Latest Releases
Senators Klobuchar, Smith Announce Funding to Strengthen Meat and Poultry Supply Chains
Washington, D.C. [09/14/22] – Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-MN), announced that $400,000 in federal grants have been awarded to Minnesota meat producers as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grant Program (MPIRG). The funding will help strengthen food supply chains, develop new market opportunities for meat and poultry processors, and generate economic opportunity for farmers in Minnesota. “I’m thrilled to see this grant program, created through my bipartisan RAMP-UP Act, is delivering for local meat processors across Minnesota,” said Klobuchar. “These critical investments will help strengthen our food supply chain and expand opportunities for small meat processors, ensuring they can continue to thrive.” “Farmers in Minnesota know firsthand the vulnerabilities of our food supply chain and the importance of making it more resilient in the long term,” said Smith. “This funding will help strengthen our food supply system and also expand opportunity for farmers in Minnesota and around the country by creating new and better markets for their products.” “The Meat and Poultry Inspection Readiness Grants will help meat and poultry processors make necessary facility improvements, expand their businesses, and strengthen the nation’s food supply chain,” said Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. “These grants are one part of USDA’s Meat and Poultry Supply Chain initiatives and will contribute to our efforts to transform our food system.” “USDA continues to build capacity and increase economic opportunity for small and midsized meat and poultry producers across the country,” added Under
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Statement on Today’s Inflation Reduction Act Celebration
WASHINGTON, D.C. [09/13/22] — Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) released the following statement marking today’s celebration of the historic Inflation Reduction Act: “Today we are celebrating a historic bill that is already meeting the moment. In the month since Senate Democrats – without the help of a single Republican – passed the Inflation Reduction Act, the landmark legislation has created new investments, new jobs, and new opportunities for Americans. “It will reduce costs for American families by lowering prescription drug prices and making health care more affordable. It will unleash a new generation of American manufacturing that will help us build and deploy clean energy technology, spur domestic energy production, and tackle the climate emergency. It will help fight inflation and reduce the federal deficit. And it requires big corporations making a billion or more in profits to finally pay more of their fair share in taxes. “And we are also celebrating the most significant piece of climate legislation ever to pass the U.S. Congress that will lead to a 40 percent reduction in emissions by 2030. For the very first time, we have passed a climate bill that actually meets the scale of the problems we face. “Democrats took on big Pharma, entrenched oil interests, and Wall Street – and won.”
Sen. Tina Smith Introduces Bill to Prevent Another Sun Country Airlines Debacle
WASHINGTON, D.C. [06/28/18]—Today, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) followed up on her promise to explore legislation to prevent another incident like the Sun Country Airlines blunder by introducing the Airline Consumer Protection Act. Earlier this year, Eagan-based Sun Country Airlines stranded travelers in Mexico and around the country, leaving them scrambling to find additional lodging and their own way home. Sen. Smith’s Airline Consumer Protection Act seeks to ensure that this won’t happen again by guaranteeing that when a consumer purchases an airline ticket you are getting the transportation you paid for—which often is not the case in the fine print of airline tickets. The bill would also
Sens. Smith, Warren Continue to Demand Answers on Trump Administration’s Failed Promise of “Voluntary, Massive Drops” in Prices
WASHINGTON, D.C. [07/02/2018]—U.S. Sens. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) are continuing their investigation of the Trump Administration’s promises of “voluntary, massive drops” after these reductions in drug prices fail to materialize. The senators have reached out to nine Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and drug distributors asking for their response to allegations by Secretary Azar during a Senate Health Committee hearing that they are setting uproadblocks that are preventing drug companies from voluntarily lowering their drug prices. This latest effort follows similar letters previously sent toSecretary Azar and to drug manufacturers. “These are extremely disturbing allegations by Secretary Azar,” wrote Sens. Smith and Warren. “If
Smith, Klobuchar Call on Federal Communications Commission to Establish Protections for Consumers from Unwanted, Harassing Robocalls
U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar joined Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) and 11 other senators in calling for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish protections for consumers from unwanted and harassing robocalls and robotexts. “In an era when the onslaught of unwanted and abusive robocalls is on the rise, we are concerned that the absence of core protections would result in even more invasive calls and texts,” the senators wrote in their letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “It is the FCC’s obligation to use its existing authority to reestablish robust, enforceable protections to enhance the precious zone of privacy
Sen. Tina Smith’s Statement on EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s Resignation
WASHINGTON, D.C. [07/05/18]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.)—a member of the Senate Energy Committee—released the following statement on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt’s resignation. This statement originally appeared on Sen. Tina Smith’s official Senate Facebook page. “Scott Pruitt abused our trust. I’m glad he stepped down. I had repeatedly called on him to do so, and now the Trump Administration needs to replace him with somebody who has the integrity and effectiveness to fight for our environment. After all, that’s the job of the EPA Administrator.” ###
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