Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Joins Bipartisan Letter Pressing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to Urgently Address Tribal Food Delivery Delays Nationwide
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) joined a bipartisan group of senators pushing the USDA to fix problems with Tribal federal food aid programs, which have caused widespread disruptions in food distribution to more than 100 Tribal organizations and some 50,000 people who rely on the program nationwide. The Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR) provides food to income-eligible households living on reservations, and to American Indian households residing in approved areas near reservations or in Oklahoma. Trust relationships between the federal government and Tribal Nations require the federal government to provide food security to Tribal members. Since April, Tribal FDPIR programs have experienced delayed or missing food deliveries, partial deliveries, and deliveries of expired products. Many families who receive FDPIR are now receiving less food or no food at all. The letter — signed by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Tina Smith (D-MN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) — pushed USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack to swiftly and fully address the unfolding crisis. “In March 2024, USDA consolidated the food delivery contractors to one sole-source contractor, Paris Brothers, Inc. in Kansas City, MO. Since that change went into effect on April 1, 2024, participating Indian Tribal Organizations (ITOs) began to experience ‘[s]poradic deliveries, or incorrect orders and compromised best if used by dates.’ Participating households have not had consistent food deliveries for over four months. This is unacceptable,” the senators wrote. “We appreciate that USDA is hosting weekly calls with impacted
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Celebrates U.S. Trade Mission to Colombia
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) celebrated Lamex Food, Inc.’s participation in a trade mission to Bogota, Colombia, led by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to expand foreign market access for American agricultural products. The Bloomington, MN based food group is one of 23 businesses and organizations who joined the trip from August 13-15 with USDA Under Secretary Alexis M. Taylor to discuss policy and business partnerships that will boost American agricultural exports to Colombia. “Agricultural exports support farming in Minnesota and provide economic benefits to the state,” said Sen. Smith.“This trade mission is a great opportunity to expand market access for American goods in Colombia, and for Lamex Food to create new business partnerships overseas.” Senator Smith, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, has been a strong advocate for expanding agricultural market access globally. Earlier this year, she supported a USDA trade mission to India focused on Indigenous food products. ###
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Joins 190+ Congressional Democrats in Brief to The Supreme Court Defending EPA’s Clean Air Act Authority
WASHINGTON, DC [1.25.22] — Today, Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.), along with more than 190 congressional Democrats, submitted an amicus brief to the Supreme Court in the case of West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The brief supports EPA’s authority under the Clean Air Act to protect the public from harmful pollution, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and address the climate crisis. It also rejects spurious arguments made by congressional Republicans in their own amicus brief, in which they wrongly challenge the EPA’s authority to address climate pollution. “For more than fifty years, the Clean Air Act has reduced pollution and
Senators Smith, Luján, and Clean Energy Advocates Discuss The Future Of Federal Investments In Clean Energy
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) joined Clean Energy for America and The Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) to discuss how Congress will continue to move forward on historic federal investments in clean energy. During the conversation, Senator Smith underscored her support for clean energy and emphasized that Congress must urgently pass legislation that protects our environment, reduces emissions, and generates economic opportunity in the process. “Addressing climate change is a moral, economic, and a justice issue,” said Senator Smith. “Transitioning to clean energy and taking climate action will create more opportunity, more innovation,
Klobuchar, Smith, Colleagues Call for Temporary Protected Status Designations for El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) joined 30 of their Senate colleagues in requesting that the Biden administration grant Temporary Protected Status (TPS) re-designations for El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua, in addition to a new TPS designation for Guatemala. TPS is a temporary, renewable program that provides relief from deportation and access to a work permit for foreign nationals from certain countries who are unable to return safely to their home country due to natural disasters, armed conflicts, or other extraordinary conditions. There are approximately 7,200 foreign-born Salvadorians and 6,700 foreign-born Guatemalans living in Minnesota.
U.S. Senators Tina Smith & John Thune’s Bill to Provide Financial Stability for Federally Impacted School Districts During COVID-19 Signed Into Law
WASHINGTON, [1.21.22] – Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and John Thune’s (R-S.D.) bipartisan legislation to help federally connected schools retain funding during the COVID-19 pandemic was signed into law by President Biden. Smith and Thune’s Supplemental Impact Aid Flexibility Act will allow school districts participating in the Impact Aid Program to use previously reported student headcounts on their Impact Aid applications for the 2022-2023 school year, ensuring that they do not need to recalculate federally connected students due to prolonged uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic. “As the pandemic continues to hit many Minnesota school districts hard, it’s important
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