Latest Releases
Klobuchar, Smith Urge USPS to Protect Mail Service During Wildfires Impacting Northern Minnesota
WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) are urging the United States Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General to provide Minnesota with the necessary resources and support for postal operations impacted by wildfires. “We have heard from constituents who are concerned about mail delays resulting from the wildfires, and their ability to receive mail in the instance that they must evacuate,” wrote the Senators. “We urge you to ensure that Minnesota post offices receive the resources and support needed to maintain reliable service and communicate effectively with residents.” The full letter is available here and below. Dear Postmaster General Steiner: We are writing regarding serious mail service concerns in Northeast Minnesota due to ongoing wildfires. We have heard from constituents who are concerned about mail delays resulting from the wildfires, and their ability to receive mail in the instance that they must evacuate. We urge you to ensure that Minnesota post offices receive the resources and support needed to maintain reliable service and communicate effectively with residents. Minnesotans depend on the Postal Service for essential needs like medications, Social Security benefits, business mail, and paycheck that they rely on for their health and livelihoods. We appreciate the hard work of our postal workers who serve their communities and deliver the mail through extreme conditions and road closures. To that end, we request answers to the following questions: Minnesotans depend on the Postal Service every day. We urge you to do everything you can to address these postal operations concerns, and ensure
Senators Tina Smith, Jerry Moran Re-Introduce Legislation to Lower Cost of Oral Cancer Treatments
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Jerry Moran (R-KS) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to cut costs for cancer patients. Specifically, the bill would ensure cancer patients who are prescribed oral chemotherapy medication can access their drugs at comparable prices to other cancer treatments. Their Cancer Drug Parity Act requires health insurers to cover patient-administered (oral) cancer medications at the same cost-sharing level as traditional intravenous (IV) anticancer drug treatments, closing the coverage gap for federally regulated health plans. Over 2 million Americans are estimated to be diagnosed with cancer each year, and oral medications are a simpler, highly effective treatment option for many patients. According to a Susan G. Komen study released earlier this year, people receiving IV treatment reported a significantly greater negative impact on their daily lives than people receiving oral treatment, including having to take more time off from work. Despite these benefits, oral cancer treatments remain inaccessible to many patients due to unaffordable copays. “Oral treatments for cancer are often less invasive than traditional IV medications and can be taken at home, reducing logistical and occupational barriers to treatment,” said Sen Smith. “However, unlike IV treatments, which are covered by a health plan’s medical benefits with moderate to minimal copays, oral medications often have high, unaffordable copays. It can add up to thousands of dollars in costs for patients each year and can cause many to delay or forego necessary care to treat their cancer. Our bill brings parity to these two kinds of treatments and lowers costs for those taking oral cancer drugs.” “As cancer research and medical innovation continue to expand treatment options for cancer patients, including with orally administered cancer therapies, patients ought to be able to benefit from these medical advancements,” said Sen. Moran. “This commonsense legislation would encourage ERISA health insurance plans to expand access to orally administered cancer drugs. This legislation will
Sen. Tina Smith’s Statement on Governor Walz’s Decision Not to Seek Re-Election
ST. PAUL, MN – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) released the following statement after Governor Tim Walz announced he would not seek re-election in 2026. “Governor Walz’s decision to not seek re-election is what it looks like when leaders put the interests of the people before politics. Tim’s career has been defined by getting results for Minnesotans, doing the right thing, and always putting people first. In the face of an unprecedented and coordinated attack on Minnesota by President Trump and his administration, the Governor is once again doing the right thing. I’m grateful for Governor Walz’s service and
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Majority Leader John Thune Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support American Honey Producers Harmed by China’s Unfair Trade Practices
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) introduced the Trade Cheating Restitution Act of 2025, legislation that would support American honey producers and producers of other commodities, like crawfish, garlic, and mushrooms, who have been harmed by unfair trade practices, primarily by China. For decades, Minnesota honey producers harmed by unfair Chinese trade practices have been waiting for relief they were entitled to by law. This legislation would return wrongfully withheld interest from duties that were imposed for cheating American trade rules back to qualifying producers, including beekeepers. “Minnesota farmers produce some
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, John Hoeven, Amy Klobuchar and Kevin Cramer Send Bipartisan Letter Urging Postmaster General to Address Chronic Postal Delays Across Minnesota, North Dakota
WASHINGTON, DC – Yesterday, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) urged the Postmaster General to take action to improve postal services in the Minnesota-North Dakota Postal District. As the holiday season continues and the volume of mail increases, it’s especially important to ensure there aren’t delivery delays across the two states. “As our constituents prepare for the busy holiday season, we urge you to take actions to ensure that any performance issues are resolved in a timely manner so that Minnesotans and North Dakotans do not experience significant service disruptions this winter,” wrote
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Calls on Trump Administration to End “Operation Metro Surge” in Twin Cities
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) released the following statement: “I believe in protecting public safety and upholding the rule of law. ‘Operation Metro Surge’ is actively undermining both. There has been none of the necessary cooperation and trust between federal officials and local government, and zero transparency from the Trump Administration into ICE’s operations in the Twin Cities. Minnesotans are seeing their friends and neighbors, including U.S. citizens with no criminal records, abducted by masked agents, shoved to the ground, and sprayed with mace. The fear and violence that President Trump has unleashed on our home is destroying any sense
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