Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Applauds Senate Passage of Her Bipartisan Bill to Help Small Businesses Access Capital, Create Jobs in Rural America
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) applauded the Senate’s passage of her bipartisan Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act. The legislation, which is co-led by Senator John Kennedy (R-LA), would help eliminate hurdles small businesses in rural areas disproportionately face when they try to access capital. “Access to capital is essential to the economic health and growth of rural communities in Minnesota and across the country,” said Sen. Smith. “Rural small businesses often face disproportionate obstacles when trying to secure capital to develop and grow their businesses. This legislation would help rural small businesses overcome these hurdles and strengthen our rural economies.” Access to capital is critical for starting and expanding rural small businesses, which often face a disproportionate number of obstacles when seeking capital investment. This bipartisan legislation, the Expanding Access to Capital for Rural Job Creators Act, would require the Securities and Exchange Commission to submit annual reports on the unique challenges small businesses in rural areas face when trying to secure capital. The report would outline roadblocks and identify solutions to ensure rural small businesses, and the local economies they support, are able to develop and grow. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) also cosponsored the legislation.
U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Legislation to Tackle Drug Shortages, Improve Public Health Preparedness Advances Through Key Committee
WASHINGTON, D.C. [8.4.23] –U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that two of her legislative priorities, aimed at addressing drug shortages and improving public health preparedness, took a major step forward. “Drug shortages are hurting patients, pharmacists, and physicians across the country,” said Senator Smith. “I have heard directly from Minnesotans who are facing shortages of ADHD medications like Adderall, cancer-fighting drugs for chemotherapy, among other things. These drug shortages can be life-threatening, and I’ve made it a priority to tackle this problem. In addition, I’m focused on ensuring we are prepared for future public health threats. My bipartisan legislation will improve the FDA’s responsiveness when medication demand outpaces the supply, and help improve our ability to rapidly develop and distribute diagnostic tests in the event of a disease outbreak. I’m glad to see these priorities included in this important legislation.” The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Response Act is essential legislation that reauthorizes key public health and emergency preparedness programs. Current funding expires on September 30th. Millions of Americans have been affected by shortages of chemotherapy drugs, commonly-used antibiotics, pediatric formulations of medications like ibuprofen, and other essential drugs. Pieces of Senator Smith’s legislation, which have been included in the reauthorization, will help address these shortages and bolster public health preparedness. Senator Smith’s provisions include:
U.S. Sen. Tina Smith Says Trump Administration’s Restrictions on Family Planning Program Will Limit Americans’ Ability to Make Informed Health Care Decisions
WASHINGTON, D.C. [08/19/19]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) released the following statement after Planned Parenthood announced its forced exit from the Title X federal family planning program due to the Trump Administration’s new restrictions barring health care providers from exploring all health care options with patients and families. “Family planning is basic health care for people, and key to economic opportunity and people having the freedom to build their own lives. I trust people to make good decisions for themselves about their reproductive health care,” said Sen. Smith, a member of the Senate Health Committee and former Planned Parenthood executive. “The Trump Administration’s move to force Planned Parenthood to withdraw from the
U.S. Sen. Tina Smith Says Joe Begich Was a “True Advocate for Minnesota’s Iron Range”
MINNESOTA [08/12/19]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) released the following statement about the passing of longtime Iron Range state representative Joe Begich: “Joe Begich was a true advocate for Minnesota’s Iron Range, Minnesota labor, and hardworking people everywhere. Earning his respect and friendship made me proud. We have lost a true champion, a fighter, and a guy who was never afraid to speak the speak truth to power. We will miss him.”
U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Tammy Baldwin: ‘We’re Not the Same Person’ in Video on Climate Change
WASHINGTON, DC [08/01/19]— Today in a new video, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) called for action to protect the Great Lakes from the adverse effects of climate change while establishing their distinct identities. Smith and Baldwin, both members of the Senate Democratic Special Committee on the Climate Crisis, said that the negative effects of climate change on the Great Lakes, such as the increase in average surface water temperatures, pose a threat to public health, the environment, and the economy. Environmental changes in the Great Lakes region create challenges for nearby communities, wildlife populations, and the industries that sustain over
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Leads Bipartisan Effort to Improve Access to Rural Health Care for New and Expecting Moms
WASHINGTON, D.C. [07/31/19]–Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) introduced a bipartisan bill that would help ensure that new and expecting moms living in rural communities get the care they need. Sen. Smith—a member of the Senate Health Committee—said that this is especially a problem in rural areas across Minnesota and the country. Approximately a third of Minnesota’s rural counties don’t have a hospital where women can give birth, and more than half of rural counties nationwide lack hospitals with labor and birthing services. Sen. Smith also noted that the disparity in access to care and worse health outcomes disproportionally affects women of
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