Last week, 24 of my fellow lawmakers were sworn in, including eight new Senators. Some of the districts you may be familiar with, including ours, have changed because of population shifts revealed by the 2020 Census. The Constitution requires the redrawing of legislative districts after the census to ensure the populations are as equal as possible. District 5 previously included Choctaw, McCurtain, and Pushmataha Counties, and parts of LeFlore and Atoka Counties. Under the new district lines, District 5 now includes McCurtain County, a large portion of LeFlore County, and part of Pushmataha County. You can find maps of the boundaries at this link: https://oksenate.gov/redistricting/district-maps.
I am very proud to continue representing my community and the people that call our wonderful district home. For those of you who are new to District 5, I am happy to be your voice at the state Capitol. Please do not hesitate to reach out and let me know how I can best serve you and our district. Those who now fall in District 6, please know you are in good hands with Sen. David Bullard. He can be reached at David.Bullard@oksenate.gov or 405-521-5586.
Our district was hit hard at the beginning of this month with a tornado that caused widespread damage. I joined in on recovery efforts by helping clear trees and know many of you have spent the last few weeks doing the same. As I’ve said before, I know we will only come back stronger.
McCurtain County has been approved for assistance from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Surrounding counties including Choctaw, Pushmataha, Bryan and Le Flore are also eligible. Business owners, renters and homeowners are now able to apply for low-interest disaster loans to repair or replace their property that was damaged by the tornado or severe storms. The program assists businesses who sustained economic injury, as well as homes and business properties that were damaged, but did not receive other assistance or insurance coverage. Hundreds of structures were harmed, so I strongly encourage you to look into this program to determine if you may be eligible. More information can be found at disasterloanassistance.sba.gov. The SBA can also be reached at 800-659-2955 or disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
Lastly, I would like to wish you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving. I am glad to be spending time with family and reflecting on the things I am grateful for, including serving you in the state Senate.
Thank you for the opportunity to serve you at our state Capitol. If you have any questions about legislation, or need assistance with an issue, please contact me by email at George.Burns@oksenate.gov or by phone at 405-521-5614.
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