Latest Releases
Klobuchar, Smith Statements on Nomination of Laura Provinzino to be U.S. District Court Judge
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that President Biden nominated Laura Provinzino to serve as a judge on the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota. Currently serving as an Assistant United States Attorney with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, Provinzino was one of the candidates sent to President Biden by Senators Klobuchar and Smith following the recommendation of a judicial selection committee. “As a widely respected Assistant United States Attorney with over twenty years of legal experience, Laura Provinzino is extremely qualified to serve as a U.S. District Court Judge,” said Klobuchar. “Born and raised in St. Cloud, she is dedicated to serving all Minnesotans and has a demonstrated commitment to justice and the rule of law. I look forward to working with my Judiciary Committee colleagues on both sides of the aisle to confirm her.” “Laura Provinzino has spent her career serving Minnesotans, advancing justice and protecting the rule of law.” said Smith. “She will make an exceptional U.S. District Court Judge and I want to congratulate her on her nomination.” Laura Provinzino was born and raised in St. Cloud, and attended St. Cloud Technical High School. Her mother taught at Apollo High School, and her father was a lawyer in St. Cloud. Provinzino has spent her entire legal career in Minnesota. She has served as an Assistant United States Attorney since 2010. As a prosecutor, she has led efforts to prosecute violent crime, human trafficking, child pornography, and
ICYMI: Star Tribune: Sen. Tina Smith goes to bat against Comcast for frustrated Twins fans
WASHINGTON, D.C. [7.7.24] – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Tina Smith sent a letter to Comcast CEO Brian Roberts urging the cable provider to return to the negotiation table with Bally Sports North and get the Minnesota Twins back on the air for Comcast customers. Star Tribune: Sen. Tina Smith takes aim at Comcast on behalf of ‘furious’ constituents In a letter to Comcast’s CEO this week, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith chided the cable company for dropping Bally Sports channels nationwide — a move that has left thousands of Twins fans without access to games. By Michael Rand | June 6, 2024 If you’re a Twins fan and Comcast cable subscriber frustrated by the cable company’s decision more than a month ago to drop Bally Sports North in a pricing dispute, know this: U.S. Sen. Tina Smith is frustrated, too. The Minnesota senator sent a letter this week on her official U.S. Senate stationery to Comcast Chairman and CEO Brian Roberts urging the company to restart negotiations. “My constituents are furious,” she wrote. In a follow-up interview with the Star Tribune that appears on Thursday’s “Daily Delivery” podcast, Sen. Smith expanded on her thoughts and feelings. “I hear so much about this from my constituents and I come from a big baseball fan family myself. Springtime comes and you are excited to watch the Twins and you can’t go to the games all the time,” she said. “And so watching the Twins on television as a fine part of Minnesota’s summer
U.S. Sens. Tina Smith & Ben Sasse Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve Credit Union Employee & Member Safety
WASHINGTON, D.C. [05/20/21]—U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) introduced bipartisan legislation to make credit unions safer for employees and members. The Credit Union Employee and Member Safety Act of 2021 would simplify the expulsion process for credit union members who engage in unacceptable, sometimes dangerous behavior, while preventing unfair expulsions. Minnesota credit unions have shared stories of members who have robbed credit unions, smashed ATMs, and sexually harassed tellers. Despite this unacceptable behavior, it can be difficult for credit unions to expel these members. That is because current law requires the credit union to call a vote of membership to expel a member,
U.S. Senators Tina Smith & Patty Murray, U.S. Representative Suzan DelBene Unveil Legislation to Support Sustainable Workplace Retirement Plans
WASHINGTON, D.C. [5/20/21]—Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and U.S. Representative Suzan DelBene (D-WA 1) introduced legislation in the Senate and House to provide legal certainty to workplace retirement plans that choose to consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in their investment decisions or offer ESG investment options. Despite considerable demand for sustainable investment options, relatively few workplace retirement plans, such as pensions and 401(k) plans, take sustainable investing principles into account in their investment decisions or provide sustainable investment options to workers. One of the primary issues hindering plans that want to offer sustainable
U.S. Senator Tina Smith, U.S. Representative Angie Craig Introduce 21st Century Workforce Partnerships Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. [5/17/21]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and U.S. Representative Angie Craig (D-MN 2) recently introduced companion legislation in the Senate and House to expand school-business partnerships, which would help ensure a future workforce that is trained for the jobs employers are creating. Many employers struggle to find qualified workers across several industries, including advanced manufacturing, agriculture, information technology and health care. According to workforce studies, almost two-thirds of the millions of jobs that will need to be filled in the U.S. will require at least some post-secondary education. Schools and employers are already building programs and partnerships like those outlined
U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, MN Housing Commissioner Jennifer Ho Host Call Highlighting Urgent Need to Stop Evictions for Minnesota Renters Hurt by COVID-19
WASHINGTON, D.C. [5/14/21]—Today U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Minnesota Housing Commissioner Jennifer Ho led a discussion about the urgent need to prevent evictions for tens of thousands of Minnesota renters who have been hit hard by the pandemic and fallen behind on their rent. Sen. Smith and Ho were joined by non-profit leaders who are helping connect the growing number of financially-troubled renters with the assistance they need to stay in their homes in the Metro area, Duluth, Willmar, Faribault, Rochester, St. Cloud, and Marshall. You can watch a clip from the discussion here and the entire conversation here. “I’m so grateful for the important work that Minnesota Housing Commissioner Jennifer Ho and all of the housing assistance
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