Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Demands Accountability from USPS Leadership Following Damning Report on Postal Failures in Minnesota
WASHINGTON, D.C. [5.29.24] – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith sent a scathing letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, following a United States Postal Service (USPS) Inspector General (OIG) report that reveals severe management failures contributing to critical postal service disruptions in Bemidji and the broader Minnesota-North Dakota District, including around 80,000 pieces of delayed mail. Senator Smith is calling for immediate action to address these failures and restore reliable postal service for Minnesotans. The OIG report reveals that the Bemidji Post Office only had eight days warning before their package volume doubled and Postal Service management failed to confirm that the facility had the staffing or resources to accommodate the increased volume. It also found that local postal workers were not properly trained to avoid these issues. The report attributes these problems directly to national and district management missteps, resulting in untenable working conditions for postal workers and severe delays in mail delivery. “The findings of the Inspector General’s report are deeply troubling and highlight severe mismanagement within the USPS that has led to unacceptable delays and unnecessary hardships for postal workers and Minnesotans,” said Sen. Tina Smith. “Reliable postal service is not a luxury—it’s a necessity for accessing medications, paychecks, and staying connected with loved ones. It is imperative that USPS leadership takes immediate action to address these issues and restore trust in our postal system.” Senator Smith’s letter stresses the urgency of rectifying these issues and holds USPS leadership accountable for ensuring Minnesotans receive the reliable postal service they depend on for essential
Klobuchar, Smith Secure Funding for the Boys & Girls Club of Rochester
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that they secured $250,000 in funding in the Fiscal Year 2024 federal budget for the Boys & Girls Club of Rochester’s Off-site Program Expansion project. This expansion will double the number of K-12 students served by the Rochester Boys & Girls Club. “Nonprofits like the Boys & Girls Club of Rochester offer important resources for kids to improve their academics and lead healthy lives,” said Klobuchar. “With the resources we secured, the Boys & Girls Club will be able to fund their expansion project to meet the needs of the community.” “Developments in community outreach are crucial for strengthening Minnesota communities,” said Smith. “Investing in the Boys and Girls Club in Rochester will connect kids to the resources they need to lead healthy lives and are crucial to protecting the safety and future of our communities.” Klobuchar and Smith have been actively involved in securing this federal funding for projects benefiting communities across the state through a process called “Congressionally Directed Spending” (CDS). During the CDS process, Klobuchar and Smith have considered project proposals and advocated for funding in close coordination with leaders from across the state. Projects are expected to receive funding over the next several months. ###
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Introduces Bill to Address America’s Maternal Mortality Crisis
WASHINGTON, D.C. [2/23/21]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith introduced legislation to address America’s worsening maternal mortality crisis, which has a disproportionate impact on Black, Brown, Indigenous and all People of Color. The Data to Save Moms Act seeks to understand the root causes of this emergency by improving data collection on maternal mortality and morbidity. Sen. Smith said that the United States is the only industrialized country with an increasing maternal mortality rate, and that it’s one that discriminates. African American, Native and Indigenous women are two and a half times as likely to die due to a pregnancy related complication as white women. “I believe in the fundamental value that all
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Votes to Confirm Tom Vilsack for U.S. Agriculture Secretary as Senate Gives Nomination Final Approval
WASHINGTON, D.C. [2/23/21]— Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) voted to confirm Tom Vilsack as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture as the Senate gave final approval to his nomination. Sen. Smith, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said Vilsack, a former Iowa Governor who previously served eight years as Agriculture Secretary under President Obama, understands how important agriculture is to the economic well-being of farmers and communities in the upper Midwest and across the country. “I supported Secretary Vilsack’s nomination because he understands the challenges farmers, ranchers and rural communities have faced in recent years with low farm prices, trade disruptions,
U.S. Senator Tina Smith: EPA Decision to Limit Abuse of Small Refinery Hardship Waivers Will Boost Rural Economy, Jobs
WASHINGTON, D.C. [2/22/21]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.)—a longtime champion of a strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)—released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it supports the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals’ RFS small-refinery requirement ruling, which could limit abuse of small refinery hardship waivers. “A strong Renewable Fuel Standard is critically important to Minnesota, where ethanol produced from corn creates billions of dollars in economic output and supports thousands of jobs,” said Sen. Smith, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “I applaud the EPA’s decision to crack down on the abuse of hardship waivers. It’s a welcome change after the last four years, when we saw more than a 300% increase in the
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Calls for Investigation, Including Possible Price Gouging, as Massive Natural Gas Price Spikes May Pass Huge Costs on to Utilities & Consumers Nationwide
WASHINGTON, D.C. [2/20/21]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) is seeking an investigation, including possible price gouging, as natural gas prices skyrocketed during the recent extreme weather situation in Texas, and many parts of the central United States. The drastic price increases, some as high as 100 times typical rates, have putting a significant strain on utilities that have to buy this power, and costs that will likely be passed along to consumers in the form of higher gas bills. Sen. Smith believes it is unacceptable for gas barons to line their own pockets while many Americans are literally out in
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