Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Introduces Bill to Strengthen Teacher Workforce
Washington, DC — This week, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced the Addressing Teacher Shortages Act, bicameral legislation to help schools recruit, prepare and retain educators amid the ongoing teacher shortage. The bill is co-led in the House of Representatives by Congresswomen Haley Stevens (D-MI) and Jahana Hayes (D-CT). In Minnesota, 84% of school districts report being affected by teacher shortages, and nearly one in four licensed teachers in Minnesota isn’t working in a classroom. Among those who do, almost one-third of new teachers leave the profession within five years. “Building a stronger education system is one of the smartest investments we can make. I hear from Minnesota schools every year about the shortages they can’t seem to fill, and that it’s only getting worse. Smaller and rural districts particularly struggle to fill spots, but no matter where it is, we can’t seem to hire teachers in key subjects like STEM, technical education and special education,” said Senator Tina Smith. “These shortages hurt our students the most, and that’s why this legislation is so critical. Our kids deserve fully staffed schools.” The Addressing Teacher Shortages Act would establish a competitive federal grant program that school districts can apply to for five years of funding to strengthen teacher recruitment, training and retention. The bill also provides staffing resources at the U.S. Department of Education to help under-resourced communities apply for and access these grants. The bill gives school districts broad latitude to determine how best to spend the grant money to hire and retain qualified teachers in
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Jim Banks Introduce New Bipartisan Youth Suicide Prevention Legislation
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Jim Banks (R-IN) introduced the Raising Awareness for Youth Suicide Prevention (RAYS) Act, requiring middle and high schools to include mental health and suicide prevention information on student identification cards and school websites. The hotline and text line has been used nearly 20 million times since it was created in 2022. “We can’t afford to leave holes in the safety net we’ve built to catch people when they’re going through hard times or struggling with their mental health. That’s why we created the 988 hotline in the first place. Now, we need to make sure everyone, especially young people, know that resources are available to them when they need it,” said Senator Smith. “This is a common-sense idea to help those facing mental health challenges. It tells them that they are not alone and help is out there.” “It is unacceptable that suicide is the leading cause of death for Americans under 21. This legislation will expand access to vital resources and help save lives,” said Senator Banks. The RAYS Act would require secondary education institutions to provide contact information for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, the Crisis Text Line, and a state or local suicide prevention hotline selected by the school, if available, on the back of all student ID cards. If a school cannot meet this requirement because it does not distribute physical student ID cards, cost is a barrier, or some other administrative burden,
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar, Congresswoman Angie Craig Press Trump Administration for Answers on Frozen Energy Projects for Rural Minnesota
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), Senate Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (D-MN02) are pressing the Trump Administration about the continued confusion surrounding key clean energy projects that help Minnesota farmers and small businesses lower their costs. This freezing of federal funding has hurt many farmers and small business owners’ bottom lines, especially those that put up their own money expecting to be reimbursed by the federal government. Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) funding is specifically set aside for agricultural producers and rural small businesses to install renewable, clean energy systems, or to make their operations more energy
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith Denounce Trump Administration’s Withholding of $20 Million in Head Start Funding for Minnesota Preschools, Early Childhood Education Centers
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) denounced the Trump Administration for withholding nearly $20 million dollars in Head Start funding from Minnesota and vowed to push back against any attempt to shutter the program. Over 10,000 children in Minnesota access early childhood education and preschool with support from Head Start. Head Start programs serve all geographic regions of the state, but predominantly serve children in Greater Minnesota. The funding is being withheld as the Administration moves to close five Head Start regional offices, including the office that serves Minnesota. Reports indicate the Trump Administration hopes to shutter the Head Start program in their
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith Press Trump Administration Not to Close Baudette Agricultural Field Office
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Tina Smith (D-MN) pressed the Trump Administration not to close the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Field Office in Baudette, MN. The Baudette field office serves Lake of the Woods and Koochiching Counties, totaling nearly 5,000 square miles. Should the Baudette office close, the nearest field office would be located one hundred miles away in Bemidji. Bemidji field office staff would be forced to take on service for two additional counties on top of the five they already serve without additional resources or staff. Baudette’s closure comes during one
U.S. Senators Smith, Shaheen, Warnock, Murray and Wyden Introduce Legislation to Expand Childcare Relief to Families
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act, legislation to help more working families cover a greater share of the high cost of childcare. Senator Smith, a member of the Senate Finance Committee, was joined by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Patty Murray (D-WA) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), Chair of the Senate Finance Committee in introducing the bill. The Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act would permanently expand the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit (CDCTC). This bill would help ease the burden of high childcare costs
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