Latest Releases
Sen. Smith Joins Push to Introduce Trans Bill of Rights Ahead of International Transgender Day of Visibility
Washington – Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) joined a group of her colleagues led by Senator Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) in introducing the Transgender Bill of Rights, a landmark resolution to recognize the federal government’s duty in protecting and codifying the rights of transgender and nonbinary people. Trans and nonbinary people across the United States have faced relentless and escalating attacks on their health, safety, and wellbeing. Since January, state and federal legislators have proposed more than 450 anti-LGBTQ+ bills that restrict health care, ban LGBTQ+ inclusive curricula in schools, exclude trans youth from athletics, and otherwise endanger and harm trans people. These bills are negatively affecting the mental health and physical safety of LGBTQ+ youth, particularly trans youth who have been the primary target of these attacks. In the United States, trans people are four times more likely to face violent attacks than their cisgender peers and more than 40 percent of trans people have attempted to commit suicide. “Trans people are facing a torrent of harmful legislation and dangerous rhetoric from people in power. It is past time we come together to defend their dignity, protect them from discrimination, and ensure their safety,” said Senator Smith. “This resolution calls for basic protections for trans people, from ensuring they have the right to bodily autonomy and ethical healthcare, to equal access to public services and accommodations. I will continue working to ensure that our founding principles of civil rights and liberty extend to the trans community.” “On this and every International Transgender
U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Statement on the BNSF Train Derailment
WASHINGTON, D.C. [03/30/23] — Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) issued the following statement in response to this morning’s BNSF train derailment in Raymond, Minnesota, and also announced she’s cosponsoring the legislation to improve railway safety standards: “Thanks to the incredible first responders in Raymond and Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, this morning’s train derailment appears to be contained. I’m grateful for their quick response and leadership that kept Minnesotans safe. But today’s derailment is another reminder that Congress needs to act on rail safety now. I’m cosponsoring the bipartisan Railway Safety Act to enact commonsense rail safety measures and help prevent future disasters.” The bipartisan Railway Safety Act was introduced earlier this month by Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio) and is designed to improve safety requirements for trains transporting dangerous or hazardous material and help communities affected by derailments. The bill is also cosponsored by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), John Fetterman (D-Pa.), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.).
Sen. Tina Smith Introduces Comprehensive Bill To Address A Top Minnesota Issue: Skyrocketing Prescription Drug Prices
WASHINGTON D.C. [09/05/18]—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 introduced legislation—which is also supported by Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar—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, said her measure will increase transparency for drug companies that are setting exorbitant prices, end the restriction that prevents the federal Medicare program from
Sen. Tina Smith Blasts DeVos Proposal That Would Leave Minnesota Students at Hands of Predatory Career Training Programs
WASHINGTON, D.C. [09/13/18]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.)—a member of the Senate Education Committee—stood up for students in Minnesota and across the country by calling on Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to withdraw a proposal aimed at striking down a rule to protect students and borrowers from career training programs that leave students saddled with debt and poor job prospects. Sen. Smith said students in Minnesota and across the country deserve to know which career training programs are successful, and which programs have a history of providing a low-quality education and overly-expensive degrees that have little value on the job market. Under
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Says Senate Passage of Bipartisan Opioids Legislation Will Give Minnesota, Nation Tools to Combat Crisis
WASHINGTON, D.C. [09/17/18]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said the bipartisan opioids legislation that passed the Senate today—which Sen. Smith helped write—will give Minnesota and the nation important tools to combat an epidemic that has already claimed too many lives and decimated too many families. Sen. Smith, a member of the Senate Health Committee, said the package invests in long-term prevention, treatment, and recovery efforts. It also includes her measure to help bring mental health professionals into schools and community-based organizations in order to better reach families who need these vital services. “The opioid epidemic is urgent. It hurts families across
U.S. Sen. Tina Smith Leads Bipartisan Push to Lower Wasteful Health Care Spending
WASHINGTON, D.C. [09/18/18]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.)—along with Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.)—are leading bipartisan legislation to help develop innovative ways to reduce unnecessary administrative cost burdens. Estimates suggest that while administrative cost burdens could account for over one quarter of total health care spending in the United States, much of it is not directly related to delivering quality patient care. Sens. Smith and Cassidy’s bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to take steps toward reducing unnecessary administrative costs across the health care system by at least 50 percent. It also provides support for states to tackle
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