Latest Releases
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Thom Tillis, Cory Booker and Todd Young Introduce Resolution Honoring 100th Anniversary of the National League of Cities
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Todd Young (R-IN) introduced a resolution honoring the 100th anniversary of the National League of Cities. The National League of Cities is the oldest and largest organization of municipal governments in the United States, representing over 19,000 cities, towns, and villages and more than 218,000,000 residents. Senators Smith, Tillis and Booker served in local government before coming to Congress. “I always say that the best ideas come from those closest to the work, and local governments exemplify that best,” said Senator Smith. “As former Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Minneapolis, I know firsthand how important local government is to the functioning of our nation. I am so grateful for the leadership and partnership of all local government officials and staff across Minnesota.” “As someone who served on the Cornelius Board of Commissioners, I know first-hand that local government is the one closest to the people and can play a vital role in improving their quality of life,” said Senator Tillis. “I am proud to co-lead this resolution honoring the 100-year anniversary of the National League of Cities, and to recognize their work to support municipal officials in North Carolina and the rest of the country.” “Through my experience serving in the local government of Newark, first as a city councilman and then as mayor, I’ve witnessed the invaluable contributions municipalities make to our nation’s fabric,” said Senator Booker. “Local governments and leaders play a pivotal role in shaping our communities, and the
U.S. SENATOR TINA SMITH ANNOUNCES ABORTION CLINIC DIRECTOR TAMMI KROMENAKER AS STATE OF THE UNION GUEST
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced that Tammi Kromenaker, the Clinic Director of the Red River Women’s Clinic in Moorhead, MN, will be her guest at the President’s State of the Union Address on Thursday, March 7th in Washington, D.C. The Red River Women’s Clinic spent nearly 25 years in Fargo, where it was North Dakota’s sole abortion provider for most of that time. When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade with the Dobbs decision in 2022, the Republican Governor of North Dakota enacted one of the most restrictive abortion bans in the country. To continue serving patients in desperate need of care, Kromenaker moved the clinic to the neighboring city of Moorhead in Minnesota, where abortion rights are protected under state law. “When North Dakota banned abortion statewide after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Tammi Kromenaker sprang into action, moving Red River Women’s Clinic across the bridge from Fargo to Moorhead,” said Senator Smith. “Now, Minnesota is an island for abortion care in the Upper Midwest, and thousands of people in the region and across the country count on Red River Women’s Clinic for their health care. Every day, women walk through the doors of RRWC ready to make the best decisions for themselves and their families. And every day that freedom is under assault by the forces dedicated to a national abortion ban. The story of Tammi and her clinic represents the absolute chaos for Americans after the Supreme Court ruling, and her commitment to continuing to provide health care for women in a
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith Announce $22M Federal Investment in Minnesota to Support Vaccine Distribution, Cover Cost of Ventilators
WASHINGTON, D.C. [2/16/21]—U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has awarded two grants that total more than $22 million to the Minnesota Department of Health. A $15 million grant will support efforts to distribute and administer the COVID-19 vaccine at 10 vaccination centers across Minnesota. A $7,397,990.26 grant will help cover the cost of ventilators and ventilator accessories purchased during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in 2020. “This federal funding to support vaccine distribution and help cover the cost of ventilators is vital as we work to fight this pandemic and lessen the financial burden on our state budget,” said Sen.
U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Statement on Voting to Convict Former President Donald Trump
WASHINGTON, D.C. [2/13/21]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) released the following statement: “The facts and the evidence were overwhelming—former President Donald Trump lied for months to his supporters, summoned them to Washington, and incited a violent insurrection against our government and our democracy,” said Sen. Smith. “I voted to convict because no reasonable person could believe this would have happened without his betrayal.”
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Roger Wicker Propose Bipartisan Paycheck Protection Program Fix for Rural Hospitals
WASHINGTON, D.C. [2/16/21]—Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) introduced their bipartisan PPP Access for Rural Hospitals Act, which would waive the Small Business Administration (SBA) affiliation rules for non-profit critical access hospitals and hospitals that serve rural areas so that they may qualify for PPP loans. Granting smaller non-profit and rural hospitals access to the PPP program would allow facilities to retain critical staff and focus their resources on providing quality care to patients for the duration of the coronavirus pandemic. “Rural hospitals are vital to public health – they’re economic engines for communities in Minnesota and states
U.S. Senator Tina Smith, U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood Introduce Bill to Bolster Vaccination Efforts and Keep Families Healthy
WASHINGTON, D.C. [2/11/21]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood (D-IL 14) recently introduced their Community Immunity During COVID-19 Act, which would support local efforts to boost routine vaccinations, and ensure that immunization providers and local organizations can lead community-specific initiatives to reach all community members, particularly underserved populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. “As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, we can’t afford to fall behind on routine vaccinations and risk losing progress in preventing once-common diseases, like measles,” said Senator Smith. “This is especially important for children, who are recommended to get pediatric vaccinations at certain stages in their development. In my home state