Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Demands Accountability from USPS Leadership Following Damning Report on Postal Failures in Minnesota
WASHINGTON, D.C. [5.29.24] – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith sent a scathing letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, following a United States Postal Service (USPS) Inspector General (OIG) report that reveals severe management failures contributing to critical postal service disruptions in Bemidji and the broader Minnesota-North Dakota District, including around 80,000 pieces of delayed mail. Senator Smith is calling for immediate action to address these failures and restore reliable postal service for Minnesotans. The OIG report reveals that the Bemidji Post Office only had eight days warning before their package volume doubled and Postal Service management failed to confirm that the facility had the staffing or resources to accommodate the increased volume. It also found that local postal workers were not properly trained to avoid these issues. The report attributes these problems directly to national and district management missteps, resulting in untenable working conditions for postal workers and severe delays in mail delivery. “The findings of the Inspector General’s report are deeply troubling and highlight severe mismanagement within the USPS that has led to unacceptable delays and unnecessary hardships for postal workers and Minnesotans,” said Sen. Tina Smith. “Reliable postal service is not a luxury—it’s a necessity for accessing medications, paychecks, and staying connected with loved ones. It is imperative that USPS leadership takes immediate action to address these issues and restore trust in our postal system.” Senator Smith’s letter stresses the urgency of rectifying these issues and holds USPS leadership accountable for ensuring Minnesotans receive the reliable postal service they depend on for essential
Klobuchar, Smith Secure Funding for the Boys & Girls Club of Rochester
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that they secured $250,000 in funding in the Fiscal Year 2024 federal budget for the Boys & Girls Club of Rochester’s Off-site Program Expansion project. This expansion will double the number of K-12 students served by the Rochester Boys & Girls Club. “Nonprofits like the Boys & Girls Club of Rochester offer important resources for kids to improve their academics and lead healthy lives,” said Klobuchar. “With the resources we secured, the Boys & Girls Club will be able to fund their expansion project to meet the needs of the community.” “Developments in community outreach are crucial for strengthening Minnesota communities,” said Smith. “Investing in the Boys and Girls Club in Rochester will connect kids to the resources they need to lead healthy lives and are crucial to protecting the safety and future of our communities.” Klobuchar and Smith have been actively involved in securing this federal funding for projects benefiting communities across the state through a process called “Congressionally Directed Spending” (CDS). During the CDS process, Klobuchar and Smith have considered project proposals and advocated for funding in close coordination with leaders from across the state. Projects are expected to receive funding over the next several months. ###
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith & Representative Angie Craig Help Introduce Legislation to Expand Tribal
WASHINGTON, D.C. [10/16/20]—U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Congresswoman Angie Craig (MN-2) recently helped introduce bicameral legislation to help Tribes expand broadband in their communities. The Extending Tribal Broadband Priority Act of 2020—led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Congresswoman Deb Haaland (D-N.M.)—will extend the deadline for Tribes to apply for spectrum licenses for unassigned spectrum over their own land. For far too long, Tribes haven’t been able to access spectrum licenses to deploy broadband and telephone networks over their land. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has only exacerbated the effects of the long-standing digital divide. Last year, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) provided
Klobuchar, Smith Announce USDA Funding to Combat Chronic Wasting Disease in Minnesota
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is providing $546,535 in funding to help Minnesota combat Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). CWD is a contagious neurological disorder that affects deer and elk, posing a serious threat to deer populations across the country. “This funding will help ensure that we can combat Chronic Wasting Disease and maintain our state’s outdoor recreation and economy,” Klobuchar said. “CWD has become a real threat to our state’s deer and elk populations and continued efforts to bolster research
Klobuchar, Smith, Colleagues Urge Administration to Preserve Health Care Providers’ Access to Pandemic Relief Funding
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) led 20 colleagues in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, expressing concerns about the recent change in reporting requirements for hospitals and health systems that receive relief funds from the Provider Relief Fund (PRF). This change could force providers to return relief funding that they have already received. Rural hospitals and hospitals that serve high numbers of low-income, elderly, and severely ill patients — could be particularly burdened by the new reporting requirements, due to their already thin financial
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Presses Congressional Leaders to Help People Experiencing Homelessness During the Pandemic
WASHINGTON, D.C. [10/8/20]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) is urging Senate and House leaders to pay attention to the rapidly growing crisis of unsheltered homelessness that is hitting people of color hardest, and to provide housing assistance and funding for social services in future coronavirus relief packages. “The unprecedented public health and economic crisis has exacerbated these existing disparities in housing, employment, and health outcomes. This summer, we have seen COVID-19 hit hardest communities of color and those without a safe place to call home,” Sen. Smith wrote to leadership. “In the Twin Cities, Indigenous, Black, and Brown individuals were far more likely to experience a job loss
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