Latest Releases
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Laphonza Butler Introduce Legislation to Combat LGBTQ+ Mental Health Crisis
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D – Minn.) and Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.) — the first Black and openly LGBTQ+ senator to serve in the Senate — led five Senate colleagues in introducing the Pride in Mental Health Act which would strengthen mental health and crisis intervention resources for at-risk LGBTQ+ youth. “Mental health care is health care. And for some LGBTQ+ youth, receiving access to the mental health care they need can mean the difference between living in safety and dignity, and suffering alone through discrimination, bullying, and even violence,” said Senator Smith. “The data shows what many parents and educators see every day—an epidemic of students in classrooms dealing with anxiety, depression and other serious mental health conditions, with nowhere to turn. Meeting LGBTQ+ students where they already are—in school—helps us break down the stigma they might face and get kids the health care they need.” “Accessing mental health care and support has become increasingly difficult in nearly every state in the country,” said Senator Butler. “Barriers get even more difficult if you are a young person who lacks a supportive community or is fearful of being outed, harassed, or threatened. I am introducing the Pride in Mental Health Act to help equip LGBTQ+ youth with the resources to get the affirming and often life-saving care they need.” LGBTQ+ youth experience disproportionate rates of mental health challenges. A 2023 study found that 54 percent of LGBTQ+ youth reported symptoms of depression, while only 35 percent of heterosexual youth reported similar feelings. LGBTQ+ high school students
U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Colleagues Urge the Department of Justice to Improve Public Safety on Tribal Lands
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) joined her colleagues in sending a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland inquiring about the high rates of criminal cases on Tribal land that U.S. Attorneys’ Offices decline to prosecute. The letter was led by Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM) and was signed by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Martin Heinrich (D-NM). The Senators ask a series of questions to better understand the reasons behind the high rates of declinations. Specifically, the letter asks about the lack of evidence in these cases and the Department’s “prioritization of federal interests” to justify a decision to decline prosecution. Their letter also seeks more information regarding coordination between the Justice Department and Bureau of Indian Affair’s Murdered and Missing Indigenous Unit. “According to the Justice Department’s own findings, Native American women are two to three times more likely than women of any other race to experience violence, stalking or sexual assault. Yet, the Department declines to prosecute half of these cases,” wrote the Senators. “This in turn contributes to a culture whereby offenders feel emboldened because there is no one to hold them accountable. And families of victims often feel as though law enforcement is not proving regular updates on their cases.” Read the full text of the letter below: Dear Attorney General Garland, We write with concern regarding the high rates of prosecutorial declinations in Indian Country. As you know, Section 212 of the Tribal Law and Order Act (TLOA) requires
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Lisa Murkowski Continue Work to Expand Mental Health Services with New Package of Bipartisan Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. [06/24/20]—Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced two bipartisan bills to address behavioral health needs and substance use disorders during the COVID-19 pandemic. The COVID-19 Behavioral Health Support Act would authorize $150 million in grants to States, Tribes, Tribal organizations and community-based organizations for training, technology upgrades, surge capacity needs, emergency crisis intervention, suicide prevention, and outreach to underserved communities. The senators also introduced their bipartisan Emergency Support for Substance Use Disorders Act, which aims to address substance use disorders through harm reduction services. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would help administer these grants
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Urges Secretary Carson to Extend Critical Deadline for Housing Counseling Organizations Who Risk Losing Funding
WASHINGTON, D.C. [07/10/20]—Today U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) led a group of Senators —including Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)—pressing Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Ben Carson to extend the upcoming August 1, 2020 deadline for housing counselor certification for HUD’s Housing Counseling Assistance Program by at least one year. While counseling agencies have been working hard to get members of their organization certified, many agencies will be unable to complete this process before August 1 due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and therefore risk losing HUD funding. Sen. Smith said that the COVID-19 pandemic has exposed existing disparities and economic inequities in Minnesota
U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, U.S. Rep. Max Rose Introduce Legislation to Deliver More Effective Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Services during Pandemic
WASHINGTON, D.C. [06/29/20]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and U.S. Representative Max Rose (D-NY 11) introduced companion bills in the Senate and House to make sure public organizations and nonprofits can more effectively and efficiently provide mental health and substance use disorder services during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and future emergencies. Currently, there is a backlog in mental health and substance use disorder assistance due to COVID-19. Additionally, many federal agencies are being forced to tap into resources that aren’t usually used for this purpose. Sen. Smith and Rep. Rose’s Emergency Support for Substance Use Disorder and Mental Health Services
U.S. Senator Tina Smith in Senate Floor Speech Says Congress Must Address the Public Health and Economic Crisis of COVID-19 in Tribal Communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. [07/01/20]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) took to the Senate floor to raise the disproportionate impact COVID-19 is having on Native American communities in the United States, and to call on the Trump Administration and Congress to uphold its trust and treaty responsibilities by addressing the urgent needs of Tribes across the country. In her speech, Sen. Smith called for Congress to provide support to Tribal governments so they can respond to COVID-19 and provide essential services for Tribal members, and also highlighted the need to fully fund the Indian Health Service and housing programs. You can watch video of
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