Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Pens Op-Ed Announcing She Will Not Seek Reelection in 2026
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), penned an op-ed in the Minnesota Star Tribune announcing her decision not to seek re-election to the United States Senate once her six-year term ends in 2027. During her tenure, Senator Smith has lowered costs for prescription drugs, fought for true mental health parity, helped to pass the most significant climate legislation in history, and served as a champion for rural communities. She plans to carry forward her work standing up for all Minnesotans in the Senate – whether it is protecting access to reproductive care, lowering housing costs, defending the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, or getting a new Farm Bill across the finish line. A full list of Senator Smith’s accomplishments is available here. You can read Senator Smith’s op-ed explaining her decision here and below. Additionally, Senator Smith spoke about her decision in a video address to Minnesota, that you can watch here: Dear Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith I wanted you to hear directly from me that I have decided not to run for re-election to the U.S. Senate in 2026. I know my decision may come as a surprise. After all, we live in a time when elected officials tend to continue their service well past what the rest of us consider to be “retirement age.” And I understand, I really do, why it’s so hard for people to walk away from this job. I’ll never have a greater honor than working for the people of Minnesota. That said, politicians are human
U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Colleagues Seek Answers on Elon Musk and DOGE’s Access to Federal Student Loan Data
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tina Smith, alongside 15 of her colleagues, sent a letter to Acting Secretary of the Department of Education Denise Carter, seeking answers after reports that Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has infiltrated the Department of Education (ED) and students’ personal, private data. There are over 40 million federal student loan borrowers in the United States, and the student loan database infiltrated by Musk contains millions of borrowers’ highly sensitive information, including Social Security numbers, marital status, and income data. “This deeply troubling report raises questions about potential exposures of Americans’ private data, the abuse of this data by the Trump Administration, and whether officials who have access to the data may have violated the law or the federal government’s procedures for handling sensitive information,” wrote the senators. According to public reporting, “a handful of 19-to-24-year-old engineers linked to Musk’s companies, with unclear titles, could be bypassing regular security protocols” during DOGE’s infiltration of federal agencies. The senators also raised concerns that the access provided to DOGE-affiliated staff by the Department may violate the Privacy Act, which generally prohibits the disclosure of such information. “We are especially troubled by this reporting given President Trump’s stated pledge to abolish the Department,” concluded the lawmakers. “The millions of families who rely on ED to help them achieve the American Dream deserve answers about reports that an unelected billionaire and his team now have access to some of their most sensitive personal information.” Additional reporting suggests that DOGE has “fed sensitive data from across the Education Department into artificial intelligence software
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Applauds Passage of Key Tribal Priorities From Mental Health Care to Homeownership in Government Funding Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. [1/13/23] — U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) applauded the bipartisan government funding bill, which includes a number of key Tribal provisions she has authored or championed. The Omnibus Appropriations Bill, which was signed into law by President Biden two weeks ago, will take important steps to help Native families achieve homeownership, provide culturally competent mental and behavioral health services, and provide adequate funding for the Indian Health Service. “This bill is a historic investment in hard working families in Minnesota and across this country,” said Sen. Smith. “It gives us the tools to make significant progress on upholding our
Klobuchar, Smith Secure Significant Federal Funding to Improve Access to Drinking Water in Otsego
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that they have secured $3.4 million in federal funding through the Fiscal Year 2023 budget to improve access to drinking water in Otsego. Specifically, these resources will enable the design and construction of a drinking water treatment plant for the city. “This project will enable critical improvements to Otsego’s water infrastructure that will boost the health and safety of families across the city,” said Klobuchar. “I am proud to have worked with local leaders to secure this funding, and I know that these resources will make a real difference in
Klobuchar, Smith Secure Significant Federal Funding to Improve Access to Drinking Water in Lafayette
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that they have secured $1 million in federal funding through the Fiscal Year 2023 budget to improve access to drinking water in Lafayette. Specifically, these resources will be used to expand the city’s drinking and wastewater services to all residents within the city limits. “By expanding access to drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, this project will help boost the health and safety of so many families in Lafayette,” said Klobuchar. “I am proud to have worked with local leaders to secure this funding, and I know that these resources will
Klobuchar, Smith Secure Significant Federal Funding to Boost Manufacturing and Transportation Workforce in Southern Minnesota
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that they have secured more than $1.9 million in federal funding through the Fiscal Year 2023 federal budget to boost the manufacturing and transportation workforce in Southern Minnesota. Specifically, these resources will support Riverland Community College’s Workforce Development Learn and Earn scholarship program. This initiative enables students to participate in manufacturing and transportation programs to prepare them for careers as high-skilled technicians. “Our manufacturing and transportation sectors are key to the economic success of communities across Southern Minnesota. By allowing more people to enroll in Riverland Community College’s
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