Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Applauds Senate Passage of Her Bipartisan Amendment to Improve Farm Service Agency Staffing to Better Serve Farmers
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) celebrated the Senate passage of her bipartisan amendment to improve staffing at local USDA offices, which are often the first point of contact for farmers looking to make use of federal services. Farm Service Agency (FSA) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) offices are critically under-staffed and too often unable to meet the needs of farmers. This bipartisan amendment, which is co-led by Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE), and cosponsored by Senator John Fetterman (D-PA), Senator Katie Britt (R-AL), and Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), would help improve staffing at these local offices and improve customer service, particularly in rural areas. “FSA and NRCS offices are critical resources for farmers in Minnesota and across the country,” said Senator Smith. “These offices are often the first point of contact for farmers looking for capital to expand their operations or purchase equipment. Unfortunately, these offices have been severely understaffed, which hurts their ability to provide important services. This amendment would help develop a plan to improve staffing and provide recommendations to Congress so that we can address this issue. I’m glad to see it pass the Senate and will continue working with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get it signed into law.” “The staff in county offices provide critical support to family farmers who are navigating federal programs,” said Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) President Gary Wertish. “Unfortunately, staffing is an ongoing challenge which has consequences for farmers who are trying to utilize farm safety net programs
As Child Labor Violations Skyrocket, Senators Smith, Casey, Murray Introduce Legislation to Combat Child Labor Exploitation
Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) joined Senators Bob Casey (D-PA) and Patty Murray (D-WA) introducing comprehensive labor legislation to protect children from exploitative child labor practices and hold companies and individuals who take advantage of them accountable. The Children Harmed in Life-threatening or Dangerous (CHILD) Labor Act cracks down on employers who violate child labor laws with much stronger federal penalties and allows children who have been exploited to sue their employers. The bill authorizes the Department of Labor to label and restrict the shipping of goods that are produced with child labor. It also provides the Department of Labor with greater authority to investigate and hold suppliers and subcontractors throughout the supply chain responsible for oppressive child labor and requires federal contracts to contain provisions prohibiting child labor, among other provisions. “Over the past few years we have seen an alarming and dramatic increase in child labor violations,” said Senator Smith. “We’ve seen deeply troubling examples in Minnesota – meatpacking plants and slaughterhouse floors are no place for children. Companies that take advantage of children – often those who are most vulnerable – and subject them to dangerous work environments must be held accountable. This legislation strengthens and improves federal child labor laws and takes important steps to ensure bad actors are met with stronger penalties and are held accountable for violations.” “Children do not belong in factories or working during hours when they should be studying, spending time with their families, or simply being
U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Ensure 22,000 Retired Minnesota Workers Don’t Lose Their Pensions
WASHINGTON, D.C. [07/24/19]—With more than a million Americans facing massive cuts to their hard-earned pensions—including more than 22,000 Minnesotans—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) continued her push to head off looming pension cuts and shore up the nation’s troubled pension systems. On Wednesday, Sen. Smith and several of her Senate colleagues reintroduced the Butch Lewis Act to help the chronically-underfunded Central States Pension Fund, which covers over 22,000 Minnesotans. The measure would also strengthen many more underfunded multi-employer pension plans across the country. Since coming to the Senate, Sen. Smith has met with many Minnesotans who spent their working years paying into
U.S. Senators Klobuchar, Smith Push to Ensure Married Couples in Minnesota, Across Country Can Avoid Depleting Savings When Caring for Spouse
WASHINGTON, D.C. [07/22/19]—U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) want to permanently ensure that married couples in Minnesota and across the country are able to access home and community-based Medicaid services without having to completely deplete their savings. As the nation’s primary source of coverage for long-term services and supports, Medicaid funds more than 50 percent of long-term care provided nationwide. While many Americans receive this care in institutional settings like nursing homes, in 2014 more than 3 million Americans received this care at home. Three decades ago, Congress established protections—known as spousal impoverishment rules—in cases where a spouse
U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig Press Top Administration Officials to Quickly Implement New Effort to Improve Health Care in Rural America
WASHINGTON D.C. [07/19/19]— Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and U.S. Representative Angie Craig (D-Minn.) are pushing for the Trump administration to quickly implement a new effort they both support to focus federal health efforts on the unique needs of rural America. Sen. Smith and Rep. Craig, both members of their respective Agriculture Committees, said the 2018 Farm Bill established a “Rural Health Liaison” position within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) charged with coordinating federal health efforts in rural communities across the country. In a letter this week, the two lawmakers pushed both U.S Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, and
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith Announce Investments in Local Communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. [07/18/19]— U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) investments in Boys and Girls Club of Detroit Lakes. The cities of Eagle Bend and Altura will also receive investments. The Boys and Girls Club grant will allow the organization to increase its services, whereas the Eagle Bend and Altura grants will give additional funding to emergency services. “Critical investments in our rural communities serve as a down payment on the long-term economic well-being of our country,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “These rural development investments will help enhance the safety and quality of life
English