Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Reintroduces Legislation to Support Sustainable Workplace Retirement Plans
WASHINGTON, D.C. [02/16/23]— Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) reintroduced legislation to provide legal certainty to workplace retirement plans that choose to consider environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors in their investment decisions or offer ESG investment options. “Sustainable investment options are good for retirees and good for our environment—that’s a win-win,” said Sen. Smith, a member of the Senate Banking Committee. “I’m putting forth this legislation because we know there’s a growing demand for sustainable investing, and Congress should act now to provide the legal certainty necessary to make sure workplace retirement plans are able to offer these options to workers across the country.” Despite considerable demand for sustainable investment options, relatively few workplace retirement plans, such as pensions and 401(k) plans, take sustainable investing principles into account in their investment decisions or provide sustainable investment options to workers. This is the case even though many workers and retirees want their plans to do so. One of the primary issues hindering plans that want to offer sustainable investment options is an uncertain and regularly changing legal environment. Under the Trump Administration, the Department of Labor issued a rule that imposed new limits on the consideration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors by workplace retirement plans. That rule was rescinded and replaced last year, once again allowing plans to invest sustainably. However, the new rule is currently subject to a legal challenge and is the target of a Congressional Review Act resolution. The Freedom to Invest in a Sustainable Future Act
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Lindsey Graham Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Prepare Young People for the Workforce
WASHINGTON, D.C. [02/16/23]—This week, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to promote partnerships between afterschool providers and businesses so young people can explore career paths and opportunities that help them land their first jobs and thrive in the workforce. The Youth Workforce Readiness Act would support high-quality programs that help young people gain practical skills and connect them to real-life work experiences and learning opportunities. The legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Ron Wyden (D-OR). “We should be doing everything we can to provide our kids with the skills and connections they need to find good jobs and contribute to their communities. I also hear from employers in Minnesota that they need help getting connected to great employees. That’s where afterschool and out-of-school time providers can play a role in helping young people gain skills and make connections to mentors, opportunities and local employers,” said Sen. Smith, a member of the Senate Education and Labor Committee. “Our bipartisan bill would help support youth success for years to come by exposing young people to a wide range of careers and helping them make connections in the workforce.” “Preparing our kids to successfully contribute to our economy helps keep America strong,” said Sen. Graham. “A well-educated, well-trained workforce is a key component to future economic development. This legislation is great news for South Carolina and an important investment in the future of our nation.” Right now, too many young people in Minnesota and around the
U.S. Senators Klobuchar, Smith Push to Prevent Unfair Prescription Drug Hikes
Senators Back Bill to Stop Big Pharma from Using Exclusivity Periods to Stave Off Lower-Cost Generics Coming to Market WASHINGTON, D.C. [02/07/2019]—U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) recently helped introduce legislation to help prevent price hikes for prescription drugs. Sens. Klobuchar and Smith have both traveled across the state and know just how much Minnesotans—and Americans across the country—struggle when it comes to affording the high cost of prescription medications. The Forcing Limits on Abusive and Tumultuous (FLAT) Prices Act of 2019—led by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and also supported by Sens. Kamala Harris (D-CA) and Richard Blumenthal
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Announces Key Areas of Focus on Senate Agriculture Committee
Senator Continues Serving as Ranking Member of Rural Development and Energy; Joins Commodities, Risk Management and Trade; and Livestock, Marketing, and Ag Security Subcommittees WASHINGTON, D.C. [02/08/19]—Today, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said that as a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, she continues to serve as a top leader on the Rural Development and Energy Subcommittee. Sen. Smith also announced that she has been named to the Commodities, Risk Management and Trade; and Livestock, Marketing and Ag Security Subcommittees. “Farm policy needs to work for Minnesota, and that’s what I kept in mind as I met with farmers, ranchers,
Smith, Klobuchar, Senators Press Power-5 Conferences to Toughen Sexual Assault Policies
Lawmakers want Pac-12, ACC, SEC, Big 10 and Big 12 to take meaningful action to address sexual violence WASHINGTON, D.C. [2/08/19]– U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar pressed the commissioners of the Pac-12, ACC, SEC, Big 10 and Big 12 conferences to take serious and meaningful steps to address the misconduct and sexual violence within their athletics programs. In August 2018, the NCAA dissolved its Commission to Combat Campus Sexual Violence without considering or adopting any meaningful solutions beyond actions already required by federal law. In a letter led by Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), the senators asked for the
U.S Senator Tina Smith Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Reduce Emissions from Fossil Fuels
Senators’ Bill Would Modernize Tax Credit to Better Support Carbon Capture and Storage for Coal Power Plants WASHINGTON, D.C. [02/11/19]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) recently led a bipartisan effort with Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuel producers by creating additional incentives for utilities to install carbon capture and storage technology. The Carbon Capture Modernization Act updates the tax credit system for coal producers and incentivizes the usage of modern technology to return harmful greenhouse gas emissions in the ground, rather than releasing them into atmosphere. Sen. Smith introduced similar legislation last year with former Senator Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota. “Climate change will continue to threaten our
English