Latest Releases
Senator Smith Takes to Senate Floor to Share How Childcare Crisis is Hurting Minnesotans, Urge Action from Congress
Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) joined a number of her colleagues, led by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), in speaking on the Senate floor about how the worsening childcare crisis is hurting families and local economies in every state—and stressing the need to address the crisis by acting on President Biden’s supplemental funding request to extend important stabilization funds. Joining Senators Smith and Murray were Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Ron Wyden, (D-OR), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). “Childcare is one of the top issues I hear about from Minnesotans. I hear from families who have to drive more than 50 miles to get their kids to childcare, families who are spending more than one-third of their household income on the cost of care for two kids. No one is well-served by our current childcare system,” said Senator Smith on the Senate floor. “We know that the programs stabilizing the sector worked. We know how much they helped parents and how much they benefited our economy. We must provide additional funding for childcare in a future supplemental to help providers stay afloat, allow parents to continue working, and keep children in quality care. Throughout her time in the Senate, Senator Smith has led efforts to expand access to childcare. In addition to leading the push to stabilize the childcare sector, this year she has introduced bipartisan legislation to bring more childcare to more agricultural and rural communities. She has also supports a host of bills to reform our childcare system, including the Child Care for Working
Klobuchar, Smith Statements on Bipartisan Confirmation of Jeffrey Bryan to be U.S. District Court Judge
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Tina Smith (D-MN) issued the following statements after the Senate confirmed Jeffrey Bryan to serve as a United States District Court Judge for the District of Minnesota. Currently serving on the Minnesota Court of Appeals in Saint Paul, Judge Bryan was one of the candidates sent to President Biden by Klobuchar and Smith following the recommendation from a judicial selection committee. Judge Bryan will be the first Latino federal judge in Minnesota. “As a former federal prosecutor and a current appellate judge with over two decades of legal experience, Jeff Bryan has spent his career serving the people of Minnesota. His dedication to justice and the rule of law has earned the respect and support of judges, attorneys, and law enforcement officials across the political spectrum,” said Klobuchar. “As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I worked to advance his nomination and I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their support of this outstanding nominee. I’m confident that he will be an excellent U.S. District Court Judge.” “Judge Bryan’s confirmation is a testament to his considerable experience and commitment to the rule of law,” said Smith. “His distinguished record as an appellate judge, trial court judge, and Assistant U.S. Attorney in Minneapolis make him exceptionally well-qualified for this position. I congratulate him on his confirmation.” Judge Bryan was appointed to the Minnesota Court of Appeals in Saint Paul in 2019.
U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Senate Colleagues Call on Department of Agriculture to Speed up Development of Crop Guidelines Established in Farm Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. [05/07/19]—This week, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and a bipartisan group of her Senate colleagues—led by Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)—urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expedite the development of the cover crop guidelines that were established in the strong, bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill. Sen. Smith and her colleagues also requested that haying and grazing of cover crops on prevent plant acres be allowed prior to the current USDA-mandated November 1 harvest date. “According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture published last month, between 2012 and 2017, cover crops on
U.S. Senator Tina Smith: Affordable Housing, Rural and Native Areas Must Remain a Focus in Housing Finance Reform Discussions
WASHINGTON, D.C. [06/06/19]—Today, as Congress considers reforms to the nation’s housing finance system, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) outlined her top priorities. In a letter to the nation’s top housing finance agency and leaders of the Senate Banking Committee—on which she serves—Sen. Smith pressed the officials to make sure any changes to the housing finance system support the affordable housing market and housing availability in rural areas, including on tribal lands. Following the Senate Banking Committee’s hearings on the housing finance system earlier this year and ongoing discussions about housing finance reform, Sen. Smith is fighting to preserve meaningful gains
U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith, Reps. Pete Stauber, Jim Hagedorn, Collin Peterson, Laud Federal Investment in State’s Electric Infrastructure
WASHINGTON, D.C. [06/05/19]— U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Representatives Pete Stauber (R-Minn. 8), Jim Hagedorn (R-Minn. 1), and Collin Peterson (D-Minn. 7) lauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) $133 million investment in Minnesota electric infrastructure that will improve services for more than 100,000 electric customers across the state. The loans provided to Minnesota included $52 million for Lake Country Power, which covers an eight county area in Rep. Stauber’s district, $36 million for People’s Energy Cooperative, which covers a six county area in Rep. Hagedorn’s district, and over $40 million for Stearns Cooperative Electric
Sen. Smith Lauds EPA’s Lifting of Summertime E15 Ban
WASHINGTON, D.C. [05/31/19]—Today, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) lauded the lifting of the E15 ban, a move that will expand the use of ethanol in the nation’s fuel supply during the summer “Farmers in Minnesota and across the country have been hit hard by low farm prices and recent trade uncertainties that have pushed prices even lower,” Sen. Smith said. “This rule change—something I’ve long fought for–will increase demand for farm products, bolster our farm communities, all while expanding the use of renewable fuels nationwide.” Senator Smith, a member of the Agriculture committee, has consistently pushed for the
English