Latest Releases
Senator Smith Joins Colleagues in Bipartisan Push to Boost Housing Supply
WASHINGTON, D.C – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development, joined her colleagues on a bipartisan, bicameral bill to provide resources to help communities rehaul their zoning and land use regulations. The Housing Supply Frameworks Act would provide a new framework to assist states and localities in breaking down barriers and increasing the supply of affordable housing across income levels. The federal government first laid the foundation for zoning in the 1920s with the Standard State Zoning Enabling Act, a model law for states to enable zoning regulations in their jurisdictions. This legislation provides a similar conceptual framework that will help states and localities move toward the regulatory structure needed for the housing industry of the 21st century. The bill is led by Senators (Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-MD), John Fetterman (D-PA), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Tom Tillis (R-NC), and Bill Hagerty (R-TN). “We have to tackle our housing crisis at every level of government. Boosting the supply of housing is necessary to drive down costs, and that takes federal, state, local and private-sector coordination,” said Senator Smith. “This bill would empower local communities to reform overly restrictive zoning regulations, cutting red tape will make it easier to build more homes that are affordable. This will help more communities expand access to affordable homeownership and rental opportunities.” “From major cities to rural communities, the impacts of America’s housing crisis are being felt by everyone. In the wealthiest country in the world, a housing crisis of this magnitude is simply
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Majority Leader John Thune Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand and Strengthen Local Meat Processing Capabilities
WASHINGTON, DC — U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) reintroduced the Strengthening Local Processing Act, legislation that would provide support to America’s small meat and poultry processors to help strengthen and upgrade their operations. The bill would provide training, education, and technical assistance grants to help small processing plants improve and streamline their operations. Additionally, it would open new markets by allowing inspector-approved meat products to be sold across state lines. Helping smaller, locally owned processing facilities be competitive in today’s market will help lower costs for consumers by spurring competition in an already consolidated meat industry. “Minnesota is proud to be the largest turkey producer in the country, and we know that a strong meat and poultry processing industry is critical to maintaining a stable economy, especially for Minnesota’s farmers,” said Smith. “Right now, just a handful of large companies have come to dominate the industry, which means higher prices for consumers and shrinking earnings for farmers. I’m glad to introduce this bill with Senator Thune to help even the playing field for local Minnesota meat and poultry processers, expand business markets for small producers, and keep food local for Minnesotans at the grocery store.” “South Dakota’s producers work hard to raise high-quality livestock and play a critical role in our nation’s food supply,” said Thune. “It’s important that we invest in expanding local processing capabilities to help them meet consumer demand. My legislation would help our small meat and poultry processors bolster their operations and provide them
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Announces Funding to Upgrade, Relocate Duluth International Airport’s Air Traffic Control Tower
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tina Smith announced she helped secure funding for Duluth International Airport’s Air Traffic Control Tower relocation project. The $10 million in funding will support relocating the non-standard tower currently at the airport, a tower which was commissioned in 1963. The airport coordinates over 67,000 arrivals/departures per year, contributes over $700 million to northern Minnesota’s economy, and supports over 6,000 jobs in the area. “The Duluth International Airport provides critical service to northern Minnesota, from commercial service to cargo, military and medical flights, yet it’s operating with a 70-year-old tower – the third oldest in the nation,” said Senator Smith. “This investment will make DLH safer and
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith Announce Expansion of Terminal 2 at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-Minn.) announced federal funding for the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport to expand Terminal 2. The project will add two new gates to the terminal’s north side, Gates H15 and H16. The funding comes from President Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure legislation, which Senators Klobuchar and Smith helped pass. “Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport is among the busiest airports in the country and supports tens of thousands of jobs,” said Senator Klobuchar. “This funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will enable the airport to continue serving the Twin Cities area, improve the travel experience for
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
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
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