Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Applauds Biden-Harris Administration’s New Rule to Strengthen Mental Health Parity
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), a member of the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, on Tuesday released the following statement on the Biden-Harris administration’s recent actions to boost private insurance coverage for mental health care for 175 million Americans. Even though it’s already law that insurance companies must cover mental health as they do physical health, many don’t comply, and insured Americans are nearly four times as likely go out-of-network and pay higher fees for mental health care than for physical health care. “We need to treat mental health with the same urgency we treat physical health, and that means making sure everyone has access to the care they need,” said Sen. Smith. “I’m glad to see the Biden-Harris Administration taking significant steps to hold health insurers accountable when they violate mental health parity requirements. Whether it’s treatment for a substance-use disorder or depression, mental health care is health care, and Americans should be able to access quality, affordable treatment. This rule brings us closer to the goal of ensuring Americans are getting coverage from their insurer when they need it.” This rule strengthens the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act by reinforcing the law’s purpose to remove barriers for anyone seeking coverage from their insurer for mental health treatment services. The landmark law is named after former Minnesota Senator Paul Wellstone, who was instrumental in its passage in 2008. Senator Smith remains committed to carrying on Senator Wellstone’s legacy and has been
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar Announce Historic Expansions of Clean Energy Across Rural Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar (both D-Minn.), announced historic funding for clean, reliable and low-cost energy across rural Minnesota. Three rural electric cooperatives with operations in the state will receive funding to deploy clean energy or make energy efficiency improvements. More cooperatives are expected to receive funding in the coming months. Minnesota’s electric cooperatives provide electricity to nearly one-third of the state. Senator Smith was instrumental in securing this funding for rural electric co-ops through her work on the clean energy provisions in the Inflation Reduction Act. The three cooperatives selected that operate in Minnesota are: “The clean energy transition is here, and we can either lead or follow. I want Minnesota to lead, and with this announcement, we will,” said Senator Smith. “With this investment, cooperatives can unleash clean energy in a way that works best for their communities. This will fight climate change. This will lower energy costs. And this will strengthen our energy security and resilience by ensuring our rural communities continue to have safe, reliable and clean, American-made energy for years to come.” “Domestically produced renewable power strengthens our energy independence and boosts rural economies,” said Senator Klobuchar. “These Empowering Rural America Program grants will lower rural energy costs, create good paying jobs, and support renewable energy projects in Minnesota and across the country.” “Dairyland Power Cooperative is honored to receive this New ERA award, which provides Dairyland and our member cooperatives with a tremendous opportunity to continue making vital investments in essential clean energy resources,” said
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Announces $1 Billion Investment in Climate-Smart Farming
WASHINGTON, D.C. [02/09/22]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, announced $1 billion in funding for a new program that will support climate-smart farmers, ranchers and forest landowners in Minnesota and across the country. As part of the Partnerships for Climate-Smart Commodities initiative, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will launch pilot projects that create market opportunities for U.S. agricultural and forestry products that use climate-smart practices and include innovative, cost-effective ways to measure and verify greenhouse gas benefits. Senator Smith encourages eligible public and private entities in Minnesota to apply now that project applications are
Klobuchar, Smith Applaud Plans to Ease Port Congestion and Restore Disrupted Shipping Services for U.S.-Grown Agricultural Commodities
WASHINGTON, D.C. [02/08/22] — U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (Both D-Minn.), members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, applauded a new partnership between the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Port of Oakland, which will relieve congestion and help restore disrupted shipping nationwide. The move will make it easier for agricultural companies to fill empty shipping containers with commodities, benefitting Minnesota farmers and improving service for shippers of U.S.- grown agricultural commodities. “Increasing port capacity is critical to helping Minnesota farmers and businesses,” said Klobuchar. “I’ve introduced legislation to ease port congestion and will keep fighting to improve
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith Announce Major Federal Funding For AmeriCorps Seniors in Minnesota
WASHINGTON, D.C. [02/08/22]—Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (Both D-Minn.) announced new federal funding for AmeriCorps Seniors in Minnesota. The program will receive over $600,000 in American Rescue Plan funding. The award significantly expands AmeriCorps’ ability to bolster local communities’ COVID-19 response and support critical public health needs as the country works to recover from the pandemic. “National service programs represent the best of our country, with Senior Corps members playing an important role as volunteers and community leaders,” said Klobuchar. “This funding will increase opportunities for seniors to remain engaged and connected to their communities through volunteering.
Senators Smith, Thune, Wicker, Casey Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Access to Rural Broadband
WASHINGTON, D.C. [2/7/22]— Today, U.S. Sens. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), John Thune (R-S.D.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), and Bob Casey (D-Pa.) introduced the Connect Unserved Americans Act. This bipartisan legislation would ensure that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) targets funding through the ReConnect Program to areas most in need of reliable broadband services. Additionally, it would enhance the coordination between federal agencies that are disbursing broadband funding to prevent the overbuilding of existing broadband networks at the taxpayers’ expense. “Broadband is the infrastructure of the 21st Century – it isn’t just nice, it’s necessary if we’re going to build an economy that
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