Latest Releases
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Jerry Moran Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Save Rural Hospitals
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced bipartisan legislation to expand a lifeline for rural hospitals facing closure. The Rural Emergency Hospital Improvement Act would remove barriers for Critical Access Hospitals (CAH) and rural hospitals to convert to a Rural Emergency Hospital designation under Medicare. These changes would help rural hospitals facing closure to receive federal financial assistance to remain open and serving their communities through emergency stabilizing care and obstetric care, rather than closing and forcing community members to travel further distances for emergency care. In Minnesota, more than one-third of rural health care systems were in the red as of 2019. “Rural hospitals provide health care in areas where it isn’t otherwise easy to access, so when their doors close, communities are left with almost no options, and that’s dangerous. If you’re dealing with a medical emergency or you just went into labor, the last thing on your mind should be whether your local hospital is still open,” said Senator Smith. “This bill is about public safety. It will make sure that if a hospital is in truly dire straits, they can remain open for emergency care – including obstetric care.” “Access to emergency health care saves lives and helps keep rural communities prospering,” said Senator Moran. “Too many rural hospitals in Kansas and across the country are struggling to keep their doors open, and this legislation offers those hospitals a lifeline. The Rural Emergency Hospital designation has already helped save numerous rural hospitals, and expanding access to this successful program is
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Chris Murphy Introduce Bill to Forgive Student Loan Debt for Beginning Farmers
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) reintroduced the Student Loan Forgiveness for Farmers and Ranchers Act, legislation to create a loan forgiveness program for beginning farmers and ranchers, as well as women, veteran, and minority farmers. Student loan debt is a major hurdle for beginning farmers, and this legislation would incentivize farmers to enter—and stay—in the agricultural industry, and strengthen opportunities to grow successful businesses. The average age of a farmer in the United States is 58 years old. Smith and Murphy’s legislation will reduce barriers for young, diverse farmers hoping to take over as the current generation of farmers and producers begin to retire. “To keep Minnesota’s agriculture economy thriving, we need to continue to invest in the next generation of farmers as the average age of farmers keeps going up. There is more we can be doing to help future farmers fill their shoes,” said Senator Smith. “Student debt is one of the most significant challenges our young farmers and ranchers face. This legislation would help encourage a younger, more diverse workforce and help more people start and stay in farming.” “Connecticut farmers have always been the lifeblood of our rural communities, but starting and maintaining a new farm is increasingly unaffordable for young people who are often saddled with student loan debt and can’t afford to make additional investments necessary for success. By helping new farmers pay off their student loans, this legislation would pave the
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Introduces Emergency Grant Program to Help College Students Without Financial Safety Net Cover Unanticipated Events
WASHINGTON, D.C. [08/25/2020]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) recently introduced legislation to help college students without a financial safety net get through unanticipated emergencies that too often cause students to drop out of college. Under The Emergency Grant Aid for College Students Act, students could receive emergency grants through their campus. Unlike a student loan, these grants would not need to be repaid. Sen. Smith says that when millions of college students faced unexpected costs caused by the pandemic, Congress provided funding for emergency grants to make sure students had the resources they needed to stay enrolled and continue their studies. But the fact of the matter is that students
U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Climate Crisis Committee, Release New Report on Climate Action, Plan to Build Clean Economy
For Immediate Release: August 25, 2020 Contact: Katie McElrath katie_mcelrath@smith.senate.gov 202-365-5865 WASHINGTON, D.C. [08/25/20]—Today U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) released a comprehensive report and plan of action to address the climate crisis with her colleagues on the Senate Democrats’ Special Committee on the Climate Crisis. The new report, titled “The Case for Climate Action: Building a Clean Economy for the American People,” details how bold climate action from Congress can act to create millions of new jobs, grow the American economy and improve people’s lives across the country. The report comes after dozens of hearings, meetings, and input from experts, labor unions, mayors, environmental justice leaders, and native communities, including meetings in
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar & Tina Smith Tell Postmaster General That Postal Service Changes Hit Deployed U.S. Servicemembers Hard
WASHINGTON, D.C. [08/24/20]—U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) joined 28 of their Senate colleagues in raising concerns to U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy about the harmful impact that recent operational changes he has made to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) are having on American servicemembers and their families – especially those serving overseas. In a letter to DeJoy, Sens. Klobuchar, Smith, and their colleagues said that because USPS is the only service that can deliver to the Army Post Office (APO) and Fleet Post Office (FPO) addresses used by our military overseas, deployed servicemembers and their families are uniquely impacted by recent USPS changes. Active duty servicemembers who
U.S. Senator Tina Smith, U.S. Representative Angie Craig Demand Explanation from USDA on Diverting Funds from Program to Help Farmers who are People of Color, Immigrants, Veterans
MINNESOTA [08/21/20]—After learning that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is diverting funds from a program that supports producers from diverse backgrounds—including farmers who are people of color, immigrants and veterans—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and U.S. Representative Angie Craig (MN-2) are demanding an explanation and answers. In a bicameral letter to the USDA, the lawmakers said that the decision to divert funds from the Outreach and Assistance for Socially Disadvantaged and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers Program was made without a thorough process for input and consultation from lawmakers, stakeholders and the communities of color and veterans that they serve. “During this difficult time, farmers across the
English