Senator Smith is committed to fighting for more jobs and building a stronger economy, one that works for everyone so businesses grow and workers get better jobs with better pay, and so we can invest in infrastructure and manufacturing. Sen. Smith wants to address college affordability and expand career and workforce training for young people who don’t go to a four-year college.
Despite the fact that the economy is rebounding, too many Minnesota families struggle to make ends meet, face a job loss, or grapple with a shrinking pay check. Sen. Smith believes that in order to build an economy that works for everyone, we need a fairer tax code that supports working families, not just the wealthiest of Americans. We need paid family and medical leave for workers so that parents can stay home to take care of a newborn or a sick a family member without losing a paycheck. We need to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act to close the pay gap between men and women. We need fair trade policies that help Minnesota workers, businesses, and farmers get ahead, and we need to crack down on foreign countries that break international trade rules and put American workers out of jobs. We need to hold Wall Street accountable and make sure they don’t cause another economic collapse. We need to invest in small businesses and support entrepreneurs. And we need to help foster the next generation of Minnesota innovators by investing in research and development.
As a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, Sen. Smith will build on Minnesota’s proud history of invention and creativity by supporting our classrooms, students, and our workforce. And, as a member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, Sen. Smith will be standing up for consumers, working to ensure fair access to financial services for all Americans, and working to improve the availability of safe, decent, and affordable housing.
Latest Releases
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith Announce Significant Biofuel and Clean Energy Expansion Projects Across Minnesota
INVER GROVE HEIGHTS, MN – Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-MN), announced 71 farms and small businesses across Minnesota will receive federal funding to install clean energy technology and make energy efficiency improvements, in addition to 15 awards to build out the infrastructure businesses need to make domestic biofuels more accessible. These investments will lower Minnesota’s carbon emissions while saving consumers money on energy and gas. “Domestically produced biofuel and renewable power systems strengthen our energy independence, support our farmers, and boost rural economies,” said Senator Klobuchar. “These federal funds will also help families and businesses transition to clean energy, reducing their overall energy costs. And through the funding made possible by my bill with Senator Ernst, the Biofuel Infrastructure and Agricultural Product Market Expansion Act, Minnesotans will have better access to biofuels at local gas stations.” “The clean energy transition is happening, and I want us to lead it,” said Senator Smith. “As we make the switch to cleaner, cheaper energy, we need to make sure everyone benefits. That’s why we pushed to expand programs like REAP that help farmers and rural communities looking to install renewable energy systems or HBIIP, which helps businesses invest in the infrastructure they need to expand the use of biofuels. These grants will save farms and small businesses across Minnesota thousands of dollars per year in energy costs, and support producers who are the bedrock of our biofuel industry and reduce harmful emissions.” These projects are made possible through two programs, both of
Statement from U.S. Senator Tina Smith on the Biden Administration’s Approval of Minnesota’s Request for Disaster Declaration
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) released the following statement in response to the Biden Administration’s approval of Minnesota’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration. “Minnesotans are struggling right now — these floods have turned people’s worlds upside down. I appreciate the swift declaration from President Biden following our request for aid,” said Senator Smith. “Minnesota needs help, and the federal government is answering. These unlocked resources will make an important difference as communities get back on their feet and we work to rebuild.” The declaration applies to 22 counties, though that list is expected to grow as more damage estimates are completed. This week, Senators Klobuchar and Smith led the entire bipartisan Minnesota congressional delegation in urging President Biden to approve Minnesota’s request. ###
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Leads Senate Agriculture Subcommittee Hearing on Expanding Opportunities for Beginning Farmers
WASHINGTON, DC — Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.), chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade, led a hearing focused on opportunities to support new and emerging farmers. According to the most recent Census of Agriculture, the average age of a producer in the United States is now 58, and in Minnesota it is 57. One of the witnesses who spoke at the hearing about challenges faced by beginning farmers was Tessa Parks, Minnesota native and owner and operator of W.T. Farms in Northfield. Tessa is a young, first-generation farmer of color who, along with her
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Leads 29 Colleagues in Push for Robust Rural Housing Funding
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) led 29 of her Senate colleagues in a push for more funding for rural housing programs in the FY2025 Appropriations bill. In their letter, the Senators noted that rural communities saw only a 1.7% increase in the number of housing units between 2010 and 2020, with almost half of states seeing a decrease in the number of rural units. According to the Minnesota Housing Partnership, every county in Minnesota has a shortage of affordable and available rental homes for extremely low-income households. 79% of counties have a shortage that exceeds 100 homes, and 31% have a shortage exceeding 500 homes. “Without a safe,
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Announces $1.2 Million in Federal Funding to Support Training, Employment Services to Young People; Increase Apprenticeships in High-Demand Careers in Beltrami and Cass Counties
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced a significant investment in the Bi-County Community Action Programs Inc. (BI-CAP) in Bemidji to empower young workers and strengthen the workforce in the region. Totaling $1,242,000 from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), the grant will support training and employment services critical for preparing young people to secure well-paying jobs in high-demand industries. This is part of the Biden-Harris administration’s ongoing effort to expand access to apprenticeship opportunities and prepare young workers for quality jobs and strengthen the nation’s workforce to meet industry demands. The grant was provided by the DOL’s YouthBuild Program
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar: New Report Confirms Postal Service Management Failures in Northern Minnesota
BEMIDJI, MN – Following a request from U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar (both D-Minn.), the United States Postal Service Inspector General launched an audit and released a comprehensive report on mail delivery issues in Northern Minnesota. The report’s findings underscored the need for serious changes at the Postal Service, including reforms included in the Senators’ bipartisan Postal Delivery Accountability Act. “When the mail is unreliable, it hurts Minnesotans, especially those who rely on the Postal Service to pay bills and receive paychecks and prescriptions. Yet when I ask the Postal Service for information on these disruptions, they insist everything is fine. This report confirmed what I’ve heard from Minnesotans
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