405) 5577381 or by e-mail at jim. grego@okhouse.gov.
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Grego is a member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, representing District 17. He can be reached at Jim.Grego@ okhouse.gov or (405) 5577381.