Latest Releases
Minnesota, North Dakota Delegations Respond to Inspector General’s Audit of Postal Service, Press Postmaster General for Better Service
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Kevin Cramer (R-ND) led the entire Minnesota and North Dakota congressional delegations in sending a bipartisan letter pressing Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to improve postal services in the Minnesota-North Dakota District. The letter comes after the Postal Service’s Inspector General audited the District and found 130,858 missing or delayed pieces of mail at six post offices over the course of only two days. The lawmakers also requested regular updates from the Postal Service on their progress in implementing these recommendations. “It has long been clear that postal operations in the District are in trouble, and the investigation confirms this,” wrote lawmakers.“We need to ensure that the OIG’s recommendations are fully implemented and actually result in significantly improved mail delivery and services across our states.” Senators Smith and Klobuchar requested the audit of the Minnesota-North Dakota Postal District back in December, as did the entire Minnesota House delegation in January. Senator Hoeven, Senator Cramer, and Congressman Armstrong requested an audit in February. Senators Smith, Hoeven and Klobuchar introduced the bipartisan Postal Delivery Accountability Act, which would address USPS’ failure to accurately track when mail routes do not receive deliveries. The legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives by Congresswoman Angie Craig. You can find full text of the letter here or below. Mr. Louis DeJoyPostmaster GeneralUnited States Postal Service 475 L’Enfant Plaza Southwest Washington, DC 20260 Dear Postmaster General DeJoy, We write in response to the United States Postal Service (USPS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report titled “Minnesota-North Dakota District: Delivery Operations” (24-032-R24). This report contains important findings about postal operations and recommendations to
U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Statement on SCOTUS Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA) Decision
Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) released the following statement on the Supreme Court’s Decision on Moyle v. United States: “The Supreme Court ruled on process, not on policy. This is a reprieve, not a vindication. While Idaho can resume providing emergency reproductive care, this ruling does nothing to reassure women that their health and wellbeing is protected. “Let’s be clear: President Biden’s work to ensure access to emergency abortion care under EMTALA is not safe under this decision. There are other challenges to EMTALA pending in the ultra-conservative Fifth Circuit — challenges that could come before the Supreme Court soon. “But this chaos is the point. Patients will suffer while these lawsuits move forward. There should be no legal question when medicine is clear: Abortion is health care. Justice Jackson hit the nail on the head with her dissent: ‘While this Court dawdles and the country waits, pregnant people experiencing emergency medical conditions remain in a precarious position, as their doctors are kept in the dark about what the law requires.’” ###
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Sees Historic, Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Signed into Law Monday at the White House
WASHINGTON, D.C. [11/15/21]— Today at the White House U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) watched President Biden sign the historic, bipartisan infrastructure bill into law, saying the measure will deliver billions of dollars in long-overdue investments to Minnesota’s roads, bridges, broadband, water infrastructure and other areas of need. Sen. Smith, who helped push the bill through Congress, said the new law will jumpstart the economy and create jobs and economic development in rural, urban and suburban communities across Minnesota and around the nation. She said the new law shows Congress can get important things done in a bipartisan way. “Getting this
U.S. Sens. Tina Smith, Sherrod Brown, Jack Reed Seek Answers on Zillow’s Sale of Thousands of Homes to Private Equity Investors
MINNESOTA [11/10/21]— U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.), chair of a key Senate housing subcommittee, and Senate Banking Committee Chair Sherrod Brown (D-OH), are raising concerns about real estate powerhouse Zillow’s reported plans to sell a large portfolio of single-family homes to institutional investors who could turn those properties into rental homes. The move could leave local homebuyers without affordable options, and renters with poorly managed properties. The two Senators were joined by Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a senior Member of the Banking Committee, on a letter Monday to Zillow Chief Executive Officer Rich Barton. In the letter, the Senators questioned Zillow’s
U.S. Senator Tina Smith: With Infrastructure Bill Set to Become Law, “Build Back Better” Budget Now Top Priority
WASHINGTON, D.C. [11/08/21]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said the historic, bipartisan infrastructure package – which has passed both the Senate and the House – will be signed into law soon, delivering billions of dollars in long-overdue investments to Minnesota’s roads, bridges, broadband, water infrastructure and other needed upgrades. Sen. Smith said the new law will jumpstart the economy and create jobs and economic development in rural, urban and suburban communities across the state. But as the Infrastructure bill delivers upgrades across the state, she said she will continue to press to enact the “Build Back Better” Budget that lowers taxes
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, John Boozman Push New Measure to Improve Mental Health Services for Veterans
WASHINGTON, D.C. [11/04/21]—Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn) and John Boozman (R-Ark.) continued their push to ensure that veterans across the country – especially those in underserved areas – get the mental health services they need. On Thursday, the Senators introduced their bipartisan “Vet Center Support Act,” which would provide better identification, intervention, and effective care to veterans struggling with mental health issues in underserved areas. The measure also removes barriers preventing the construction of Vet Centers. The bipartisan legislation is also supported by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tom Cotton (R-AR), and Tim Kaine (D-VA). Representative Dean Phillips (D-MN2) introduced
English