Latest Releases
Following Amendment Push, Smith, Van Hollen, Durbin, Kaine, Schatz & Colleagues Welcome New National Security Memorandum to Ensure U.S. Security Assistance is Used in Line with International Law
The memorandum, modeled off of Senators’ amendment, also requires all countries that receive U.S. security assistance to facilitate U.S.-supported humanitarian aid and creates robust reporting requirements to Congress WASHINGTON – Friday, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), and their colleagues welcomed a new National Security Memorandum (NSM) released by the Biden Administration Thursday aimed at ensuring all U.S. security assistance is used in line with international law, including international humanitarian law. The NSM is modeled off of the Senators’ amendment to ensure U.S. security assistance is used in line with international law. Additional cosponsors of the amendment were Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.), Laphonza Butler (D-Calif.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.), and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.). Following the intent of the amendment, the NSM also requires that prior to the transfer of U.S. security assistance, recipient countries must provide the U.S. with credible and reliable written assurances that they will facilitate and not arbitrarily deny or restrict U.S. humanitarian assistance and U.S-supported international efforts to provide humanitarian assistance in areas of conflict. And, also in line with the Senator’s amendment, the NSM creates robust reporting requirements to Congress on these provisions and additional assessments of compliance with U.S. laws and policies. “When the United States provides security assistance, we need more in return than a mere promise
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith and Congresswoman Betty McCollum Announce Federal Funding for Energy Efficiency Upgrades in Minnesota
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (Both D-MN) and Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN04) announced federal support to help cities and commercial buildings develop plans to implement energy efficiency and clean energy upgrades across Minnesota. It will also be used to help eligible homeowners install energy efficiency upgrades in their homes, like installing energy efficient furnaces and water heaters or improving insulation and sealing windows, providing them long term cost-savings. The money comes from President Biden’s bipartisan infrastructure legislation, which both Senators and the Congresswoman voted for in 2021. “Investing in energy efficiency upgrades and clean energy sources can help lower utility bills and our carbon footprint,” said Klobuchar. “With these federal funds, Minnesota businesses and families can install the equipment they need to retrofit their homes to save money, and communities can get assistance to implement their energy goals.” “The transition to clean energy is happening, the question is whether our country leads or follows. I want us to lead,” said Senator Smith. “The cheapest and cleanest energy is the energy that you don’t ever need to buy. These investments will help Minnesota businesses, communities, and families save money on their utility bills and reduce harmful emissions contributing to climate change.” “I am so pleased that Minnesotans will benefit from the $2,566,630 total investment in our state through the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program,” said Congresswoman McCollum. “The City of Saint Paul’s visionary Climate Action and Resilience Plan will be directly supported by these funds to conduct municipal energy audits and further their strategy to decarbonize municipal buildings by 2030. I commend President Biden for this important investment that will help us meet our climate goals
U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Statement on President Trump’s State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON, D.C. [02/04/20]—This evening, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) released the following statement in response to President Trump’s State of the Union Address: “I thank Duluth Mayor Emily Larson for being my guest at the State of the Union Address. Mayor Larson has been a strong leader on housing and health care, and we have worked together to increase access to affordable housing and make health care, and especially prescription drugs, more affordable. “The number one issue I hear about from Minnesotans is the high cost of health care, and skyrocketing prescription drug prices. Tonight President Trump talked about bringing
In Senate Floor Speech, U.S. Senator Tina Smith Outlines to Minnesotans Why She’ll Vote to Remove President Trump From Office
WASHINGTON, D.C. [02/04/20]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) took to the Senate floor to let Minnesotans—and all Americans—know why she’ll vote to remove President Trump from office. In her speech, Sen. Smith shared her position on this historic vote, and looked ahead to continuing the work of reinforcing the American values of fairness and justice. Sen. Smith’s remarks follow her penning an op-ed in the Star Tribune sharing how she arrived at her decision after serving as an impartial juror during the impeachment trial. “While evidence of the President’s wrongdoing is substantial, I advocated every way I could for a trial that would be fair
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Urges Immediate Action to Control Spread of Coronavirus
WASHINGTON, D.C. [02/03/20]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) is calling on the leaders of the Senate Appropriations Health Subcommittee to quickly provide emergency funding to the depleted Public Health Emergency Fund (PHEF) so that state and local health departments aren’t overwhelmed by the emerging coronavirus outbreak. Sen. Smith—a member of the Senate Health Committee—says that PHEF, a critical source of funding for public health emergencies, was depleted in 2012. “Though our federal public health response has been adequately surveilling, screening, and testing for the virus, now is the time to ensure that our states and localities are equally prepared to respond,” wrote Sen. Smith. “As this emergency response evolves, states and localities may foot the bill for medical screening, countermeasures, deployment of
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Continues Fight to Strengthen Workers’ Rights and Wages
WASHINGTON, D.C. [02/3/20]— U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) helped introduce a bill to prohibit states from passing “right-to-work” laws that make it harder for workers to form unions, fight for higher wages and push for better working conditions. Right now, under “right-to-work” laws, some members are not paying dues despite the fact that they benefit from a union. This is draining key resources used by unions to fight for workers’ rights. “I believe that workers have a fundamental right to join together for fair wages, benefits and improved working conditions,” said Sen. Smith. “But right now, so-called ‘right-to-work’ laws are undermining workers’ ability to join together to fight for better pay and working conditions. It’s time
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