Today, U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) spent the day in Ada, Oklahoma meeting with local officials and residents as part of a busy two-week in-state work period. While in Ada, Senator Mullin hosted a community coffee with the Ada Area Chamber of Commerce, met with Mercy Hospital Ada leadership, and visited the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET). Over the next 10 days, Senator Mullin will meet with hundreds of Oklahomans, hear their concerns, answer community questions, and discuss federal solutions.
“It was great to be back in Ada today visiting with local leaders about how we can best partner to solve community needs,” said Senator Mullin. “I appreciate all those who took time out of their day to meet with me at our community coffee, Mercy Hospital, and the law enforcement academy. I can always count on Oklahomans to be engaged and ask tough questions, and I appreciate the feedback and insight they provided as we craft legislative priorities for this year.”
Senator Mullin began his day in Ada visiting with the Ada Area Chamber of Commerce, business owners, and members of the community at Goodway Coffee Co. to share an update on his legislative priorities and answer questions from Ada residents on a wide range of issues. Constituents asked the Senator about the need for border security, the war in Ukraine, government funding, and the reality of working in a divided government. Leaders from the People’s Electric Cooperative, Mercy Hospital Ada, Mead Lumber, Chickasaw Nation, and East Central University joined the conversation, among others.
“On behalf of the Ada Area Chamber of Commerce, I would like to say thank you to Senator Mullin for his time today and for his unwavering commitment to the State of Oklahoma and the United States of America,” said Mason Groves, Chairman of the Ada Area Chamber of Commerce. “His business acumen and common-sense approach provide a voice that our community and fellow Oklahomans can be proud of while addressing the issues we face today. We are thankful for your dedication and wholeheartedly welcome you back anytime, keep up the great work.”
Click here for photos of Sen. Mullin’s Community Coffee.
Senator Mullin then had the opportunity to sit down with Mercy Hospital Ada leadership, including Chief Medical Officer Dr. Benjamin Lynch and Chief Nursing Officer Malissa Reardon, to discuss the hospital’s federal priorities. While at Mercy Hospital, the Senator received a tour of the cancer and radiation facilities and got an update on the hospital’s new groundbreaking coronary calcium scans which catch heart problems in patients before they become life-threatening. He also viewed the recent remodel of the hospital’s labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum care rooms, which were funded through community philanthropic efforts. During the visit, hospital leadership thanked Senator Mullin for bringing home $10 million dollars in project funding for Mercy Hospital in the FY2024 spending package, which directly benefits Ada’s future Community Cancer Center.
”We are grateful for Senator Mullin’s advocacy in securing financial support for a future cancer center in Ada,” said Terence Farrell, President of Mercy Hospital Ada. “Mercy believes in rural health care and creating access for people close to home. We are honored to collaborate with the Chickasaw Nation to expand cancer services in southeast Oklahoma, and this funding will help us make that dream a reality.”
Click here for photos of Sen. Mullin’s visit with Mercy Hospital Ada, courtesy of Mercy Staff.
The Senator concluded the day meeting with the Oklahoma Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training (CLEET), where he was greeted by a large academy class. Established in 1963, CLEET supports Oklahoma law enforcement in serving communities like Ada by establishing basic training guidelines and offering continued education for our men and women in blue. Senator Mullin spoke with the CLEET executive staff about their priorities for this year, the future of law enforcement education, challenges with funding, and the value of public support for the police.
“Senator Mullin’s visit to CLEET underscores the invaluable support from our federal partners in advancing law enforcement training and safety initiatives,” said Darry Stacy, Executive Director of CLEET. “We are deeply appreciative of his commitment to our mission, vision and values and his presence further strengthens our collaborative efforts in ensuring the highest standards of professionalism and public safety.”
Click here for photos of Sen. Mullin’s visit with CLEET.
Background: Yesterday,Senator Mullin kicked off a busy two-week recess period in the Oklahoma City area, first visiting with Mid-America Christian University, the Greater OKC Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Warr Acres and Bethany local leadership, and ending the day at the University of Central Oklahoma. Next week, the Senator will return to Tinker Air Force Base, meet with Midwest City leadership, and tour Rose State College’s Tannenbaum Aerospace Center. He will also hold a Coweta-area community coffee, visit the Parent Child Center in Tulsa, meet with the Tulsa Chamber of Commerce, tour Tulsa Innovation Labs, and more.
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