Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Joins Colleagues to Prevent College Students from Being Billed For Textbooks Without Their Consent
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) joined her colleagues Dick Durbin (D-IL), Angus King (I-ME), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) in sending a letter to the Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona urging him to finalize proposed changes that would make “Inclusive Access” (IA) and “Equitable Access” (EA) programs – models that allow institutions of higher education to automatically charge a student’s federal student aid for textbooks without a student’s consent – into an opt-in program, rather than an opt-out program. Currently, colleges and universities can partner with textbook publishers like McGraw Hill, Pearson, and Cengage to deliver textbooks digitally, charging students in the process through IA and EA programs. Although IA and EA models are more affordable for students than the sticker price of a new, hardcover textbook, they are often still more expensive than open textbooks, used textbooks or rental options. And while students can opt-out of IA and EA programs, the opt-out process is often difficult to navigate and lacks transparency. “The Department’s proposed changes to the Cash Management regulations would eliminate an institution’s ability to automatically bill students for books and supplies, effectively shifting the textbook industry’s so-called ‘Inclusive Access’ and ‘Equitable Access’ programs from an opt-out model to an opt-in model. This would allow students to choose how to spend their financial aid dollars on books and supplies. It would empower them to take advantage of affordable alternatives, such as used and open textbooks,” the lawmakers wrote. Senator Smith helped introduce the Affordable College Textbook Act and the Open-Textbook Pilot Program. The Pilot is a competitive grant program to support the creation and expansion of open college textbooks
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Leads Efforts to Address the Rural EMS Crisis with Statewide Tour
MINNESOTA [4.16.24] – As access to emergency medical services continues to be a top issue for leaders in the Minnesota State Legislature, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) has been active in working toward federal solutions to the crisis. She and her staff have held meetings across Minnesota, from Hibbing to Barnesville, Blackduck, and New Richland, where local EMS leaders conveyed that first responders are in dire financial straits. Senator Smith has been urging Congress to act on this crisis and is an original cosponsor of a bill to provide Medicare reimbursement for care provided by EMS when no transportation to the hospital is provided, called the Emergency Medical Services Reimbursement for On-Scene Care and Support (EMS ROCS) Act. Senator Smith stressed that joint efforts with state and local governments will be essential to fully address this crisis and is committed to ensuring all Minnesotans can live safe and healthy lives wherever they choose to live. In recent years, several states have passed laws to make EMS an essential service – Minnesota is not one of them, meaning the state government isn’t required to fund them. At the Minnesota State Legislature, there is a bipartisan EMS Task Force that is working to address the EMS crisis at the state level. “Everyone deserves a timely, fully equipped response in times of crisis. EMS workers also deserve a fair and decent wage, regardless of where they live,” said Senator Smith. “While the Minnesota Legislature continues to work toward state solutions, I’m going to keep pushing
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Backs Legislation to Combat Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Crisis During COVID-19 Pandemic
WASHINGTON, D.C. [08/12/20]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.), a member of the Senate Health Committee, joined Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and additional colleagues in introducing legislation to ensure pregnant people—especially pregnant people of color—are included in federal government’s coronavirus public health response. The Maternal Health Pandemic Response Act would improve research and data collection, safeguard the health of pregnant and postpartum individuals, and dedicate resources to combat the maternal mortality and morbidity crisis during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. This legislation confronts the structural racism that drives disparities in maternal health outcomes by prioritizing racial equity and tasking the federal government with improving the delivery of and access to anti-racist,
U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Representative David Trone Introduce Legislation to Address Social Isolation and Loneliness Among Seniors Due to COVID-19
WASHINGTON, D.C. [08/12/20]—In an effort to address the expected increase in social isolation and loneliness amongst older adults due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Senator Tina Smith and U.S. Representative David Trone (Md.-6) introduced bicameral legislation to help older adults remain safe, socially connected and healthy. The Strengthening Social Connections Act of 2020 would provide emergency supplemental funding to programs that strengthen social connectedness and address the negative health effects of social isolation in the Older Americans Act (OAA). Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, more than 8 million older Americans already experienced social isolation, and nearly half of older adults felt isolated, alone, or left out. Due to the heightened
Sen. Smith Introduces Bill to Make Eventual COVID-19 Vaccine Free
For Immediate Release: August 1, 2020 Contact: Katie McElrath katie_mcelrath@smith.senate.gov 202-365-5865 WASHINGTON, D.C. [08/11/20]—Sen. Smith announced that she’s introduced legislation that would make the eventual coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine free to everyone, regardless of insurance status. The bill, called the Free COVID-19 Treatment Act, would also waive any cost-sharing for COVID-19 treatment to anyone, regardless of how an individual gets health insurance, or whether they have insurance at all. Sen. Smith says that more than 5.4 million Americans lost their health insurance between February and May, representing the highest annual percentage increase in the number of uninsured people in American history, largely driven by pandemic related job losses. On top of financial insecurity, newly uninsured and
U.S. Sen. Tina Smith Demands Postmaster General Explain Delays, Intent Of Sudden USPS Changes, and Mail Disruptions in Minneapolis
WASHINGTON, D.C. [08/8/20]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) today demanded that U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy explain the recent and sudden structural changes at the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) that threaten reliable mail service for millions of people in Minnesota and across the country, and provide answers about the recent, week-long halt in mail service to Minneapolis public housing residents. In a letter to Dejoy Saturday, Sen. Smith said the changes, delays and disruptions at USPS hold significant implications for millions of American households – especially veterans, older citizens and rural residents who depend on the mail for life-saving medicines, census
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