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Senators Smith, Rounds Unveil Major Bipartisan Package to Modernize and Update Rural Housing Programs
Washington [5.2.23] – This week, Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) introduced significant bipartisan legislation to improve federal rural housing programs, cut red tape, and strengthen the supply of affordable housing. The legislation would represent the most significant Rural Housing Service reforms years. “Without a safe, affordable place to live, nothing else in your life works. Not your job, not your education, not your health,” said Senator Smith. “We know that the housing crisis is hurting communities across the country, and the problem is particularly acute in rural places. This legislation is the direct result of bipartisan hearings and conversations with stakeholders who helped identify ways we can make federal rural housing programs work better for people struggling to find a safe, affordable place to live.” “Homeownership is part of the American dream and a key to building wealth,” said Senator Rounds. “Over the past year, Senator Smith and I have held hearings, met with stakeholders and visited with constituents in our states about the hurdles within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Housing Service. This legislation makes important improvements and updates to the Rural Housing Service that will create and preserve affordable housing opportunities in South Dakota. As we face an affordable housing crisis across the nation, I look forward to working with my colleagues to get these important, bipartisan updates signed into law.” Lack of affordable housing remains an impediment for many rural towns and communities as they struggle to attract new businesses, residents and
Senator Smith Introduces Bill to Provide Financial Stability for College Students Faced With Unexpected Emergencies
Washington [5.1.23] – This week, Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) reintroduced legislation to ensure college students are able to stay enrolled in school in the face of unexpected emergencies. For many students, paying for college requires carefully balancing student loan debts, jobs, and studies, which can be easily derailed by an unexpected costly event. The Emergency Grant Aid for College Students Act would provide financial stability for students struggling to manage a sudden death in the family, car repair, medical bill or any number of financial emergencies that too often force students to drop out of school. The bill was introduced in the House by Representative Joe Morelle (D-NY 25). “The cost of college is a precarious balancing act for many students, and that’s when everything is going ‘right,’” said Senator Smith. “This bill would help provide financial stability for students facing a death in the family, steep medical bills, or any number of unexpected emergencies that too often force them to drop out of school.” “Every student deserves the opportunity to pursue higher education and achieve their personal and professional goals,” said Congressman Morelle. “Unfortunately, unexpected financial emergencies like a vehicle breaking down or the sudden loss of a job can derail years of dedicated work, preventing young people from completing their coursework or even causing them to drop out. That’s not right—which is why I am proud to partner with Senator Smith to introduce this important legislation and ensure students have the support and resources necessary to reach their
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Continues Fight to Lower Prescription Drug Prices By Backing Bipartisan Legislation to Bring Generics to Market
Senator Says Bipartisan Legislation Would Combat Brand-Name Pharmaceutical Companies Unfairly Blocking Lower-Cost Generic Drugs WASHINGTON, D.C [02/06/2019]—This week, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) continued one of her top health care priorities—lowering the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs—by supporting bipartisan legislation led by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to stop brand-name pharmaceutical companies from blocking lower-cost generic drugs to market. The Creating and Restoring Equal Access To Equivalent Samples (CREATES) Act, which is also supported by Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), would deter pharmaceutical companies from blocking cheaper generic alternatives from entering the marketplace. “The amount of money that Americans pay for medications
U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Senate Colleagues Fight to Increase Fairness and Transparency in Lending Practices
WASHINGTON, D.C. [02/06/19]—Yesterday, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) took steps to improve data collection and deter discrimination in mortgage lending. The Home Loan Quality Transparency Act would reinstate key reporting mortgage lending data reporting requirements that were repealed last year over the objections of Sen. Smith and many consumer and civil rights advocates. The new legislation to reinstate lending transparency was introduced by Sen. Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and cosponsored by Sen. Smith. “I believe that when we have an opportunity to make our communities more inclusive, strengthen transparency, and make sure banks and lenders are playing by the rules, we should take it,” said Sen. Smith. “This legislation strengthens a key tool for
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,
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