Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Joins Elizabeth Warren, Banking Committee Democrats in Pressing SEC Chair to Require Disclosure of Corporate Lobbying Expenditures
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D – Minn.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and John Fetterman (D-Pa.) signed onto a letter led by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D – Mass.) urging Gary Gensler, Chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), to create new rules requiring public companies to disclose their spending on lobbying efforts. Public companies are not currently required to report information on the details of their lobbying to the SEC even as corporate lobbying expenditures reach record highs. “In 2022, total federal lobbying expenditures reached $4.1 billion – the highest since 2010. Amazon and Meta spent almost $20 million each to influence decision-making in Congress and across government agencies, while the U.S. Chamber of Commerce – which counts companies like JPMorgan Chase, Alphabet, and Chevron among its members – spent $79.4 million,” wrote the senators. “While these figures are staggering, they provide little insight into the interests that companies spend millions each year to advance. This lack of transparency erodes the ability of everyday investors to make informed decisions about where to invest their money – and where their money goes once they have invested.” Specifically, the senators are requesting that such rules require disclosure of lobbying strategy, the total amount of direct or indirect contributions to registered state and federal lobbyists and any material risks related to or arising from lobbying strategies and expenditures. The senators requested the SEC provide them with details on their plans to develop and issue such rules no later than
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Tom Cotton Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Boost U.S. Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to reduce dependence on foreign pharmaceutical manufacturing and boost production in the U.S. The pandemic exposed our nation’s dependence on other countries for essential prescription drugs. Seventy-seven percent of key pharmaceutical ingredients come from overseas, including from China, threatening the security of the supply chain and leading to shortages of essential prescription drugs. The American Made Pharmaceuticals Act would reduce our dependence on foreign countries for pharmaceuticals by boosting production here at home. The legislation would create federal incentives to onshore manufacturing of essential medicine, while taking steps to shore up links in the supply chain. “We know that depending on foreign countries for key resources – whether it’s oil or medicine – leaves us vulnerable to global supply chain shocks and shortages,” said Sen. Smith. “This bipartisan legislation would reduce our dependence on foreign pharmaceutical manufacturing and help boost production here at home. I look forward to getting this bill across the finish line so we can relieve prescription drug shortages and build more resilient supply chains.” “The Chinese Communist Party threatened to cut off America’s access to vital drugs during the pandemic,” said Sen. Cotton. “It’s time to bolster onshore manufacturing of pharmaceuticals to ensure Americans never have to rely on China for lifesaving medicine.” “Amneal applauds Senators Smith and Cotton on their targeted approach to increase pharmaceutical manufacturing here in the United States,” said Chirag Patel, President & Co-CEO of Amneal Pharmaceuticals. “Ensuring that
U.S. Senators Klobuchar, Smith Join Bipartisan Push to Target Additional Funding for Lewis & Clark Water Project
WASHINGTON, D.C. [01/28/20]— U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) helped push a top Trump Administration official to target some of the millions of dollars in additional funding for the nation’s rural water projects—approved by Congress in December—to the Lewis & Clark Rural Water System, which serves communities across southwestern Minnesota that currently don’t have a reliable source of clean water. Supporting this water system is vital for bolstering job creation and economic development. The senators called on U.S. Interior Secretary David Bernhardt—as part of a bipartisan group of 10 House and Senate lawmakers who represent Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa, the three states served by the Lewis & Clark project—to ensure an adequate part of
Klobuchar, Smith Announce over $5 Million in Funding for Rural Broadband Deployment in Brainerd
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced over $5 million in funding for rural broadband deployment in the Brainerd area. The funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s ReConnect program will support high-speed broadband infrastructure projects that will improve connectivity for rural Minnesota households. “Our 21st century economy demands 21st century infrastructure, and that will require investments in rural broadband,” Klobuchar said. “This critical funding will help connect more Minnesotans from Brainerd and the surrounding area to high-speed internet. Continued investments in broadband will transform how we do business, provide medical care, educate our children, create
Klobuchar, Smith Announce over $5 Million in Funding for Rural Broadband Deployment in Harmony
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced over $5 million in funding provided to Harmony Telephone Company for rural broadband deployment in the Harmony area. The funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s ReConnect program will support high-speed broadband infrastructure projects that will improve connectivity for rural Minnesota households. “Our 21st century economy demands 21st century infrastructure, and that will require investments in rural broadband,” Klobuchar said. “This critical funding will help connect more Minnesotans from Harmony and the surrounding area to high-speed internet. Continued investments in broadband will transform how we do business, provide medical
Smith, Portman Bipartisan Revitalizing Underdeveloped Rural Areas and Lands (RURAL) Act to be Signed Into Law
Today, U.S. Senators Rob Portman (R-OH) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that the Senate passed the final FY 2020 funding bill that includes their bipartisan Revitalizing Underdeveloped Rural Areas and Lands (RURAL) Act to preserve jobs and encourage infrastructure development by expanding tax-exempt cooperative organizations’ access to government grants and assistance, including rural broadband grants and FEMA disaster relief. This legislation provides certainty for co-ops looking to utilize government resources to deliver critical services to their members, such as broader access to high-speed internet or repairs to the electrical grid. The legislation now heads to the president’s desk for signature. “I’m pleased that
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