Latest Releases
Senator Smith, Grassley Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Research the Impact of Consolidation on Livestock Farmers and Ranchers
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), introduced bipartisan legislation to support research into the impact of livestock market consolidation on farmers, ranchers, and consumers in an effort to better understand the problem and craft effective solutions. “Just a handful of large companies have come to dominate the meat and poultry processing industry, which means higher prices for consumers and shrinking earnings for farmers,” said Sen. Smith. “This bipartisan bill would uncover the impact of this consolidation on farmers and consumers and help us create the best possible solutions to fix the problem. I look forward to working with Senator Grassley and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to pass this legislation as part of the Farm Bill.” “This type of measure is long overdue. Iowa producers are well aware of the downsides of consolidation in the meat industry,” said Sen. Grassley. “Their returns on hard work are getting squeezed more every year all consumers pay more at the grocery stores. I’m glad to work in a bipartisan way with Senator Smith as we continue trying to address this problem.” “Farmers Union launched the Fairness for Farmers campaign to call attention to the increasingly consolidated agricultural marketplace where the four largest beef packers control 85 percent of beef packing and the farmer’s share of the food dollar has dropped from 50 percent in 1952 to less than 16 percent today,” said Minnesota Farmers Union (MFU) President Gary Wertish. “Sen. Smith’s bill will help
Senators Smith, Rounds Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Spur Economic Development in Underserved Communities
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to jumpstart economic development in economically distressed areas and address disparities in access to capital for underserved communities. The bill would strengthen and expand Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI), which play a critical role in bringing capital and financial services to a wide range of underserved communities – from urban areas to small towns and rural communities to Tribal lands. “Unequal access to capital and financial services is a key driver of economic disparity in rural areas, communities of color, and Indigenous communities,” said Sen. Smith. “This legislation will jumpstart economic development in these communities by expanding and enhancing a program with a track record of effective capital investment and community development.” Their legislation—the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act, named for Community Development Financial Institutions–will extend authorization of the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program, while making it more reliable and accessible to smaller CDFIs. This legislation will expand and improve a successful program that operates without a taxpayer subsidy and allows CDFIs to access long-term, stable funding. The CDFI Bond Guarantee Program was enacted in 2010 to provide long-term, low-cost capital to CDFIs, which use the funding for economic development activities in underserved communities. The program’s authorization lapsed in 2014, but it has been extended on a year-by-year basis in annual appropriations bills. Under current program rules, borrowers must have a loan size of at least $100 million – which means that the program can only
Sen. Tina Smith Condemns Trump Administration’s Damaging Changes to Family Planning Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. [07/31/18]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) condemned a Trump Administration proposal that would make it harder for millions of women to access quality health care from providers they know and trust. Sen. Smith, along with 45 of her Senate colleagues, called on Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar to reverse course on the planned changes to the Title X family planning program and protect the care families need. “We are deeply concerned the Trump-Pence Administration’s proposed rule to update the Title X program includes a number of significant changes that run counter to Congress’s intent in establishing the
Sen. Tina Smith’s Priorities to Improve Career and Technical Training Become Law
WASHINGTON, D.C [07/31/18]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s (D-Minn.) priorities to expand workforce development were signed into law by the President today. After passing in both houses of Congress, several measures championed by Sen. Smith—aimed at helping Minnesotans and Americans get the training they need to land careers in high-demand fields—became law as part of bipartisan education legislation. “Not everyone wants to or has to go to a four-year college, but everyone should be able to get the skills necessary to lead their own lives and create opportunity for themselves and their families,” said Sen. Smith, a member of the Senate Education Committee. “My
Sen. Tina Smith’s Bill Would Help Students Access Mental Health Services in Schools
WASHINGTON, D.C. [08/02/18]—U.S Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) is pressing for new legislation to make sure students in schools across the nation are able to access the mental health services they need, where they are. Young people experience mental health conditions about as often as adults—about 1 in 5 struggle with severe mental health problems—but they often have a hard time getting services. Schools are an ideal setting to identify students who need mental health services and quickly connect them with help. Sen. Smith’s bill—the Mental Health Services for Students Act—would help schools partner with local mental health providers to establish on-site, mental
U.S. Sen. Tina Smith Announces Comprehensive Bill To Address Skyrocketing Prescription Drug Prices
DULUTH, MN [08/08/18]—U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said today that for far too long the health and financial well-being of families in Minnesota and across the country has been harmed by the skyrocketing price of prescription drugs, and she announced plans to introduce legislation designed to hold large pharmaceutical companies accountable for high prices and bring down costs for both consumers and taxpayers. Sen. Smith, a member of the Senate Health Committee, made her announcement at a “Health Care Cost” listening session in Duluth, where she met with local care providers and health experts as well as residents from across
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