Latest Releases
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar Introduce Legislation to Hold Postal Service Accountable for Delayed and Undelivered Mail
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar (both D – MN) introduced legislation to improve the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) delivery tracking and accountability systems following concerning reports of serious mail delays across Minnesota. Congresswoman Angie Craig (D – MN2) introduced the bill in the House of Representatives in October. This legislation would address a serious issue at USPS—that they cannot accurately track when mail routes do not receive deliveries. A 2022 USPS Inspector General report found that the data USPS collects is based on self-reporting, which the investigation found to be consistently inaccurate. As a result, USPS itself does not know which routes are undelivered or partially delivered or how many such routes exist. The Postal Delivery Accountability Act would require the USPS to address this systemic issue by implementing the Inspector General’s two recommendations: “When postal service is unreliable, Minnesotans can face serious consequences – from late payment fees and social security checks to days without critical prescription medications. Yet when I ask the Postal Service for information on these disruptions, they tell me everything is fine. The reality is that they don’t even know themselves,” said Senator Smith. “As an essential public service, USPS owes its customers transparency. The Postal Delivery Accountability Act is a step toward that goal.” “Minnesotans rely on the Postal Service to deliver their prescriptions, Social Security checks, and more. They deserve timely service, and when the Postal Service fails to meet the mark, at the very least customers should be notified. The Postal
Senator Smith Takes to Senate Floor to Share How Childcare Crisis is Hurting Minnesotans, Urge Action from Congress
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) joined a number of her colleagues, led by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), in speaking on the Senate floor about how the worsening childcare crisis is hurting families and local economies in every state—and stressing the need to address the crisis by acting on President Biden’s supplemental funding request to extend important stabilization funds. Joining Senators Smith and Murray were Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Ron Wyden, (D-OR), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). “Childcare is one of the top issues I hear about from Minnesotans. I hear from families who have to drive more than 50 miles to get their kids to childcare, families who are spending more than one-third of their household income on the cost of care for two kids. No one is well-served by our current childcare system,” said Senator Smith on the Senate floor. “We know that the programs stabilizing the sector worked. We know how much they helped parents and how much they benefited our economy. We must provide additional funding for childcare in a future supplemental to help providers stay afloat, allow parents to continue working, and keep children in quality care. Throughout her time in the Senate, Senator Smith has led efforts to expand access to childcare. In addition to leading the push to stabilize the childcare sector, this year she has introduced bipartisan legislation to bring more childcare to more agricultural and rural communities. She has also supports a host of bills to reform our childcare system, including the Child Care for Working
Sen. Tina Smith Says Minnesotans Deserve to Know How Drug Companies Are Using Billions in Tax Breaks
WASHINGTON, D.C. [05/17/18]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith is introducing legislation that would require pharmaceutical companies to share with Minnesotans and people across the country how they’re using the billions of dollars in tax breaks they received as a result of the Republican tax bill. The GOP tax law provided pharmaceutical companies with large windfalls that could have been used to bring down costs for consumers. But earlier this year, news reports showed that some top pharmaceutical companies used a large chunk of their tax cuts to benefit investors and drive up stocks. Sen. Smith’s bill—the Disclosing Pharmaceutical Company Windfall Profits Act—would make
Sen. Tina Smith Pressing for Senate Hearing on Novartis Payments to Trump Lawyer Michael Cohen
WASHINGTON, D.C. [05/17/18]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) is calling for a full investigation of the payments Novartis made to President Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen and is asking the leaders of the Senate Health Committee to hold a hearing with the CEO of Novartis as the key witness. Sen. Smith expresses concern that the payments may have played a role in shaping the Trump Administration’s positions on issues affecting Novartis and other drug makers, including importation of cheaper drugs from abroad. You can read a copy of the letter Sen. Smith sent by clicking here. “Discovery of these payments comes at
Sen. Tina Smith Condemns Secretary DeVos Dismantling Protections Against Predatory Practices by For-Profit Colleges
WASHINGTON, D.C. [05/25/18]—U.S Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) joined 28 of her colleagues in condemning Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ dismantling of a crucial office designed to protect students against predatory practices by for-profit colleges. Tasked with investigating schools that cheat, mislead, or defraud students, recent media reports have indicated staff and resources of the Department of Education’s Student Aid Enforcement Unit are being systematically reduced by Secretary DeVos. This is occurring while Secretary DeVos has simultaneously hired former executives from for-profit colleges that were previously under investigation by the same unit. “It is critically important that the Department fulfill its mission to protect students in higher
Sen. Tina Smith Introduces Legislation to Support Farm Conservation Efforts
WASHINGTON, D.C. [05/21/18]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith recently introduced legislation that would help farmers create and maintain plans to improve soil and water quality on farms in Minnesota and across the country. Sen. Smith’s bill would also streamline coordination between two leading conservation programs in the Farm Bill. The Strengthening Our Investment in Land (SOIL) Stewardship Act would improve the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)—which helps farmers create conservation plans to address natural resource concerns and improve soil and water quality—and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) aimed at making it possible for farmers to maintain their conservation systems. Through the SOIL Stewardship Act, family
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