Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Announces Significant Federal Funding to Combat Extreme Heat, Create More Green Spaces in Minnesota
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) announced over $33 million in federal funding to plant and maintain trees, combat extreme heat and climate change, and improve access to nature in cities, towns, and suburbs throughout Minnesota. The funding is made possible through the Inflation Reduction Act, which Smith helped pass. “As climate change fuels record-breaking heat waves across the country, we need to be doing more to increase tree cover and improve access to nature,” said Smith. “Extreme heat strains our energy systems and has negative effects on public health and overall well-being. These investments, made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, will increase access to green spaces and help communities become more resilient to extreme heat thanks to the cooling effects of tree cover.” The grants are made possible by investments from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate investment in history. Studies show that trees in communities are associated with improved physical and mental health, lower average temperatures during extreme heat, and increased food security, and create new economic opportunities. This historic funding will help support projects that increase tree cover in disadvantaged communities, provide equitable access to the benefits of nature, and deliver tangible economic and ecological benefits to Minnesota. The grants include:
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Mike Rounds Announce More Bipartisan Support for Legislation to Modernize and Reform Rural Housing Programs
Washington [9.19.23] – This week, Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) announced growing support for their bipartisan legislation to improve federal rural housing programs, cut red tape, and strengthen the supply of affordable housing. Their updated bill would represent the most significant Rural Housing Service reforms years, and has the support of a large bipartisan group of senators including eight members of the Banking Committee. New cosponsors include Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Jon Tester (D-MT), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Steve Daines (R-MT), and John Fetterman (D-PA). “Without a safe, affordable place to live, nothing else in your life works. Not your job, not your education, not your health,” said Smith. “We know that the housing crisis is hurting communities across the country, and the problem is particularly acute in rural places. This legislation is the direct result of bipartisan hearings and conversations with stakeholders who helped identify ways we can make federal rural housing programs work better for people struggling to find a safe, affordable place to live. I’m excited about the growing support for this package of rural housing reforms” “I am pleased with the bipartisan coalition that is building around this commonsense legislation to update USDA’s Rural Housing Service,” said Rounds. “Homeownership is part of the American dream and a key to building wealth. This legislation makes important improvements and updates that will create and preserve affordable housing opportunities in South Dakota. As we face an affordable housing crisis across the nation, I
U.S. Senator Tina Smith in Senate Speech: “Why I’m Sharing My Experience with Depression”
WASHINGTON, D.C. [05/15/19]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) took to the Senate floor to share her own mental health story as part of her push to make access to mental health care for Minnesotans and Americans a top priority. In her speech, Sen. Smith—a member of the Senate Health Committee—shared her own experiences with depression earlier in life, and highlighted the need to provide mental health support to people at every age across the nation in both rural and urban areas, no matter what zip code they live in. “That’s my story. Really, it’s the story of millions of
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Calls for Action to Protect Homebuyers from Predatory Lending
WASHINGTON, D.C. [05/13/19]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) is calling on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)—to improve protections for Minnesotans and Americans purchasing manufactured homes, after hearing from multiple consumer advocates that unwitting home buyers are often steered toward higher-cost loans. Sen. Smith—a member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs—and eight of her Senate colleagues highlighted the lack of transparency manufactured homebuyers face when it comes to lending practices in a letter to CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger. The letter was led by Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.). “Typically, the majority of consumers who have not
Klobuchar Introduces Legislation to Provide Relief to Those Caring for Aging Relatives
WASHINGTON D.C. [05/10/2019] – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) reintroduced the Americans Giving Care to Elders (AGE) Act to provide financial relief to caregivers by creating a tax credit for the costs of caring for an aging relative. The AGE Act would allow families to qualify for a tax credit to help offset expenses—ranging from purchasing assistive technologies and devices, respite care, to making necessary home modifications—of up to $6,000 per year. Klobuchar first introduced the AGE Act in 2015. The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). “We know that caregiving can be extremely expensive—especially when family
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Pushes for Prescription Drug Pricing Transparency
WASHINGTON, D.C. [05/09/19]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) helped introduce bipartisan legislation to combat skyrocketing prescription drug prices. The Fair Accountability and Innovative Research (FAIR) Drug Pricing Act would require drug manufacturers to disclose and provide more information about planned drug price increases, including research and development costs. Increased transparency will help provide much-needed context for taxpayers, consumers, and policymakers about the costs and value of medications, and may also incentivize companies to reassess the long-standing practice of relentless drug price increases. The bill was led by Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.), and Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) is a cosponsor. I’ve traveled around Minnesota to talk
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