Latest Releases
Klobuchar, Smith Announce Significant Investments to Improve Health Care in Rural Minnesota
Washington, D.C. [11/7/22] — Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-MN) announced significant federal investments that will improve health care quality and accessibility in Greater Minnesota. These grants – over $1.8 million in total – will help health care organizations and providers expand critical services and recover from lost revenue in the wake of the pandemic. “This funding will make health care more accessible for rural communities across our state by helping providers expand services, purchase new ambulances, and upgrade facilities to improve the safety of patients and frontline workers,” said Klobuchar. “I’ll keep pushing for resources to ensure that all Minnesotans, regardless of their zip code, can access quality, affordable health care.” “When I meet with families, farmers, businesses and Tribal leaders in rural Minnesota, one of the first issues that comes up is health care,” said Sen. Smith. “These investments will expand access to health care for thousands of Minnesotans while helping providers recover from pandemic-related staffing shortages and lost revenue. As Co-Chair of the Senate Rural Health Caucus, I will continue working to improve access to health care in Greater Minnesota.” Specifically, grants will help replace outdated ambulances, purchase personal protective equipment (PPE), and upgrade hospital and nursing facilities in Slayton, Kittson, Big Stone, Chippewa, Sibley, Freeborn, Red Lake, and Murray Counties. As a member of the Senate Health Committee and a leader in the bipartisan Rural Health Caucus, Sen. Smith is fighting to protect, improve, and expand comprehensive health care coverage for Minnesotans. Last month, Smith
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Announces Significant Investments to Assist Underserved Farmers
WASHINGTON, D.C. [11/02/22] — U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), announced over $2 million in funding for a key program aimed at helping underserved and veteran farmers in Minnesota access critical financial services. The program, which Smith helped reauthorize in the 2018 Farm Bill, will deliver support and training for Minnesota farmers who have historically lacked access to critical federal programs and services, including loan and grant assistance. “We have to acknowledge that the USDA has a history of institutionalized discrimination against farmers of color. That is the history and we cannot shy away from it,” said Sen. Smith. “As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I have worked hard to create equitable access to financial services for underserved farmers including Black, Hmong, Latino and Native American farmers in Minnesota. These investments will help level the playing field and ensure everyone has equal access to financial services and other critical federal programs.” The Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers program relies on peer “Connectors,” who deliver culturally relevant trainings and offer one-on-one support to help farmers understand and access U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) resources. By using existing connections to Black, Hmong, Latinx, and beginning farmer networks, thousands of Minnesota farmers will gain awareness of these programs and services. Additionally, funding will be used to build comprehensive financial literacy and business development programs to help underserved farmers access financial capital and gain a better understanding of their farm’s finances. The program will also provide culturally
Sen. Tina Smith Pushes for Stronger Safeguards for Minnesotans Taking Out Expensive Private Student Loans
WASHINGTON [07/13/18]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) is pushing to make sure students in Minnesota and across the nation understand all of their options when it comes to taking out private loans to pay for school, which can often be deceptively risky and expensive, especially for inexperienced or first-time borrowers. The “Know Before You Owe Act of 2018” would require schools to provide information to prospective borrowers about federal loan eligibility and benefits before certifying a private loan. The bill would also require schools to confirm the student’s enrollment status and cost of attendance before the private student loan is approved. “The student
Sen. Tina Smith’s Statement on President Trump’s Remarks at Press Conference with Vladimir Putin
WASHINGTON [07/16/18]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) released the following statement on President Trump’s remarks while at a press conference with Russian leader Vladimir Putin: “The president’s press conference on his meeting with Vladimir Putin was nothing short of disgraceful. There is no question that Russia attacked our democracy in 2016 by interfering in the election, as our American intelligence community long ago concluded. When asked today to choose between our own country’s intelligence community and Vladimir Putin—the leader of a hostile foreign power—President Trump refused to choose, and instead blamed our own country. This is a shocking development when I
Sen. Tina Smith Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Help Tribes Pursue Justice for Crimes of Sexual Violence Committed by Non-Indian Offenders
WASHINGTON [07/17/18]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.)—a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee—has introduced bipartisan legislation to make sure tribes in Minnesota and across the country are able to prosecute crimes of sexual violence committed by non-Indian offenders. According to the National Institute of Justice, over half of all Native American women—56 percent—and more than one in four men have experienced sexual violence in their lifetimes. And among those, almost all—96 percent of women and 89 percent of men—were victimized by a non-Indian offender. Yet, few survivors ever see justice. The Justice for Native Survivors of Sexual Violence Act—introduced with Senate
Sen. Tina Smith Blasts Supreme Court Justice Nominee Brett Kavanaugh’s Troubling Record on the Environment
WASHINGTON [07/18/18]—In a speech delivered on the Senate Floor, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) took President Trump’s Supreme Court Justice nominee Brett Kavanaugh to task for his troubling record on the environment. Sen. Smith was particularly concerned with Kavanaugh’s writings on clean air where he signaled skepticism about protecting Americans from smog and carbon monoxide, both of which are known to cause serious health issues. You can watch Sen. Smith’s speech here. “Supreme Court Justices serve for life,” Sen. Smith said. “So we can’t afford a Justice who is hostile to our environment and to human health. We can’t afford a Justice who
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