Latest Releases
Klobuchar, Smith Statements on Bipartisan Confirmation of Jeffrey Bryan to be U.S. District Court Judge
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Tina Smith (D-MN) issued the following statements after the Senate confirmed Jeffrey Bryan to serve as a United States District Court Judge for the District of Minnesota. Currently serving on the Minnesota Court of Appeals in Saint Paul, Judge Bryan was one of the candidates sent to President Biden by Klobuchar and Smith following the recommendation from a judicial selection committee. Judge Bryan will be the first Latino federal judge in Minnesota. “As a former federal prosecutor and a current appellate judge with over two decades of legal experience, Jeff Bryan has spent his career serving the people of Minnesota. His dedication to justice and the rule of law has earned the respect and support of judges, attorneys, and law enforcement officials across the political spectrum,” said Klobuchar. “As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I worked to advance his nomination and I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their support of this outstanding nominee. I’m confident that he will be an excellent U.S. District Court Judge.” “Judge Bryan’s confirmation is a testament to his considerable experience and commitment to the rule of law,” said Smith. “His distinguished record as an appellate judge, trial court judge, and Assistant U.S. Attorney in Minneapolis make him exceptionally well-qualified for this position. I congratulate him on his confirmation.” Judge Bryan was appointed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals in Saint Paul in 2019.
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Presses Postmaster Louis DeJoy for Answers on Mail Issues
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Last week, U.S. Senator Tina Smith sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy pressing for answers regarding the Postal Service’s agreements with Amazon and the impact of those agreements on Minnesotans. For years, Minnesotans have experienced mail delays and inconsistency, and postal employees have faced difficult working conditions, made worse by a volume of Amazon deliveries that push the system to the brink. Millions of Minnesotans depend on the Postal Service to pay bills, receive prescriptions, and conduct other essential business. When service is unreliable, Minnesotans can face serious consequences – from late payment fees and social security checks to days without critical prescription medications. “As Postmaster General, you are responsible for ensuring that the Postal Service meets its service standards, and it is clear right now that things are not working as they should,” wrote Senator Smith. “Entering into contracts that your system cannot support is a breach of your responsibilities.” Reporting by the Bemidji Pioneer uncovered how harsh working conditions and the implementation of a USPS service agreement with Amazon have pushed mail carriers to the breaking point. Workers are being forced to work 12-hour days for six days per week, time off requests are being cancelled, and sick leave is not being honored. Bemidji isn’t the first Minnesota community to be affected by this new agreement with Amazon – Brainerd saw similar delays after it was implemented and continues to struggle maintaining enough staff. In her letter, Senator Smith presses for answers from DeJoy on how he plans to remedy both the impact of Amazon’s service agreement and the working conditions at the Postal Service so Minnesotans receive on-time
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Leads Fight to Help State and Local Governments Provide Paid Leave to Police, Firefighters, and Other Workers During Pandemic
WASHINGTON, D.C. [05/08/20]—This week, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) introduced a key measure to help state and local governments provide public employees with paid leave when they need it most. Her legislation would provide a tax credit to help state and local governments afford to provide paid leave to police, firefighters, and other employees who can’t work due to coronavirus. The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, which was enacted by Congress earlier this year, requires many public and private employers to provide paid leave for workers affected by the coronavirus pandemic. That law provides tax credits to private-sector employers to cover the costs of paid leave. But the package did not extend these tax credits to public-sector employers. This is
U.S. Senators Klobuchar, Smith Back Legislation to Significantly Expand National Service Programs to Improve COVID-19 Response
WASHINGTON, D.C. [05/07/20]—U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) are backing legislation to significantly expand national service programs as the country works to respond and recover from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The Pandemic Response and Opportunity Through National Service Act, led by U.S. Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) would fund 750,000 national service positions over a three-year response and recovery period, in part to meet the projected need for as many as 300,000 public health workers. The bill would also expand partnerships between AmeriCorps and federal health agencies and increase the AmeriCorps living allowance to ensure all Americans can step up to serve regardless of their financial circumstances.
U.S. Senators Tina Smith and James Lankford Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Health Care Resources for Urban Indian Health Organizations Amid Pandemic
WASHINGTON, D.C. [05/07/20]—Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) introduced bipartisan legislation to boost health resources for urban Indian health organizations as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic forces many to grapple with financial hardship and even close operations. The Coverage for Urban Indian Health Providers Act, also co-sponsored Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Martha McSally (R-Ariz.), would amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to create parity within the Indian Health System (ITU system). The ITU system is made up of the Indian Health Service, Tribal health programs, and urban Indian organizations (UIOs). UIOs provide culturally competent care for the over 70 percent of American Indians and Alaska
U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Joni Ernst Lead Bipartisan Push Urging Administration to Protect Biofuels and Reject Legality of Waiving the Renewable Fuel Standard
WASHINGTON, D.C. [05/07/20]—Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) led a bipartisan effort with Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) in urging the Trump Administration to uphold the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) and reject requests for the RFS to be waived. In a bipartisan letter to the president, Sens. Smith, Ernst, Grassley and Stabenow—along with 22 other senators including Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)—outlined the importance of upholding the RFS, especially during COVID-19, which has already caused harm to the biofuels community. Sens. Smith and her colleges also underscored the detrimental impacts a waiver would have on employment, farmers, food security,
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