Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Joins Colleagues in Urging Biden Administration to Address Humanitarian Crisis in Ethiopia
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator and Tina Smith (D-MN) joined her colleagues in sending a letter to the Biden administration regarding the mounting humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia. The letter was led by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and was also signed by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Tim Kaine (D-VA). The Senators urged U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power to work with partners to ensure continued international humanitarian support for the people of Ethiopia as the country confronts an ongoing humanitarian crisis exacerbated by armed conflict and climate chaos. “While we are heartened by United States’ and international efforts to provide food assistance and other humanitarian aid to the Ethiopian people, their needs remain great, especially when factoring in the more than 100,000 Sudanese refugees who have recently fled the violence in their country and taken refuge in Ethiopia,” the Senators wrote. “We support the Administration’s continued global leadership in the provision of humanitarian aid to those most in need,” the Senators continued. “We also acknowledge that it is critical to maintain effective oversight of assistance and ensure that it is not being abused or diverted. However, commitments from other donor countries and the international community have failed to keep up with the increasing needs globally.” Read the full text of the letter below: Dear Secretary Blinken and Administrator Power, We write to express deep concern about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia, which is set to worsen this year
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar Announce Clean Energy Support for Three Minnesota Tribes
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tina Smith, a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, and Amy Klobuchar (both D-Minn.) announced federal funding to connect Tribal homes to clean electricity, including homes previously not connected to electricity at all. Minnesota Tribes selected for funding include Prairie Island Indian Community, Red Lake Nation and Bois Forte Band of Chippewa. The grants are made possible by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which Senators Smith and Klobuchar both supported. “For generations, Native communities have been hurt by underinvestment and underfunding of basic infrastructure. Our transition to a clean energy economy can’t leave Indian Country behind,” said Senator Smith. “This funding gets us closer to ensuring every household in Minnesota, including on Tribal lands, have access to clean electricity.” “This federal grant will deliver critical clean energy infrastructure improvements,” said Senator Klobuchar.“Investments into clean electricity are vital for securing the power grid in Tribal communities and bolstering the transition to renewable energy.” “This investment in Indian Country and, specifically, the Prairie Island Indian Community, will literally help create a brighter future for our people,” said Prairie Island Tribal Council President Grant Johnson. “Achieving energy sovereignty while eliminating or offsetting all greenhouse gas emissions on Prairie Island is the goal of our net zero program. This grant will allow us to make electrification improvements to our members’ home and involve them more directly in our efforts to change our energy narrative and achieve our net zero goal.” “We are excited and honored to have received the funding from the Biden-Harris Administration America Agenda to Electrify Homes Across Indian Country with Clean Energy. This funding will assist us in the implementation capacity
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Calls for Quick and Effective Implementation of Tribal Provisions in Bipartisan Coronavirus Relief Package
WASHINGTON, D.C. [04/02/20]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith—a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee—(D-Minn.) urged the President on Wednesday to make sure federal agencies implement Tribal provisions of the third coronavirus relief package, known as the CARES Act, in a way that upholds the federal trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribes and includes meaningful consultation with Tribes. Sen. Smith—along with a group of 18 senators and 12 U.S. representatives led by Sen. Tom Udall (D-N.M)—sent the letter to President Trump following enactment of the CARES Act, which includes over $10 billion in resources for Native communities’ COVID-19 response. “The U.S. government has specific trust and
U.S. Senator Tina Smith to Introduce Legislative Fix that Would Make Older Children and Adult Dependents Eligible for COVID-19 Relief Payments
WASHINGTON, D.C. [04/2/20]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced she plans to introduce a legislative fix that would make dependents 17 and older count toward what a family gets in direct payments from the bipartisan coronavirus relief package signed into law last week. Sen. Smith’s bill already has 14 original cosponsors, including Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.). Under the CARES Act, an economic stimulus payment of $1,200 per adult and $500 per child will go to most taxpayers with incomes below $75,000 for single taxpayers and $150,000 for married taxpayers. The payment is structured as a tax refund and administered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Under current law, no
U.S. Senators Klobuchar, Smith Announce $40k USDA Investment in Sacred Heart Public Safety Infrastructure Improvements
WASHINGTON, D.C. [04/2/20]—Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a $42,000 grant to the City of Sacred Heart for public safety infrastructure improvements. The funds come from the USDA’s Community Facilities Grant Program. The Senators said that the grant will be used to replace the roof of the Sacred Heart Fire Hall, which has numerous leaks and is in need of repair. The new roof will help keep equipment safe and allow workers to focus on fire emergency calls for the surrounding community in Renville County. “Our 21st century economy demands 21st century infrastructure, and that requires investments in roads, bridges, airports,
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Delivers for Minnesotans as Treasury Department Says Social Security Beneficiaries Do Not Need to File Tax Returns to Receive COVID-19 Cash Assistance
WASHINGTON, D.C. [04/02/20]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) shared that late last night the U.S. Treasury Department heeded concerns voiced by Sen. Smith and her colleagues and announced that Social Security recipients will automatically receive direct cash assistance included in the third bipartisan emergency coronavirus relief package—known as the CARES Act—without having to file tax returns. This follows an earlier call on Wednesday from Sens. Smith and her Democratic Senate colleagues—led by Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)—raising alarm over guidance the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) issued earlier this week that said Social Security beneficiaries would need to file tax returns
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