Latest Releases
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar Announce STEM Education Funding for Minnesota Tribal Colleges and Universities
WASHINGTON [2/14/2024] – Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith, a member of the Senate Indian Affairs and Education Committees, and Amy Klobuchar (both D-Minn.) announced funding for White Earth Tribal and Community College and Red Lake Nation College to expand their science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programs. The funding comes from the National Science Foundation and is part of a larger project to promote education and careers in STEM for Indigenous students. “STEM education has never been more important as the demand for STEM-trained employees has soared,” said Senator Smith. “This funding will provide accessible pathways for Native students to pursue higher education and serve their communities – all while integrating Tribal cultural heritage and roots into their curriculum.” “Expanding higher education offerings can be a real game changer for students,” said Senator Klobuchar. “These National Science Foundation awards will open doors for White Earth Tribal and Community College and Red Lake Nation College students to learn essential skills for in-demand careers while ensuring Ojibwe language and culture remain key components of their education.” White Earth Tribal and Community College was awarded $2,500,000 to begin offering an associate’s degree in natural sciences, with coursework including biology, chemistry and physics. Having this coursework available to White Earth students will help graduates access good jobs and further education in high-demand fields such as health sciences. Red Lake Nation College will use their $2,500,000 in funding to expand curriculum in social and behavioral sciences, with coursework rooted in the Ojibwe language and culture. Given the high demand in Tribal areas for workers in social services, this program will strengthen the talent pipeline for graduates to fill that need. Senator Smith has long been a lead advocate for Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs). In addition to
Following Amendment Push, Smith, Van Hollen, Durbin, Kaine, Schatz & Colleagues Welcome New National Security Memorandum to Ensure U.S. Security Assistance is Used in Line with International Law
The memorandum, modeled off of Senators’ amendment, also requires all countries that receive U.S. security assistance to facilitate U.S.-supported humanitarian aid and creates robust reporting requirements to Congress WASHINGTON – Friday, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and their colleagues welcomed a new National Security Memorandum (NSM) released by the Biden Administration Thursday aimed at ensuring all U.S. security assistance is used in line with international law, including international humanitarian law. The NSM is modeled off of the Senators’ amendment to ensure U.S. security assistance is used in line with international law. Additional cosponsors of the amendment were Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). Following the intent of the amendment, the NSM also requires that prior to the transfer of U.S. security assistance, recipient countries must provide the U.S. with credible and reliable written assurances that they will facilitate and not arbitrarily deny or restrict U.S. humanitarian assistance and U.S-supported international efforts to provide humanitarian assistance in areas of conflict. And, also in line with the Senator’s amendment, the NSM creates robust reporting requirements to Congress on these provisions and additional assessments of compliance with U.S. laws and policies. “When the United States provides security assistance, we need more in return than a mere promise
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith Announce Investments in Local Communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. [07/18/19]— U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) investments in Boys and Girls Club of Detroit Lakes. The cities of Eagle Bend and Altura will also receive investments. The Boys and Girls Club grant will allow the organization to increase its services, whereas the Eagle Bend and Altura grants will give additional funding to emergency services. “Critical investments in our rural communities serve as a down payment on the long-term economic well-being of our country,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “These rural development investments will help enhance the safety and quality of life
U.S. Sen. Tina Smith: $16 Million in USDA Funding Available To Organizations Helping Veterans, Non-Traditional Farmers Get Into Agriculture
[WASHINGTON, 07/17/19] – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is making up to $16 million available to eligible groups and organizations to fund efforts to get veterans and non-traditional farmers in Minnesota and across the country get into agriculture. Sen. Smith, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said she pushed to reauthorize the funding during the debate over the 2018 Farm Bill – which was signed into law late last year. The funding is available through the USDA’s Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program (also
U.S. Senator Tina Smith, St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter to Discuss Climate Action at the Local Level as Part of Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis Inaugural Hearing in Washington on Wednesday, July 17
WASHINGTON, D.C. [07/16/19]—Tomorrow, July 17, Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) will take part in the inaugural hearing of the Senate Special Committee on the Climate Crisis—on which she serves—to discuss the role the federal government can and should play in helping cities achieve clean energy goals and fight climate change. Sen. Smith will be joined by St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter, as well as other mayors from cities across the country. You can access a live video of the hearing here. “The ones closest to the work often know best what will work, and that certainly holds true when it comes
U.S. Senators Smith, Durbin, Cramer Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Speed Up Availability of Lower-Cost Insulin
WASHINGTON, D.C. [07/11/19]—Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) introduced new bipartisan legislation that would speed up approvals of lower-cost insulin products in order to help people with diabetes access the life-saving medication they need to survive. Approximately 7.5 million Americans with diabetes rely on insulin every day to survive, yet the drug has experienced a price increase of more than 600 percent over the past two decades in the United States. Sens. Smith, Durbin, and Cramer’s legislation—called the Affordable Insulin Approvals Now Act—would help lower the price of insulin by promoting competition and bringing
English