Latest Releases
Klobuchar, Smith Statements on Bipartisan Confirmation of Jeffrey Bryan to be U.S. District Court Judge
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Tina Smith (D-MN) issued the following statements after the Senate confirmed Jeffrey Bryan to serve as a United States District Court Judge for the District of Minnesota. Currently serving on the Minnesota Court of Appeals in Saint Paul, Judge Bryan was one of the candidates sent to President Biden by Klobuchar and Smith following the recommendation from a judicial selection committee. Judge Bryan will be the first Latino federal judge in Minnesota. “As a former federal prosecutor and a current appellate judge with over two decades of legal experience, Jeff Bryan has spent his career serving the people of Minnesota. His dedication to justice and the rule of law has earned the respect and support of judges, attorneys, and law enforcement officials across the political spectrum,” said Klobuchar. “As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I worked to advance his nomination and I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their support of this outstanding nominee. I’m confident that he will be an excellent U.S. District Court Judge.” “Judge Bryan’s confirmation is a testament to his considerable experience and commitment to the rule of law,” said Smith. “His distinguished record as an appellate judge, trial court judge, and Assistant U.S. Attorney in Minneapolis make him exceptionally well-qualified for this position. I congratulate him on his confirmation.” Judge Bryan was appointed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals in Saint Paul in 2019.
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Presses Postmaster Louis DeJoy for Answers on Mail Issues
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Senator Tina Smith sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy pressing for answers regarding the Postal Service’s agreements with Amazon and the impact of those agreements on Minnesotans. For years, Minnesotans have experienced mail delays and inconsistency, and postal employees have faced difficult working conditions, made worse by a volume of Amazon deliveries that push the system to the brink. Millions of Minnesotans depend on the Postal Service to pay bills, receive prescriptions, and conduct other essential business. When service is unreliable, Minnesotans can face serious consequences – from late payment fees and social security checks to days without critical prescription medications. “As Postmaster General, you are responsible for ensuring that the Postal Service meets its service standards, and it is clear right now that things are not working as they should,” wrote Senator Smith. “Entering into contracts that your system cannot support is a breach of your responsibilities.” Reporting by the Bemidji Pioneer uncovered how harsh working conditions and the implementation of a USPS service agreement with Amazon have pushed mail carriers to the breaking point. Workers are being forced to work 12-hour days for six days per week, time off requests are being cancelled, and sick leave is not being honored. Bemidji isn’t the first Minnesota community to be affected by this new agreement with Amazon – Brainerd saw similar delays after it was implemented and continues to struggle maintaining enough staff. In her letter, Senator Smith presses for answers from DeJoy on how he plans to remedy both the impact of Amazon’s service agreement and the working conditions at the Postal Service so Minnesotans receive on-time
U.S. Senators Smith & Barrasso Plan to Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Provide Relief to America’s Rural Hospitals
WASHINGTON, D.C. [04/19/20]—Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.)—co-chairs of the Senate Rural Health Caucus—announced that they will be introducing their bipartisan Rural Health Relief Act, which would provide relief to rural hospitals amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic by making them eligible for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) created through the CARES Act. The PPP provides 100 percent federally guaranteed loans to employers who maintain their payroll during the COVID-19 emergency, with loan forgiveness of up to eight weeks of payroll based on employee retention and salary levels. Unfortunately, the PPP as it currently stands excludes small, publicly-owned hospitals. Sens. Smith
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Leads 16 Colleagues in Bipartisan Push For Rural Housing Assistance Amid Economic Fallout from Pandemic
WASHINGTON, D.C. [04/17/20]—In an effort to prevent people in small towns and rural communities—particularly low-income families, seniors and people with disabilities—from losing their housing during the coronavirus pandemic, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) today led a bipartisan group of 16 colleagues in pressing top Senate Appropriators for emergency funding to help rural renters. Sen. Smith—a member of the Senate Housing and Banking Committee—said that 86 percent of counties in the United States struggling with persistent poverty are in rural areas, and yet the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Housing Service Program received no funding in the recently-passed legislation to address the pandemic. This vital program helps low-income households, seniors and persons with disabilities in rural communities access affordable housing. The push came
U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan: Coronavirus Relief Funding Meant for Tribes Should Go To Tribal Governments, Not Corporations
WASHINGTON, D.C. [04/16/20]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan voiced concerns over the Trump Administration’s apparent move to send a portion of CARES Act relief intended for Tribal governments to for-profit Alaska Native corporations. The CARES Act provides $8 billion in critical relief to Tribal governments so they can respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to provide essential government services. The U.S. Treasury Department is required to distribute the $8 billion by April 24, but the Trump Administration is already signaling that it is putting for-profit corporations ahead of Tribal governments and Tribal members. Sen. Smith and Lt. Gov.
U.S. Senators Klobuchar, Smith, Colleagues Press President Trump for Answers on Mismanagement of the Strategic National Stockpile
WASHINGTON, D.C. [04/17/20]—U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) are calling on President Trump to provide answers on the Administration’s mismanagement of the Strategic National Stockpile, which has left states without promised federal assistance and supplies they need to combat coronavirus (COVID-19) and save lives. “The COVID-19 pandemic threatens the overall health and safety of families across the country, in every single state. Dozens of states have requested supplies from the stockpile to ensure that public health workers, emergency responders, and frontline health care workers have the personal protective equipment they need to prevent the spread of this virus
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