Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith and Colleagues Call on Israeli Ambassador Herzog to Accelerate Aid Delivery and Ensure Safety for Aid Workers
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) joined Senators Peter Welch (D-VT), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Brian Schatz (D-HI) in sending a letter to Israel’s Ambassador to the United States, Michael Herzog, on the imperative of urgently providing humanitarian aid in Gaza. The letter highlights specific steps that Ambassador Herzog and the Israeli government should take to ensure that aid reaches Gaza and to protect aid workers. “Since October 7, nearly 30,000 people have been killed in Israel’s counterattack on Gaza. While many were Hamas terrorists, a significant number were innocent civilians. Further, at least 1.7 million Palestinians have been internally displaced in Gaza. They have need for clean water, food, medical support, and humanitarian aid. Starvation and widespread disease in Gaza are imminent,” wrote the four U.S. Senators. “We believe that the future path to peace, security and stability will be enhanced dramatically by facilitating the delivery of essentials for survival to the Palestinian people whose fate is imperiled,” the Senators conclude. The letter outlines four actions Israel should take to accelerate aid delivery into Gaza and assist the safety of aid workers, including: Text of the letter follows: Dear Ambassador Herzog: We unequivocally condemn Hamas’ barbaric attack on Israel October 7, 2023, and hope that all the hostages return home safely. We support Israel’s right and obligation to pursue the Hamas terrorists who planned and carried out the October 7 attack and deem the prospect of Hamas retaining military control of Gaza unacceptable. We also believe, there is an urgent need to provide
Sen. Smith joins Dem Women’s Caucus, House and Senate Democrats, in Demanding Health Insurers Fully Cover Birth Control, As Required by the ACA
Washington, DC — Today, Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), along with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Democratic Women’s Caucus (DWC) Chair Lois Frankel (FL-22), Reps. Ayanna Pressley (MA-7), Kathy Manning (NC-6), and Judy Chu (CA-28), led over 150 House and Senate Democratic colleagues in urging health insurers to fully comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) contraception coverage requirement. Specifically, the members urged insurers to adopt a “therapeutic equivalence standard” ensuring coverage—without cost sharing—of every FDA-approved birth control product that does not have a therapeutic equivalent (generic). The letter comes after years of systemic noncompliance by insurance plans, forcing women to pay out of pocket or face administrative red tape to access the birth control that works best for them. “We write to express our concerns that your members are not complying with the Affordable Care Act contraception coverage requirement, and to urge them to consider immediate adoption of the therapeutic equivalence standard outlined by the Departments of Health and Human Services, Labor, and Treasury on January 22, 2024,” wrote the lawmakers in a letter toAmerica’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP)—whose membership includes major health insurers across the country—and UnitedHealth Group. Despite the ACA’s protections, the members outlined how multiple investigations—including by the House Oversight Committee, “have revealed that plans routinely violate the ACA by refusing to cover certain products, imposing administrative hurdles like prior authorizations and step therapy (fail first protocols), and requiring patient cost-sharing.” In response to these violations, the Biden Administration recently released additional guidance, outlining a standard that requires coverage
Members of the Minnesota Delegation Raise Serious Concerns over Use of Unsafe School Buses to Transport Minnesota Students
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith and Representatives Angie Craig (MN-2), Dean Phillips (MN-3), Betty McCollum (MN-4), Ilhan Omar (MN-5), and Collin Peterson (MN-7) expressed serious concern following recent reports that one out of every eight school buses operated by First Student, Minnesota’s largest school bus provider, failed to meet Minnesota safety standards this year due to serious defects such as unsafe brakes, flat tires, steering issues, and faulty emergency door buzzers. In a letter to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Acting Administrator James Owens, members of the Minnesota delegation requested additional information on what the agency can do to improve
Klobuchar, Smith, Stauber Announce $2.1 Million for Infrastructure Improvements at Little Falls/Morrison County Airport
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN), along with Representative Pete Stauber (R-MN-08), announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded the Little Falls/Morrison County Airport a grant of $2.1 million for infrastructure improvements. “Critical investments in our infrastructure serve as a down payment on the long-term economic well-being of our state and country,” Klobuchar said. “By investing in the Little Falls/Morrison County Airport, we are making an important investment in the economy of the region and enhancing public safety.” “Little Falls/Morrison County Airport is an economic driver for many local communities, and we need to make sure it’s
Klobuchar, Smith, Stauber Announce $500K USDA Grant to Expand Education Opportunities in Northeastern Minnesota
WASHINGTON, D.C. [11/21/19]—U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (D-Minn.), and Representative Pete Stauber (R-MN-08) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded Education Innovation Partners Cooperative Center a $500,000 grant to connect students living in rural settings with telecommunication and internet capabilities that could help them learn. Long distance learning services help students overcome challenges they might face due to their remote location and low population density. This project will provide services to 28 sites across six counties. It’s estimated to benefit 21,000 students and 1,500 teachers per year. “Investments in education and health care are
U.S. Senators Smith & Barrasso Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Recruit and Retain Rural Health Care Providers
WASHINGTON D.C. [11/21/2019]—Today, on National Rural Health Day, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.)—both co-chairs of the Senate Rural Health Caucus—announced their bipartisan bill to address the disparity in access to health care in rural America by supporting key rural health workforce programs. Right now, rural America is struggling to recruit and retain the health care providers they need to support their communities. Geographic isolation and scarce housing options create challenges for rural health care providers to attract primary and specialty care physicians, nurses, technicians, ambulance drivers, and case managers. Even when providers move to rural communities,
English