Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Applauds Biden Admin Move to Eliminate Medical Debt from Credit Reports
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) celebrated a new proposed rule from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) shielding consumers’ credit scores from being impacted by medical debt. Today’s announcement came after Senator Smith, along with 9 of her colleagues, urged the agency to take action. According to the CFPB’s own report, there is over $88 billion in medical debt on consumer credit records. “You can’t choose when you get sick – it happens whether we like it or not. You shouldn’t be punished with a lower credit score just because you needed medical care,” said Senator Smith.“This move by the Biden Administration puts the American people first, and I’m glad they listened to me and my colleagues who pushed for this new rule.” Senator Smith, a member of the Senate Banking Committee, called attention to the growing crisis of medical debt in a letter to the CFPB in 2022. The move by the CFPB compliments actions by the Minnesota State Legislature, who passed the Debt Fairness Act as part of a large omnibus bill in May of this year to address the impact medical debt has on Minnesotans. ###
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Announces Funding for White Earth Nation to Increase Solar Power and Energy Storage
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) announced $1.75 million for the White Earth Nation in Minnesota to use energy storage to increase their use of solar power and allow for greater energy flexibility. The project will expand an existing solar array at Pine Point Elementary School and Community Center to help lower electricity costs and support White Earth’s goal to be energy independent. “Tribal Nations have always been leaders in environmental stewardship,” said Senator Tina Smith. “This funding will help White Earth Tribal Nation continue building a more resilient and clean energy system for the Tribe.” The U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity selected three communities across the country to receive a total of $3.7 million in project development assistance under the Energy Storage for Social Equity Program. The program successfully launched in March 2022 and selected 14 communities for similar projects that focused on providing a strategy for energy access and affordability, decarbonization, environmental impact, resilience, and social impact. The funding will promote an equitable clean energy transition, advance more affordable and reliable electricity, and support the Biden Administration’s Justice40 goals. ###
U.S. Senators Smith, Warren Applaud President-elect Biden’s Call for Emergency Child Care Aid in COVID-19 Rescue Plan
WASHINGTON, D.C. [1/15/21]—Today, United States Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)—both members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (HELP)—issued the following statement regarding the child care provisions included in President-elect Biden’s American Rescue Plan: “Right now, child care providers are struggling to keep their doors open while a pandemic and economic crisis devastate a system that was already deeply broken. That is why we are glad that President-elect Biden has included strong support for child ca WASHINGTON, D.C. [1/15/21]—Today, United States Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)—both members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor,
President Biden Heeds U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Call to Protect Americans from COVID-19 Testing Charges
WASHINGTON, D.C. [1/22/20]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) says that an executive order signed by President Joe Biden during his first week in office heeds her call to protect Americans from coronavirus (COVID-19) testing charges. The order directs agencies to provide free testing to people who lack health insurance. It also clarifies insurers’ obligation to cover testing. Sen. Smith has been working to make COVID-19 testing free for all Americans since the start of the pandemic. And on January 5, Sen. Smith urged President Biden and Vice President Harris to take executive action to protect patients from out-of-pocket charges for COVID-19 tests, regardless
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Calls on Biden-Harris Administration to Work with Congress to Ensure COVID-19 Vaccines Are Free for All Americans
WASHINGTON, D.C. [1/21/21]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) called on President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to work with Congress to ensure coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines are free for all Americans. Sen. Smith and the Biden-Harris Administration have a shared commitment to making sure that everyone who wants a COVID-19 vaccine is able to receive one free of charge. In her letter to President Biden and Vice President Harris, Sen. Smith identifies some of the barriers preventing all Americans—particularly the uninsured and adults on Medicaid—from a free COVID-19 vaccine or its administration, and outlines what is needed to address
U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Statement on Biden Executive Action Extending Humanitarian Protections for Liberians
WASHINGTON, D.C. [1/21/20]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.)—who has been working to extend humanitarian protections for Liberians (known as DED) for years—released the following statement after President Joe Biden reinstated DED protections through executive action. “I’ve been working to extend these humanitarian protections because Liberians are our neighbors, our families, and our friends. Many Liberian Minnesotans and Liberian Americans have been living legally in our nation for more than two decades. Minnesota has the largest Liberian community in the nation, many of whom left their war-torn nation as refugees and now are important members of their Minnesota communities,” said Sen. Smith. “They
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