Latest Releases
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar and Representative Angie Craig Press Postal Service Again for Answers on Mail Carriers’ Missing Paychecks
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar (both D – MN), and U.S. Representative Angie Craig (D-MN02) sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy seeking answers about an apparent payroll system error that led to an estimated 2,200 rural letter carriers missing paychecks. The incident is the second major payroll problem for the Postal Service since September. The lawmakers sent a similar letter to Postmaster General DeJoy in September seeking answers when approximately 53,000 postal workers missed or received only partial paychecks, and the Postal Service responded that they had solved the issue that caused the error. “In your response, you assured us that the payroll programming error was ‘corrected’ and ‘rigorously tested,’ but just three months later we must address this again with you. Rural letter carriers provide an essential service to small towns and rural places in Minnesota and around the country. They deliver medicine, bills, Social Security checks and other crucial documents and items. They provide for their own families and deserve timely compensation,” the lawmakers said. In their letter, Senators Smith, Klobuchar, and Representative Craig called for DeJoy to take immediate steps to pay affected workers and ensure this problem is not repeated. Smith, Klobuchar and Craig have long worked to improve the reliability of postal service in Minnesota. All 3 lawmakers have introduced bicameral, bipartisan legislation addressing transparency at the Postal Service. Smith and Klobuchar both sent letters to Postmaster DeJoy regarding the disruptions caused by increased Amazon package delivery and decried Postmaster General DeJoy’s response. In September, they pressed USPS for answers about a payroll error that led to 53,000 rural letter carriers missing or receiving only a partial
Klobuchar, Smith, Emmer, Craig Announce Provision to Maintain C-130 Aircraft Fleet Passes Congress as Part of Bipartisan Defense Bill
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN), along with House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (D-MN) and Representative Angie Craig (D-MN), announced that a provision to maintain a fleet of 271 C-130 aircraft across the Air Force fleet passed the Senate and House as part of the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The legislation now heads to President Biden’s desk to be signed into law. “C-130 aircraft are the backbone of Minnesota’s 133rd Airlift Wing and support the Air Force’s readiness to carry out essential missions,” said Klobuchar. “We need to maintain the full fleet for our servicemembers who demonstrate a steadfast commitment to our nation’s values every single day. That’s why it’s so important that the bipartisan defense bill included our provision to ensure there are at least 271 C-130 aircraft in the Air Force fleet.” “Our C-130s are vital to Minnesota’s 133rd Airlift Wing and the Air Force’s capability to carry out their missions,” said Smith. “I am glad to see them included in our defense policy bill. Ensuring the Department of Defense maintains enough of these aircraft means stability for the men and women of Minnesota’s National Guard as they carry out their duties at home and overseas.” “With the passage of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act, we support the mission of the 133rd Airlift Wing and Minnesota National Guard. We have worked with our congressional delegation and the Minnesota National Guard for years to secure the future of the C-130 and are
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Pens Op-Ed for The Hill: Telehealth “Has Emerged as a Valuable Lifeline for Millions” During COVID-19
For Immediate Release: October 26, 2020 Contact: Katie McElrath katie_mcelrath@smith.senate.gov 202-365-5865 WASHINGTON, D.C. [10/26/20]—Today, an op-ed penned by U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) appeared in the The Hill newspaper that highlights the emerging role that telehealth is playing in connecting patients to caregivers during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. In her piece, Sen. Smith cites how telehealth has helped people in rural, urban and tribal communities connect to physical and mental health professionals from home. This allows them to take precautions to protect themselves from the virus while still accessing care. Sen. Smith also urges Congress to take up her bipartisan COVID-19 Telehealth Program Extension Act to invest an additional $200 million in this
Klobuchar, Smith, Bipartisan Group of Colleagues Urge Administration to Support Home Energy Assistance Program
WASHINGTON – With colder weather approaching and energy costs projected to increase this winter, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) joined a bipartisan coalition of 40 senators in urging the quick release of federal heating assistance funds to help low-income families and seniors on fixed incomes afford to heat their homes this winter. The senators said that quick action is especially import and as the coronavirus pandemic has added financial hardships for millions of households. In a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, who oversees the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the senators
Legislation Backed by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith to Provide Financial Relief to Health Care Providers Becomes Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. [10/22/20]–U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said that legislation they support to provide financial relief to health care providers working on the frontlines of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has become law. The legislation provides flexibility for a Medicare loan program that has supported health care providers during the pandemic. To date, the Medicare Accelerated and Advance Payments Program has provided approximately $100 billion in payments to health care providers to help alleviate financial stress caused by the pandemic. These upfront payments have been critical to supporting hospitals, nursing facilities, physician practices and other health care providers. However, repayment of these loans was
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Backs Push to Outlaw Discrimination in Our Nation’s Financial Services Industry
For Immediate Release: October 21, 2020 Contact: Katie McElrath katie_mcelrath@smith.senate.gov 202-365-5865 WASHINGTON, D.C. [10/21/20]—Today U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.)—a member of the Senate Banking Committee—backed new legislation to outlaw discrimination by banks and other financial institutions. The Fair Access to Financial Services Act, introduced by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) Wednesday, closes a loophole in the Civil Rights Act of 1964. While the law outlawed discrimination in certain places of public accommodations, it does not cover banks and other financial institutions. This new legislation would ensure that all people receive equal treatment when trying to access services at financial institutions and hold the institutions accountable when they engage in discriminatory
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