Latest Releases
Sens. Smith, Moran Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Strengthen Rural Hospitals
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) Jerry Moran (R-KS) this week introduced the Rural Emergency Hospital Designation Improvement Act (REH 2.0), bipartisan legislation to expand access to federal resources for rural hospitals through the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) Medicare designation. This legislation would allow more Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) and rural hospitals at risk of closure to sustain health care services in rural communities, and it would make technical improvements to the designation. The legislation is cosponsored by Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Katie Britt (R-AL), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) and Roger Marshall, M.D., (R-KS). “Rural hospitals are vital for families in small towns and rural communities. These hospitals not only provide care close to home, they’re also economic engines for their region,” said Sen. Smith. “But many rural hospitals face increasingly dire financial strain and workforce shortages, forcing them to cut services or even close down altogether. This important legislation is just one tool in the toolbox to help rural hospitals on the verge of closure keep their doors open. Make no mistake, much more is needed to ensure the health and wellness of rural hospitals and families. “I have visited every hospital in Kansas numerous times, and these conversations help guide my efforts to make certain health care providers across our state have the support they need to provide critical services to patients in their communities,” said Sen. Moran. “During these visits, providers shared with me their recommendations for strengthening the Rural Emergency Hospital designation so it can better support
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
U.S. Senators Smith, Klobuchar Secure Significant Federal Funding to Replace Bridges Over the Red River in Norman, Polk and Clay Counties
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded $24 million for the Red River Regional Bridge System Replacement Project in Norman, Polk and Clay counties. The grant, provided through USDOT’s BUILD program, will replace up to three bridges over the Red River. This project upgrades aging bridges frequently impacted by flooding across the three counties. The bridge system supports commuters, freight movement and commercial transportation between Minnesota and North Dakota. “The bridges connecting Minnesota and North Dakota in the Red River Valley are vital to our ag
U.S. Senators Smith, Klobuchar Secure Significant Federal Funding to Improve Rail Crossing Safety in St. Louis County
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded $6 million for the CSAH 100 Rail Crossing Grade Separation Project in Aurora, Minnesota. The grant, provided through USDOT’s BUILD program, will construct a grade separated bridge to improve connectivity for school transportation, emergency services, and freight for mining and logging. The overpass would include a dedicated space for bicycles, snowmobiles, and ATVs. “Nothing is worse than running late and being stuck sitting on the road waiting for trains to pass on Highway 100. We hear you, and
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Releases Statement After Supreme Court Upholds Birthright Citizenship
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of protecting birthright citizenship in a stunning rebuke of President Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda: “The Constitution means what it says: Children born in the United States are citizens of the United States. The promise and privilege of American citizenship extends to every child born in our jurisdiction, and those children deserve just as much of a shot at the American dream as those whose families have been here for generations. No xenophobic Executive Order can undo that,” said Senator Smith. “Minnesota’s immigrant families have
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Marsha Blackburn Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Veteran and Military Suicide by Victims of Military Sexual Trauma
Two million American servicemembers reported experiencing Military Sexual Trauma, increasing the risk of suicide WASHINGTON, D.C. – [6/29/2026] U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced the Improving Personal Risk Assessments to Prevent Suicide Act, a bill to help better understand the relationship between servicemembers and veterans’ experiences of military sexual trauma (MST) and suicide risk. The bill would require the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to publish a study on the links between MST, intimate partner violence and the risk of suicide. The bill would also require the Departments to incorporate those findings into clinical assessments for identifying and treating patients at risk of suicide – the first time military sexual trauma has been included in those official clinical tools. This will improve clinical risk
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