Latest Releases
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Ron Wyden Re-Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Mental Health Care Coverage, Hold Insurance Companies Accountable
WASHINGTON — Last week, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) introduced legislation to improve coverage for mental health and substance use disorder care. Specifically, the Behavioral Health Network and Directory Improvement Act would crack down on health insurance tactics of posting incomplete, inaccurate lists of providers – called “ghost networks”— and create stronger enforcement standards to protect those seeking mental health care. “Mental health needs to be treated with the same urgency as physical health, and that means making sure everyone has access to the mental health care they need without unnecessary delays and barriers,” said Sen. Smith. “By law, insurance companies should cover mental health just like they cover physical health, yet they’re still finding ways to dodge compliance and deny coverage to customers. By setting stricter standards and holding insurance companies accountable for inaccurate listings, this legislation will help ensure people have access to the mental health care coverage they deserve.” “Amid a nationwide mental health crisis, it’s outrageous how common it is for people in need of treatment to find that their health insurance is almost useless when they try to see a mental health provider,” said Sen. Wyden. “In the worst cases these ghost networks are essentially a fraudulent product, but health insurance companies continue to sell those policies for top dollar. In just about any other industry, the customer would be owed a refund. This bill is about closing gaps in federal law and establishing real accountability for health insurance companies that continue to sell these ghost network insurance policies.” Ghost health care provider networks are providers listed by private insurance companies as
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith Join Colleagues in Pushing a Framework for U.S. Recognition of a Nonmilitarized Palestinian State
[WASHINGTON] – In light of the ongoing negotiations around a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith joined a letter with 17 of their Senate colleagues to the Biden Administration, urging the President to establish a public framework for the U.S. to recognize a nonmilitarized Palestinian state. As a strong diplomatic leader in the region for decades, the U.S. must continue this role and take concrete action toward a two-state solution, in line with established U.S. foreign policy. “Given the severity of the current crisis, this moment requires determined U.S. leadership that must move beyond facilitation. As such, we request the Biden Administration promptly establish a bold, public framework outlining the steps necessary for the U.S. to recognize a nonmilitarized Palestinian state, which includes the West Bank and Gaza, to be governed by a revitalized and reformed Palestinian Authority,” the Senators write. They continue: “The diplomatic steps that you and your Administration have taken have been of utmost importance, and we urge you to do even more. We believe it is critical at this moment for the United States to signal our willingness to lead a regional peace initiative that would eventually result in U.S. recognition of a nonmilitarized Palestinian state, as well as Israel’s full integration into the region. The road to enduring peace in the region depends entirely on the two-state solution—the establishment of a Palestinian state, existing in concert with a regionally-integrated Israel. Despite decades of U.S. support for this policy, there has been limited success
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Presses U.S. State Department to Address Canadian Border Restrictions Hurting Travel to Minnesota’s Northwest Angle
WASHINGTON, D.C. [4/7/21]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) has repeatedly pressed Canadian officials on issues affecting the Minnesota’s Northwest Angle—which cannot be accessed by land without traveling briefly through Canada—and today, Sen. Smith is urging the U.S. State Department to address new Canadian restrictions that are hurting Minnesotans who own homes and businesses in the Northwest Angle. Currently, due to border restrictions recently enacted by Canada, Angle residents, tourists and business owners are required to present a negative PCR COVID-19 test in order to travel through Canada to the Angle. But with limited PCR testing available in rural areas, Sen. Smith
In Senate Floor Speech, Sen. Tina Smith Reads Powerful Eulogy Delivered by Mother of Sandy Hook Victim; Implores Republicans to Find Humanity to Take Action
WASHINGTON, D.C. [3/24/21]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) took to the Senate floor to read the eulogy delivered by Veronique De La Rosa, mother of Noah Pozner—who died at age 6 at the mass shooting at Sandy Hook—as a reminder of the human toll caused by gun violence. Sen. Smith also implored her Republican colleagues to find their humanity to take action and curb this violence. Sen. Smith believes that Congress must make overdue reforms to protect our communities from gun violence, including banning military-style assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, closing dangerous loopholes, ensuring universal background checks and funding programs that address the root causes of violence. You can watch Sen. Smith’s floor speech here. “In
U.S. Senators Klobuchar, Smith Announce $100 Million Federal Investment to Build, Improve Electric Infrastructure in Rural Minnesota
WASHINGTON, D.C. [03/25/21]—U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced a federal rural electric loan package totaling more than $100 million to build and improve electric infrastructure in Minnesota. Minnkota Power Cooperative will receive a $80,560,000 loan to fund improvement projects. Minnkota Power is headquartered in Grand Forks, and provides wholesale electric power to 11 distribution cooperatives serving nearly 137,000 households in eastern North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. Minnesota Valley Cooperative Light and Power will receive a $22,817,000 loan to connect 132 consumers. This loan will also help expand smart grid technologies and build and improve 137 miles of line. “When we
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith Help Introduce Resolution Condemning Anti-Asian Hatred, Discrimination Related to COVID-19 Pandemic
WASHINGTON, D.C. [03/26/21]—In the wake of the recent Atlanta shooting—where eight people were killed, including six women of Asian descent—U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) helped introduce a resolution to condemn all forms of anti-Asian sentiment, racism and discrimination. The resolution, led by Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) also calls on federal officials, in collaboration with state and local agencies and Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community organizations, to address the rise in COVID-19-related hate crimes. Sens. Klobuchar and Smith said that AAPIs were targeted in nearly 3,800 hate incidents across the country since last March, according to this report.
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