Latest Releases
U.S. Senators Smith, Murkowski, Hassan Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Expand Mental Health Care Workforce
WASHINGTON [2.23.23] – Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) reintroduced their bipartisan legislation to strengthen the mental health workforce in the face of shortages. The Mental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act would repay up to $250,000 in eligible student loan repayment for mental health professionals who work in mental health professional shortage areas. Sen. Smith has shared her own mental health journey from the Senate floor—and again in an op-ed last week in the wake of news that Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) was seeking treatment for depression —in hopes of breaking the stigma around mental health and working to expand access so Americans get the help they need. “I’ve shared my own story with depression because I want anyone suffering from a mental health issue to know they are not alone. We can all help break the stigma around talking about this, but de-stigmatizing and de-mystifying mental illness is just the beginning. We have to make sure mental health resources are available to everyone,” said Sen. Smith, a member of the Senate Health Committee. “We need to pass our bipartisan bill to help close the holes in the net we build to catch people when they fall and need help.” “Alaska continues to be disproportionally impacted by mental health and substance use disorders; and across the nation, mental and behavioral health workforce shortages are critically affecting access to care. This is especially true in rural communities,” said Sen. Murkowski. “Building on
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Pushes Attorney General Garland to Quickly Appeal Likely Verdict in Key Medication Abortion Case
WASHINGTON [2/22/2023] – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland in anticipation of a U.S. District Court ruling that would prevent essential, lifesaving reproductive health care for millions of women. In her letter, Smith urges Attorney General Garland and the Department of Justice to quickly appeal the case should the decision undermine access to medication abortion in any way. The case, Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine et al v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration et al, challenges the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authority to approve mifepristone, a safe and effective abortion medication. This suit is currently pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in front of a Trump-appointed Judge with a history of extreme views about LGBTQ people and reproductive rights. “Access to medication abortion and reproductive health care is a deeply personal matter, and the availability of this medication should be based on science and using it should be a decision left to a woman and her doctor, not Judge Kacsmaryk,” wrote Smith. Senator Smith recently reintroduced legislation with Representative Cori Bush (D-MO) to defend access to medication abortion in states where the right to an abortion still exists. The Protecting Access to Medication Abortion Act would protect current FDA guidelines so that women can always access medication abortion through telehealth and certified pharmacies, including mail-order pharmacies. You can read a full version of Senator Smith’s letter here or below: Dear Attorney General Garland, I write in
U.S. Sen. Tina Smith: $16 Million in USDA Funding Available To Organizations Helping Veterans, Non-Traditional Farmers Get Into Agriculture
[WASHINGTON, 07/17/19] – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making up to $16 million available to eligible groups and organizations to fund efforts to get veterans and non-traditional farmers in Minnesota and across the country get into agriculture. Sen. Smith, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said she pushed to reauthorize the funding during the debate over the 2018 Farm Bill – which was signed into law late last year. The funding is available through the USDA’s Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program (also
U.S. Senator Tina Smith, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter to Discuss Climate Action at the Local Level as Part of Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis Inaugural Hearing in Washington on Wednesday, July 17
WASHINGTON, D.C. [07/16/19]—Tomorrow, July 17, Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) will take part in the inaugural hearing of the Senate Special Committee on the Climate Crisis—on which she serves—to discuss the role the federal government can and should play in helping cities achieve clean energy goals and fight climate change. Sen. Smith will be joined by St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, as well as other mayors from cities across the country. You can access a live video of the hearing here. “The ones closest to the work often know best what will work, and that certainly holds true when it comes
U.S. Senators Smith, Durbin, Cramer Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Speed Up Availability of Lower-Cost Insulin
WASHINGTON, D.C. [07/11/19]—Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) introduced new bipartisan legislation that would speed up approvals of lower-cost insulin products in order to help people with diabetes access the life-saving medication they need to survive. Approximately 7.5 million Americans with diabetes rely on insulin every day to survive, yet the drug has experienced a price increase of more than 600 percent over the past two decades in the United States. Sens. Smith, Durbin, and Cramer’s legislation—called the Affordable Insulin Approvals Now Act—would help lower the price of insulin by promoting competition and bringing
U.S. Senators Klobuchar and Smith Urge Minnesota Producers Impacted by Flooding to Take Advantage of Crop Reporting Deadline Extension
WASHINGTON, D.C. [07/11/19]—Today, U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) are urging Minnesota farmers hit by flooding to report spring-seeded crops by the extended deadline of July 22. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently extended the deadline for states impacted by recent flooding and heavy moisture. “Our farmers are the backbone of our economy, and we must do everything we can to help them during severe weather challenges like those they’ve experienced this spring,” Klobuchar said. “Extending the deadline to report crop acreage offers farmers more flexibility on delayed plantings and other fieldwork while ensuring they still qualify
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