Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Celebrates Inclusion of C-130 Aircraft for Minnesota’s Air National Guard in National Defense Authorization Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith released the following statement on the inclusion of her bipartisan amendment to mandate the United States Air Force maintain a minimum 271 C-130 aircraft, which will ensure that the Minnesota National Guard’s 133rd Airlift Wing maintains its flying mission. “Our C-130s are essential to Minnesota’s 133rd Airlift Wing and the Air Force’s capability to carry out their missions,” said Senator Smith.“Ensuring they maintain enough of these aircraft means stability for the men and women of Minnesota’s National Guard as they carry out their duties at home and overseas.” The C-130 aircraft is essential to carry out missions at home and overseas and are essential to the operations of the Minnesota National Guard. The bipartisan amendment was co-led by Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), John Barrasso (R-WY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY). Senator Smith has repeatedly advocated for Minnesota’s 133rd Airlift Wing – in June she joined Senator Klobuchar and the entire Minnesota delegation from the House of Representatives in urging the Air Force to select the 133rd Airlift Wing to receive new C-130J Transport Planes. In September, the Air Force heeded their calls and announced that Minnesota will receive the new aircraft, pending an environmental review.
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar Introduce Legislation to Hold Postal Service Accountable for Delayed and Undelivered Mail
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar (both D – MN) introduced legislation to improve the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) delivery tracking and accountability systems following concerning reports of serious mail delays across Minnesota. Congresswoman Angie Craig (D – MN2) introduced the bill in the House of Representatives in October. This legislation would address a serious issue at USPS—that they cannot accurately track when mail routes do not receive deliveries. A 2022 USPS Inspector General report found that the data USPS collects is based on self-reporting, which the investigation found to be consistently inaccurate. As a result, USPS itself does not know which routes are undelivered or partially delivered or how many such routes exist. The Postal Delivery Accountability Act would require the USPS to address this systemic issue by implementing the Inspector General’s two recommendations: “When postal service is unreliable, Minnesotans can face serious consequences – from late payment fees and social security checks to days without critical prescription medications. Yet when I ask the Postal Service for information on these disruptions, they tell me everything is fine. The reality is that they don’t even know themselves,” said Senator Smith. “As an essential public service, USPS owes its customers transparency. The Postal Delivery Accountability Act is a step toward that goal.” “Minnesotans rely on the Postal Service to deliver their prescriptions, Social Security checks, and more. They deserve timely service, and when the Postal Service fails to meet the mark, at the very least customers should be notified. The Postal
U.S. Senators Smith & Barrasso Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Recruit and Retain Rural Health Care Providers
WASHINGTON D.C. [11/21/2019]—Today, on National Rural Health Day, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.)—both co-chairs of the Senate Rural Health Caucus—announced their bipartisan bill to address the disparity in access to health care in rural America by supporting key rural health workforce programs. Right now, rural America is struggling to recruit and retain the health care providers they need to support their communities. Geographic isolation and scarce housing options create challenges for rural health care providers to attract primary and specialty care physicians, nurses, technicians, ambulance drivers, and case managers. Even when providers move to rural communities,
Klobuchar, Smith, Emmer Announce $200K USDA Grant To Improve Rural Health Care in Central Minnesota
WASHINGTON, D.C. [11/21/19]—U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (D-Minn) and Representative Tom Emmer (R-MN-06), announced that the USDA has awarded CentraCare Health System a $234,648 grant to expand telehealth services across central Minnesota. This project will help improve access to critical medical services by placing video equipment at ten clinics across nine counties. It is estimated to help an additional 2,000 patients over a two-year project period. “Investments in education and health care are essential to improving communities across our state,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “This funding will help CentraCare address physician shortages in rural areas by establishing greater access to care through telemedicine
U.S. Senator Tina Smith & Senate Indian Affairs Committee Advance Bills to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Crisis
U.S. Senator Tina Smith & Senate Indian Affairs Committee Advance Bills to Address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Crisis Savanna’s Act and the Not Invisible Act to Address the Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Headed to Senate Floor After Committee Vote WASHINGTON, D.C. [11/21/2019]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said today that a key Senate panel has approved two measures this week that will improve the federal government’s response to the missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW) crisis. She said the two bills passed by the Indian Affairs Committee—Savanna’s Act and the Not Invisible Act—would increase coordination with law enforcement,
Klobuchar, Smith Announce over $13 Million in Rural Development Funding to Improve Water Systems and Wastewater Management in Minnesota
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded grant and loan funding to Minnesota totaling $13,206,000 to improve water systems and wastewater management the cities of Easton, Isle, Dumont, Verndale, and Wood Lake. “These investments in our water infrastructure are an important step forward to replace aging water and sanitary systems in our state and ensure public health,” Klobuchar said. “Investing in the cities of Easton, Isle, Dumont, Verndale, and Wood Lake will continue to benefit our waterways, water infrastructure, environment, and economy for years to come.” “Water systems and wastewater
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