Representative Melissa Provenzano

D

District 79

Hi, I’m Melissa Provenzano and I represent the people of Oklahoma’s 79th District.


representative

Leadership

Assistant Minority Leader

59th Legislature

News & Announcements

Aug 29, 2023
Recent Posts

House Democrats Call on Speaker of the House to Form Special Bipartisan Committee to Investigate State Superintendent

OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, House Democrats called on the Speaker of the House to form a special bipartisan committee to investigate possible impeachment charges for State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters amid recent bomb threats at Tulsa area elementary schools believed to be linked to Walters' rhetoric about Tulsa Public Schools. “Oklahomans deserve a public school system where parents, students and teachers feel safe to go to school and the needs of our students are prioritized over dangerous political rhetoric,” said House Democratic Caucus Chair Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater. House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City said the special bipartisan committee would investigate the current state superintendent to determine if his actions rise to the level of impeachment. “Allocating funds for public education should be free of corruption or political gain. There is already evidence of Walters’ corruption through misspent federal dollars along with discrepancies in his campaign finances. Paired with his toxic rhetoric that is impacting the safety of our schools, we believe it is more than enough to, at the very least, investigate him,” Leader Munson said. Rep. Provenzano mentioned that the rhetoric from the state superintendent has been harmful and potentially compromised the safety of school children. She also believes he is willfully neglecting his duty of office. “The rhetoric from the state superintendent has, up until now, been designed to distract and ?sow chaos. But now, elementary schools in the Tulsa area have received bomb threats as a ?result of disinformation shared by him. Our children deserve to be safe. The willful neglect of ?that duty, even in the highest offices in our state, cannot and will not be ?overlooked. Enough is enough,” Rep. Provenzano added. Leader Munson said, "We share in the growing frustration of Oklahomans across our state who want action to address their deep concerns for the future of public education. It is now time for action." -END-

Aug 15, 2023

Oklahoma Military Order of the Purple Heart Selects Rep. Provenzano as Legislator of the Year

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Del City and Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa were recently awarded Legislator of the Year by the Oklahoma Military Order of the Purple Heart. The organization represents combat-wounded veterans and continues to serve our country by helping America’s active-duty service members, veterans, their families and those who have borne the burden of battle, according to their website. “I count as one of my highest honors to be recognized for fighting for our military veterans and their families. They represent us all over the world and I’m proud to represent them here at home,” House Democratic Floor Leader Andy Fugate said. Military Order of the Purple Heart's legislative goals include veteran’s healthcare, veteran’s and survivors’ benefits, accountability, education and employment. “Many thanks to the Oklahoma Military Order of the Purple Heart for this honor. My dad was a veteran, and he was painfully honest about life after service and the challenges it posed. I will always do what is needed and necessary to support our veterans. They have earned every ounce of support and effort we can provide,” Rep. Provenzano said.  

Aug 1, 2023
Recent Posts

STATEMENT: House Democrats Respond to Gov. Stitt’s "Women's Bill of Rights" Executive Order

OKLAHOMA CITY – House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City and Assistant House Democratic Leader Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa released the following comments regarding Governor Stitt’s "Women's Bill of Rights" Executive Order:  “It is not the government’s job to define the identity of the citizens of Oklahoma. Once again, the Republican supermajority continues their government overreach by infringing on the rights of citizens. This executive order is just another attempt to distract from the real problems everyday Oklahoman’s face by using partisan, polarizing politics to divide the people of Oklahoma,” Leader Munson said.  “Governor Stitt should focus on how to improve the lives of women in Oklahoma like addressing domestic violence. Oklahoma ranks third in the nation for women killed by men. Forty percent of Oklahoma women have experienced intimate partner violence, rape or stalking in their lifetimes. And Oklahoma continues to have one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the nation, while continuing to eliminate access to basic healthcare like abortion care. Oklahoma women still do not get equal pay for equal work. Women in our state, on average, are paid just 75 cents to every dollar men are paid. We have much work to do in Oklahoma around the status of women and this executive order does nothing to address those issues,” Leader Munson said. “It’s pretty rich that a man would feel it’s appropriate for him to define what makes me a woman. Even more so, for the government to do it. This bill couldn’t make it across the line and into law during session because it was fraught with conflict and all but guaranteed (yet another) lawsuit filed against the state for overstepping their bounds and inserting ourselves into the rights and private lives of Oklahomans,” Rep. Provenzano said.  “Instead of a symbolic Executive Order, don’t we have better things to do with our time? Like solving the actual problems that have earned us our ranking of the worst in the nation when it comes to women? Things like equal pay, access to preventative health care, the maternal mortality rate, abortion care and the atrociously high rate of domestic violence women are subjected to in Oklahoma, which has led us to have one of the highest homicide rates in the nation for women. This Executive Order is lip service. Let’s move on to something that will actually make an impact,” Rep. Provenzano said. -END-