This week, the Legislature held a joint session to remember the 30th anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. That horrific tragedy happened April 19, 1995. It is considered the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in United States History – 168 people lost their lives that day.
Over the years, we’ve heard from people who lost loved ones in the bombing, including last year from Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture Blayne Arthur, who lost her mother that day. This year, we heard from former Gov. Frank Keating, who was governor at the time the attack occurred. He spoke about the tragedy but also about how from the horror of that day the Oklahoma Standard emerged.
Our state become known all across the nation and around the world for how our people treated each other in the aftermath of this deadly blast, and how we treated all those who came to assist us in our recovery.
I spoke last fall at an event at Healdton Middle School in which students planted a seedling of the SurvivorTreeduringtheOklahoma City National Memorial’s Journey of Hope visit. Memorial staff are planting seedlings at schools in all of Oklahoma’s 77 counties as a way to teach young people about the bombing but also about how they can be the light of hope in their communities. We never again want the seeds of hatred and bitterness to lead to violence of this nature.
Also this week, lawmakers got to recognize winners of the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s annual Trash Poster Contest. The contest is open to K-12 students throughoutOklahomatoencourage the use of artwork to bring awareness to pollution and litter issues within Oklahoma’s communities and along our roadways.
I got to meet Wesley Chase Perryman, a senior from Lone Grove High School in Carter County, who won First Place in the 9th- through 12th-grade division of the contest. Wesley created a poster titled “Pickup Your Trash Oklahoma,” which cleverly shows a pickup truck loaded with trash. Pun fully intended. Wesley’s teacher is Laura Rose. His artwork will be featured for the month of January on the TPC 2026 Calendar.
I also got to meet Jorge Remis Elias, a 10th-grader at Marietta High School in Love County. His colorfulentry,“OKLAHOMAClean & Pristine ROUTE 66,” won in the Promotional Poster of the Year category and will be displayed as the official poster for the whole contest. It makes a nod to the theme of this year’s contest, which focused on the upcoming centennial of Route 66. His teacher is Courteney Starsick Anderson.
Congratulations to both of these young men!
This week was fairly slow on the House floor as Senate bills are still working their way through House oversight committees. Our Judiciary and Public Safety Committee heard 50 bills alone on Thursday, and our Appropriations and Budget Committee heard 33. Many other committees met as well.
We should soon begin hearing moreSenatebillsontheHousefloor. Those that pass without amendments will be sent to the governor for his consideration of signing them into law. The same thing will happen for our House bills being considered in the Senate.
Remember, if I can help you with anything, please do not hesitate to reach out: (405) 557-7383 or Josh. Cantrell@OKHouse.gov.
Josh Cantrell serves District 49 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Love County and parts of Carter and Marshall counties.