Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Bipartisan Mental Health Care Measures Signed Into Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. [1/13/23] — U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced two of her bipartisan mental health care bills were signed into law by President Biden two weeks ago. The provisions will take important steps to address the mental health crisis and improve Tribal health services. “I know firsthand the importance of mental health services. These measures will help expand access to mental health care in Minnesota and across this country,” said Sen. Smith. “It gives us the tools to make significant progress tackling the mental health crisis, upholding our commitments to Tribal Nations, and more.” Provisions based on Smith’s Improving Access to Behavioral Health Integration Act will provide funding for primary care practices to implement evidence-based behavioral health integration programs. In addition, the law will establish grants for Tribal governments, Tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations, and Tribal health programs to receive funds for culturally-competent mental and behavioral health services for Native Americans. The bills were included in the year-end government funding package that was recently signed into law. In addition to Smith’s mental health bills, the law also includes many other important provisions supported by Sen. Smith such as the Electoral Count Reform Act, support for the people of Ukraine, fully funding provisions of the PACT Act, permanently extending postpartum coverage for mothers on Medicaid and CHIP, increasing child care and housing access, and more.
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Applauds Passage of Key Tribal Priorities From Mental Health Care to Homeownership in Government Funding Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. [1/13/23] — U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) applauded the bipartisan government funding bill, which includes a number of key Tribal provisions she has authored or championed. The Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which was signed into law by President Biden two weeks ago, will take important steps to help Native families achieve homeownership, provide culturally competent mental and behavioral health services, and provide adequate funding for the Indian Health Service. “This bill is a historic investment in hard working families in Minnesota and across this country,” said Sen. Smith. “It gives us the tools to make significant progress on upholding our commitments to Tribal Nations, lowering health care costs, tackling the mental health crisis, and more. I was proud to vote yes on a bill that will give Minnesota, and our country, needed resources to build a stronger future.” The Omnibus Appropriations Bill includes many key provisions authored or championed by Sen. Smith. These new laws will: Establish grants for Tribal governments, Tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations, and Tribal health programs to receive funds for culturally-competent mental and behavioral health services for Native Americans. Provide parity for Tribal courts in splitting retirement plan assets in divorce proceedings. Advance appropriations for the Indian Health Service through 2024. Help Native families living in rural areas achieve homeownership through provisions from Senator Smith’s bipartisan Native American Rural Homeownership Act. The Omnibus Appropriations Bill also includes many other important provisions supported by Sen. Smith such as the Electoral Count Reform Act, support for the people
U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Bipartisan Group of Indian Affairs Committee Senators Introduce Bill to Address Law Enforcement, Public Safety Needs in Native Communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. [06/14/2019]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and a bipartisan group of her colleagues on the Senate Indian Affairs Committee—led by Vice Chairman Tom Udall (N.M)—this week introduced the Bridging Agency Data Gaps & Ensuring Safety (BADGES) for Native Communities Act, which would address critical public safety needs in Indian Country. The bill aims to address federal inefficiencies that hurt Bureau of Indian Affairs law enforcement recruitment and retention, increase the effectiveness of federal missing persons resources, and give Tribes and States resources to coordinate responses to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) crisis. In addition to Sens. Smith
U.S. Senator Tina Smith: Nation’s Top Trade and Economic Officials Forced to Work with “One Hand Tied Behind Back”
WASHINGTON, D.C. [06/13/2019]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) told a Senate Agriculture Committee panel that the Trump Administration’s lack of a clear trade strategy is forcing the nation’s top trade and economic officials to work with one hand tied behind their back, and causing market uncertainty that is driving thousands of already-struggling farmers in Minnesota and across the country into deeper financial distress. At the Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on global market certainty Thursday, Sen. Smith shared stories from Minnesota producers to illustrate how trade uncertainty in the markets is hurting their ability to make decisions, and cutting into
U.S. Senators Smith, Cortez Masto, Scott, Cramer, Young Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Promote Manufactured Housing as Part of Solution to Affordable Housing Crisis
WASHINGTON, D.C. [06/12/2019]—Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith, (D-Minn.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), and Todd Young (R-Ind.) introduced bipartisan legislation promoting manufactured housing as part of the solution to America’s affordable housing crisis. The HUD Manufactured Housing Modernization Act of 2019 would require the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to issue guidelines for including manufactured housing in state and local governments’ Consolidated Plans, which outline their housing and community development priorities, when applying for HUD funding. This legislation will ensure that manufactured housing, a significant source of affordable housing, is considered when jurisdictions
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Leads Senate Colleagues in Introducing Comprehensive Bill to Address Skyrocketing Prescription Drug Prices
WASHINGTON D.C. [06/12/19]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) introduced comprehensive legislation to hold large pharmaceutical companies accountable for high prices and bring down costs for Americans. Sen. Smith, a member of the Senate Health Committee, said her measure would promote transparency by requiring pharmaceutical companies to disclose just how much money is going toward research and development, as well as marketing and pay for executives. Her bill would also end the restriction that prevents the federal Medicare program from using its buying power to negotiate lower drug prices for its beneficiaries, and curb drug company monopoly practices that keep
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