Latest Releases
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith Celebrate Selection of Minnesota Tribe for Innovative, Culturally Responsive Social Services Pilot Program
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-Minn.) celebrated news that the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe was selected for the Tiwahe Program Social Services Demonstration Project, an innovative program that allows participating Tribal Nations to integrate certain services for their members and incorporate culturally-appropriate components. Tiwahe, which means “family” in the Lakota language, focuses on job placement and training, social services, housing, wellness, and various courts to give Tribal Nations the ability to make these programs work best for their communities. “The Tiwahe Program gives Tribes the flexibility to design family and social services programs that fit the specific needs of their communities,” said Klobuchar. “The Leech Lake Band’s inclusion in the Tiwahe program and White Earth Band’s new grant will help improve the delivery of services for children and families while ensuring Chippewa traditions and values are incorporated into the programs.” “This program means Tribes will have the freedom to govern and deliver social services to their members in the way that works best for them,” said Smith, member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee. “The Tiwahe program is a crucial part of fulfilling our trust and treaty responsibilities to Tribal Nations and Native communities. I am proud of support the Tiwahe program and the work of Tribal Nations in Minnesota.” Senator Smith wrote to the United States Department of Interior supporting Leech Lake Band’s application. Leech Lake Band’s Tiwahe project will work to improve economic security, cultural connections, natural resource stewardship, healthy lifestyles, and other key needs among Tribal members. Red Lake Nation has participated in the program
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith Join Bipartisan Group of 29 Senators in Denouncing Amazon’s Persistent Mistreatment of Delivery Drivers
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith joined 27 of their Senate colleagues in a bipartisan letter to Amazon CEO Andy Jassy requesting information about the company’s Delivery Service Partner (DSP) program and its efforts to avoid legal liability for the persistent mistreatment of DSP drivers. The senators are also seeking information regarding Amazon’s justification for refusing to bargain with union representatives of DSP employees and requiring DSPs to sign non-poaching agreements. “Amazon’s freight truck drivers haul a variety of goods across highways every day, and their branded delivery vehicles are a virtually unavoidable feature in neighborhoods all over the country. Though nearly all Americans are familiar with and reliant on the services of Amazon- branded vehicles – which are operated by drivers in Amazon-branded vests who exclusively deliver packages with big, bold Amazon labels – few realize that Amazon refuses to acknowledge the workers who operate these vehicles as its legal employees,” the senators wrote. The senators detailed the dangerous working conditions of DSP drivers, pointing to reporting that suggests this system takes an awful toll on drivers, who have been forced to work in extreme heat without air conditioning, make deliveries in the snow without proper safety equipment like snow tires or chains, and are pressured to skip breaks. Some drivers have been forced to work for nearly twelve hours without access to a restroom. “Amazon is also facing numerous allegations of flagrant violations of the National Labor Relations Act, including refusal to recognize and bargain
U.S. Senators Smith & Collins Call for Quick Implementation of Bipartisan Tick Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. [01/13/20]—U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) called on the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to urge quick implementation of the Kay Hagan Tick Act that Sens. Smith and Collins authored. Their bipartisan bill—signed into law in December—will improve research, prevention, diagnostics and treatment for tick-borne diseases. “The new law is named after the late Senator Kay Hagan, who tragically died from Powassan virus, a tick-borne disease this past October. The law provides a unified approach with leadership at the federal level and resources at the local level to combat the escalating burden of tick
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Leads Senate Colleagues in Calling on Trump Administration to Extend Humanitarian Protections for Somali Nationals
WASHINGTON, D.C. [01/10/20]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) led a number of her Democratic Senate colleagues—including fellow Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar—in calling on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to extend humanitarian protections granted to hundreds of Somali nationals who have taken refuge in our nation, including many in Minnesota, before the deadline to decide whether to extend protections on January 17 of this year. Somalia was first designated for Temporary Protected Status (TPS) nearly 30 years ago because of ongoing civil war, human rights abuses and violence in the country. These conditions continue to persist, which is why Sen. Smith is again leading her colleagues in pressing to extend TPS protections
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Says She’ll Support Bipartisan Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada In Upcoming Senate Vote
WASHINGTON, D.C. [01/08/20]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.)—a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee—announced that she’ll support the bipartisan United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) when it comes up for a vote in the Senate. Sen. Smith’s announcement comes after she helped secure key improvements to the agreement that strengthen protections for workers and improve access to affordable medicines. The USMCA also includes measures Sen. Smith has been fighting hard for to open new markets for U.S. dairy exports and end unfair Canadian milk pricing rules that hurt U.S. farmers. “I’ve long said that I want to vote for a trade agreement that lifts up workers, businesses, agriculture and consumers—and
Klobuchar, Smith Announce Nearly $600,000 in Federal Investments to Help Minnesota Families Reach Self-Sufficiency
WASHINGTON D.C. [1/6/2020]–U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced that 12 public housing authorities and cities across Minnesota will receive a total investment of $593,683 from the U.S. Department of Housing (HUD) Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSS). The FSS Program is an asset building program for low-income families across the country. This investment will help HUD-assisted families reach self-sufficiency by providing them with stable affordable housing, individualized financial coaching and a rent incentive in the form of an escrowed savings account that grows as families’ earnings increase. “Minnesotans enrolled in the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program receive vital support that helps them build
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