Latest Releases
U.S. Senators Klobuchar, Smith, Announce Significant Federal Funding to Help Minnesota Families and Seniors With Heating Costs
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-Minn.), announced over $112 million in federal funding to help families and seniors pay for energy costs this winter. The funding was made possible in part through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which both Klobuchar and Smith helped pass. “As Minnesota prepares for winter, families shouldn’t have to choose between heating their homes or buying other necessities,” said Klobuchar. “This federal funding will help families and seniors across our state pay their energy bills and keep their homes warm.” “As the temperature starts to drop in Minnesota, everyone should be able to heat their homes and stay warm,” said Senator Smith. “For low-income families, high energy prices can force an impossible choice between heating their homes and other essentials like rent, food, or medicine. I’m proud of our work to secure this funding, which will help families in Minnesota afford their heating costs and utility bills in the coming winter months.” The funding is issued through the Low-Income Housing Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which provides families with payment assistance to support their home energy needs. LIHEAP can also be used to weatherize homes to make them more energy efficient, and mitigate energy emergencies during disasters and extreme weather. Households can easily identify if they are eligible for assistance by using the LIHEAP Eligibility Tool on energyhelp.us. Those interested in applying for LIHEAP can visit energyhelp.us or call the National Energy Assistance Referral (NEAR) hotline toll-free at: 1-866-674-6327.
Senator Smith, Colleagues Introduce Senate Resolution in Solidarity with UAW Workers on Strike
WASHINGTON, [10.19.23] – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) joined Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), and 31 of their colleagues in the Senate to introduce a resolution in solidarity with 150,000 members of United Auto Workers (UAW) bargaining for a fair contract. Autoworkers voted to go on strike in September– calling for a fair share of the record-breaking profits their labor produces as well as cost-of-living adjustments, an end to two-tier wage system, and restoration of pension benefits. Since then, the strike has expanded to 44 locations across 22 states. It is one of the largest U.S. strikes in the past three decades. “Workers bailed out the Big 3 auto manufacturers during the Great Recession to keep the companies afloat. Now, these companies make billions in profit while workers see stagnant wages,” said Smith. “I stand with the UAW workers in Minnesota and around the country who are striking for a fair contract and call on the automakers to negotiate with them in good faith.” “The fight the UAW is waging has everything to do with the outrageous level of corporate greed and arrogance on the part of senior executives in the automobile industry and their backers on Wall Street,” said Sanders. “At a time when the Big 3 automakers have made $250 billion in profits over the past decade, it is absolutely unacceptable that wages for the average autoworker have gone down by 30 percent in the past 20 years after adjusting for inflation. If these companies could afford
Sen. Tina Smith Pushes to Help Schools Overcome Teacher Shortages in Minnesota, Across the Country
WASHINGTON D.C [07/31/19]—Today, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.)—a member of the Senate Education Committee—reintroduced legislation to help schools and districts in Minnesota and across the country hit hard by teacher shortages. Sen. Smith is pushing the legislation because right now there are not enough teachers to meet the demand in all locations and in all fields, resulting in teacher shortages. More than 40 percent of the nation’s small, rural school districts struggle with adequately staffing their schools, and shortages are most acute in certain subject areas. There is a growing need for STEM, foreign language, and special education teachers. Additionally, there is a severe lack of racial diversity—nationwide teachers of color compromise only 18 percent of
TOMORROW: U.S. Senator Tina Smith Joins Patients, Fellow Lawmakers, and Advocates To Demand Bold Action to Bring Down Drug Prices
WASHINGTON, DC [07/25/19]—Tomorrow, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and patients from across the country will gather in front of the U.S. Capitol to demand bold action to lower prescription drug prices. Sen. Smith will be joined by fellow lawmakers, as well as advocates, to highlight the need for Congress to address this pressing issue. The press conference will occur right before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform holds a hearing with patients, titled “The Patient Perspective: The Devastating Impacts of Skyrocketing Drug Prices on American Families.” It also coincides with the Center for Popular Democracy’s patient bus trip to
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Again Calls on Top Trade and Foreign Agriculture Official to Provide Clear Answers on Effects Trade Restrictions on Cuba are Having on Minnesota, Nation
WASHINGTON, D.C. [07/25/19]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) believes in the importance of building relationships in foreign markets on behalf of Minnesota farmers—and farmers across the country—which is why today she again pressed the Department of Agriculture’s top trade and foreign agriculture official for more information regarding our nation’s trade with Cuba. Two years ago as Lieutenant Governor, Sen. Smith led an agricultural mission from Minnesota to Cuba. But since taking office President Trump has imposed several new restrictions on business with and travel to Cuba, making it even more difficult to build a strong trade relationship with Cuba going forward.
U.S. Sens. Tina Smith & Lisa Murkowski, U.S. Reps. Denny Heck & Sean Duffy Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Tribes Combat Homelessness in Minnesota, Nationwide
WASHINGTON, D.C. [07/25/2019]—Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), along with U.S. Representatives Denny Heck (D-WA 10) and Sean Duffy (R-WI 7), introduced bipartisan companion bills in the Senate and House to make it possible for Tribes and tribally designated housing entities to access funding to combat homelessness on tribal lands. According to a study commissioned by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), there are between 42,000 and 85,000 homeless Native Americans living on tribal lands. Homelessness on tribal lands often leads to families moving in with neighbors—sixteen percent of American Indian and Alaska Native
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