Latest Releases
Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar, and Representative Angie Craig Press Postal Service for Answers on Mail Carriers’ Missing Paychecks
WASHINGTON, D.C. [09/25/23] — Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar, and U.S. Representative Angie Craig (all D-Minn.) sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy seeking answers about an apparent payroll system error that led to an estimated 53,000 rural letter carriers missing or receiving only a partial paycheck on September 1. After hearing from Minnesotans affected by the error, the lawmakers pressed DeJoy on the Postal Service’s insufficient response to their significant error, and demanded immediate back pay for the impacted workers. “Rural letter carriers – including carrier assistants – are essential workers whose services are critical to small towns and rural places in Minnesota and around the country,” wrote the lawmakers in their letter. “As you know, these carriers deliver medications to veterans, bills to seniors, and support businesses large and small, all for relatively modest pay. Like a lot of American families, many rural letter carriers can’t afford a missed paycheck. We understand that USPS offered affected employees the option to receive a salary advance in the form of a money order at 65 percent of gross pay. However, that is an insufficient proposal that fails to address the scope of these employees’ needs, and does not demonstrate a commitment to getting these workers the pay they earned.” In their letter, Smith, Klobuchar, and Craig called for DeJoy to answer the following questions by September 30, 2023: You can access a full copy of the letter here.
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Announces Significant Federal Funding to Combat Extreme Heat, Create More Green Spaces in Minnesota
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) announced over $33 million in federal funding to plant and maintain trees, combat extreme heat and climate change, and improve access to nature in cities, towns, and suburbs throughout Minnesota. The funding is made possible through the Inflation Reduction Act, which Smith helped pass. “As climate change fuels record-breaking heat waves across the country, we need to be doing more to increase tree cover and improve access to nature,” said Smith. “Extreme heat strains our energy systems and has negative effects on public health and overall well-being. These investments, made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, will increase access to green spaces and help communities become more resilient to extreme heat thanks to the cooling effects of tree cover.” The grants are made possible by investments from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, the largest climate investment in history. Studies show that trees in communities are associated with improved physical and mental health, lower average temperatures during extreme heat, and increased food security, and create new economic opportunities. This historic funding will help support projects that increase tree cover in disadvantaged communities, provide equitable access to the benefits of nature, and deliver tangible economic and ecological benefits to Minnesota. The grants include:
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Helps Pass Bipartisan Senate Farm Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. [06/28/18]—After taking a leading role in making sure Minnesota priorities are included in the 2018 Farm Bill as a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, U.S Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) was proud to help pass the bipartisan legislation in the Senate today. The Senate Farm Bill includes measures authored and championed by Sen. Smith—her legislative roadmap for the energy title of the Farm Bill, her provision to expand access to much-needed broadband in rural communities and tribal areas across the country, and a provision to create a U.S. Department of Agriculture “Rural Health Liaison” who will work
Sen. Tina Smith in Senate Floor Speech: “Farm Bill Touches Lives of Virtually Every American”
WASHINGTON, D.C. [06/28/18]—Today, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.)—a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee—urged her Senate colleagues to pass the bipartisan Farm Bill in order to provide more certainty to farmers, and to support jobs in Minnesota and across the country. You can download video of Sen. Smith’s speech here and access a copy of her remarks as prepared for delivery here. “The Farm Bill touches the lives of virtually every American, and it is vital to my state’s economy,” said Sen. Smith in her speech from the Senate floor. “This bill will provide important stability and predictability to Minnesota farmers, ranchers, rural communities, and
Sen. Tina Smith Introduces Bill to Prevent Another Sun Country Airlines Debacle
WASHINGTON, D.C. [06/28/18]—Today, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) followed up on her promise to explore legislation to prevent another incident like the Sun Country Airlines blunder by introducing the Airline Consumer Protection Act. Earlier this year, Eagan-based Sun Country Airlines stranded travelers in Mexico and around the country, leaving them scrambling to find additional lodging and their own way home. Sen. Smith’s Airline Consumer Protection Act seeks to ensure that this won’t happen again by guaranteeing that when a consumer purchases an airline ticket you are getting the transportation you paid for—which often is not the case in the fine print of airline tickets. The bill would also
Sens. Smith, Warren Continue to Demand Answers on Trump Administration’s Failed Promise of “Voluntary, Massive Drops” in Prices
WASHINGTON, D.C. [07/02/2018]—U.S. Sens. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) are continuing their investigation of the Trump Administration’s promises of “voluntary, massive drops” after these reductions in drug prices fail to materialize. The senators have reached out to nine Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and drug distributors asking for their response to allegations by Secretary Azar during a Senate Health Committee hearing that they are setting uproadblocks that are preventing drug companies from voluntarily lowering their drug prices. This latest effort follows similar letters previously sent toSecretary Azar and to drug manufacturers. “These are extremely disturbing allegations by Secretary Azar,” wrote Sens. Smith and Warren. “If
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