Latest Releases
Senator Tina Smith, Representatives Andrea Salinas, Becca Balint Demand RFK Jr. Rescind Harmful Comments on Mental Illness, Anti-Depression Medications
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) along with U.S. Representatives Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06) and Becca Balint (D-VT-AL) led their colleagues in a bicameral letter demanding RFK Jr. rescind his past statements further stigmatizing mental health treatment, including comments that SSRI use can be linked to school shootings and that SSRIs are more addictive than heroin. Both claims have zero scientific evidence behind them and perpetuate harmful stereotypes. SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) such as Prozac, Zoloft and Lexapro, are one of the leading treatments for depression and anxiety and are used by nearly 32 million Americans each year. “We write to express our deep concerns regarding the Make America Healthy Again Commission’s troubling characterization of mental and behavioral health medication and your recent comments promoting disproven and outright false theories about these important treatments. These statements further stigmatize the mental and behavioral health challenges that one in five Americans live with, and can have a chilling effect on Americans seeking scientifically sound, medically necessary, and appropriate care,” wrote the lawmakers. “A mental health illness is exactly as the name says, an illness. Similar to a physical health condition or illness, sometimes medication is necessary for treatment. For individuals with mental illness, it is no different. In addition to therapy, medications may be necessary and appropriate. For individuals living with moderate or severe depression, anxiety, schizophrenia, or other conditions, medication can alleviate symptoms so they can function normally and have improved quality of life. We urge you to retract your harmful and false comments on mental illness and
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Voting No on Dangerous Republican Spending Bill
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) released the following statement on her decision to vote no on the Continuing Resolution (CR): “I will be voting no on cloture for the Continuing Resolution. “Donald Trump and Republicans are forcing two terrible choices on us, both of which are bad for the people of this country, and would hand unchecked power to President Trump and Elon Musk as they slash and burn government services on their own terms. “This bill we are voting on is not a ‘clean Continuing Resolution,’ and it does not continue the spending and policy law that Congress passed last year. Instead, it would slash support for fetal alcohol syndrome, epilepsy, and Alzheimer’s at the National Institute of Health. It fails to pay for disaster relief or fund hundreds of millions of dollars for important community projects for Minnesota, from childcare centers in Moorhead to public safety investments for Rochester and supporting rural health care on the Iron Range. It would give President Trump vast discretion to allocate funds to reward his political friends and punish those he considers enemies. And this is only a sampling of the damage done by this bill. Therefore, I cannot support it. “President Trump and House Republicans wrote this bill on their own, with no consideration for my views or any of my Democratic colleagues, and they will own the consequences. From the beginning, President Trump and the Republicans set this up as an unprecedented power grab.” ###
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Named Top Democrat on the Senate Housing Subcommittee
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) today was named Ranking Member on the Senate Housing, Transportation, and Community Development Subcommittee on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs for the 119th Congress. The Chair of the Subcommittee is Senator Katie Britt (R-AL). Smith has long championed bipartisan solutions to lower the costs for families to rent or buy a safe, decent, affordable place to live. Today, in more than 90 percent of counties, minimum wage workers cannot afford to rent even a modest one-bedroom apartment. More than half of America’s 44 million renters are spending more than 30 percent of their income
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith Join Colleagues to Introduce Bill to Award Congressional Gold Medals to Members of the “Miracle on Ice” Olympic Hockey Team
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-MN) joined their colleagues to introduce the Miracle on Ice Congressional Gold Medal Act, legislation to award three Congressional Gold Medals to members of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Men’s Ice Hockey Team to recognize the 45th anniversary of their extraordinary achievement at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games. “A team that made us believe in miracles,” said Senator Klobuchar. “With 12 players and the legendary head coach Herb Brooks being native Minnesotans, we are working across the aisle to award the 1980 Olympic hockey team the Congressional Gold Medal.” “The ‘Miracle on Ice’ hockey game
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar Announce Clean Energy Awards for Electric Co-Ops Across Minnesota
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar (both D-MN) announced funding to make energy upgrades for more than 150,000 people and homes in Greater Minnesota. Nine electric co-ops across the state are receiving federal funding to make energy upgrades that will reduce costs for consumers and increase energy efficiency. Minnesota’s electric cooperatives provide electricity to nearly one-third of the state. “The clean energy transition is here, and we can either lead or follow. I want Minnesota to lead, and with this announcement, we will,” said Senator Smith. “With this investment, cooperatives can unleash clean energy in a way that works best for their communities. This will fight climate change. This will lower energy costs. And
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Announces Federal Investment to Lower Housing Costs Through Zoning Reform in Twin Cities Metro Area
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Housing Subcommittee, announced an additional $5 million for the Twin Cities Metro area to assist with updating local zoning laws to build more affordable housing. The award will add to the $4 million previously announced in June 2024. The funding will provide technical support to cities and towns already in the process of updating their housing plans, community development strategies and best practices around zoning policy to incentivize more housing development. The funding will allow the Met Council to fully fund staff for the project through 2030. “We
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