Latest Releases
Senators Smith, Rounds Lead Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Mental Health Services in Rural America
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) reintroduced legislation to improve access to mental health and substance use services. The Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act of 2023 would establish a grant program for health providers to expand telemental health services in rural areas and for individuals working in the farming, forestry and fishing industries. “When I experienced depression, resources were there for me. But right now, too many people don’t have access to the mental or behavioral health care they need, and that’s especially true in rural communities,” said Smith. “Our bipartisan bill will help health providers in rural areas expand tele-mental health care services for farmers, ranchers and foresters, and many others in local communities who are experiencing stress, burnout and other mental challenges.” “Individuals in rural areas may not have easy access to a mental health facility, making in-person visits difficult for those seeking care,” said Rounds. “Utilizing telemental health capabilities will allow South Dakotans in rural areas to receive quality care from the comfort of their homes. Not only does this save time and resources, it provides an important mental health service for our farmers and ranchers, who for years have suffered economically due to challenging weather, trade disputes and price disparities.” This legislation would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the Rural Health Liaison of the Department of Agriculture, to award grants to public and non-profit mental health and substance use providers to expand access to telehealth services
Sen. Smith Joins Push to Introduce Trans Bill of Rights Ahead of International Transgender Day of Visibility
Washington – Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) joined a group of her colleagues led by Senator Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) in introducing the Transgender Bill of Rights, a landmark resolution to recognize the federal government’s duty in protecting and codifying the rights of transgender and nonbinary people. Trans and nonbinary people across the United States have faced relentless and escalating attacks on their health, safety, and wellbeing. Since January, state and federal legislators have proposed more than 450 anti-LGBTQ+ bills that restrict health care, ban LGBTQ+ inclusive curricula in schools, exclude trans youth from athletics, and otherwise endanger and harm trans people. These bills are negatively affecting the mental health and physical safety of LGBTQ+ youth, particularly trans youth who have been the primary target of these attacks. In the United States, trans people are four times more likely to face violent attacks than their cisgender peers and more than 40 percent of trans people have attempted to commit suicide. “Trans people are facing a torrent of harmful legislation and dangerous rhetoric from people in power. It is past time we come together to defend their dignity, protect them from discrimination, and ensure their safety,” said Senator Smith. “This resolution calls for basic protections for trans people, from ensuring they have the right to bodily autonomy and ethical healthcare, to equal access to public services and accommodations. I will continue working to ensure that our founding principles of civil rights and liberty extend to the trans community.” “On this and every International Transgender
U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Colleagues Slam FDA E-Cigarette Policy Riddled with Loopholes for Kid-Appealing Flavors
WASHINGTON, D.C. [01/13/20]–Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.)—a member of the Senate Health Committee—and 29 of her Senate colleagues sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner criticizing the FDA’s decision to break the Administration’s promise to clear all non-tobacco flavored e-cigarette products from the market. On January 2, the FDA announced a weak policy that includes huge exceptions regarding menthol-flavored products and any flavored e-liquids that are not in a cartridge. This comes at a time when the youth vaping epidemic has reached an all-time high. “We are deeply disappointed with the Trump Administration’s stark reversal from its September 11, 2019 commitment to
U.S. Senators Smith & Collins Call for Quick Implementation of Bipartisan Tick Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. [01/13/20]—U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) called on the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to urge quick implementation of the Kay Hagan Tick Act that Sens. Smith and Collins authored. Their bipartisan bill—signed into law in December—will improve research, prevention, diagnostics and treatment for tick-borne diseases. “The new law is named after the late Senator Kay Hagan, who tragically died from Powassan virus, a tick-borne disease this past October. The law provides a unified approach with leadership at the federal level and resources at the local level to combat the escalating burden of tick
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Leads Senate Colleagues in Calling on Trump Administration to Extend Humanitarian Protections for Somali Nationals
WASHINGTON, D.C. [01/10/20]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) led a number of her Democratic Senate colleagues—including fellow Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar—in calling on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to extend humanitarian protections granted to hundreds of Somali nationals who have taken refuge in our nation, including many in Minnesota, before the deadline to decide whether to extend protections on January 17 of this year. Somalia was first designated for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) nearly 30 years ago because of ongoing civil war, human rights abuses and violence in the country. These conditions continue to persist, which is why Sen. Smith is again leading her colleagues in pressing to extend TPS protections
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Says She’ll Support Bipartisan Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada In Upcoming Senate Vote
WASHINGTON, D.C. [01/08/20]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.)—a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee—announced that she’ll support the bipartisan United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) when it comes up for a vote in the Senate. Sen. Smith’s announcement comes after she helped secure key improvements to the agreement that strengthen protections for workers and improve access to affordable medicines. The USMCA also includes measures Sen. Smith has been fighting hard for to open new markets for U.S. dairy exports and end unfair Canadian milk pricing rules that hurt U.S. farmers. “I’ve long said that I want to vote for a trade agreement that lifts up workers, businesses, agriculture and consumers—and
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