Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Joins Elizabeth Warren, Banking Committee Democrats in Pressing SEC Chair to Require Disclosure of Corporate Lobbying Expenditures
Washington, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D – Minn.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and John Fetterman (D-Pa.) signed onto a letter led by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D – Mass.) urging Gary Gensler, Chair of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), to create new rules requiring public companies to disclose their spending on lobbying efforts. Public companies are not currently required to report information on the details of their lobbying to the SEC even as corporate lobbying expenditures reach record highs. “In 2022, total federal lobbying expenditures reached $4.1 billion – the highest since 2010. Amazon and Meta spent almost $20 million each to influence decision-making in Congress and across government agencies, while the U.S. Chamber of Commerce – which counts companies like JPMorgan Chase, Alphabet, and Chevron among its members – spent $79.4 million,” wrote the senators. “While these figures are staggering, they provide little insight into the interests that companies spend millions each year to advance. This lack of transparency erodes the ability of everyday investors to make informed decisions about where to invest their money – and where their money goes once they have invested.” Specifically, the senators are requesting that such rules require disclosure of lobbying strategy, the total amount of direct or indirect contributions to registered state and federal lobbyists and any material risks related to or arising from lobbying strategies and expenditures. The senators requested the SEC provide them with details on their plans to develop and issue such rules no later than
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Tom Cotton Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Boost U.S. Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Tom Cotton (R-AR) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to reduce dependence on foreign pharmaceutical manufacturing and boost production in the U.S. The pandemic exposed our nation’s dependence on other countries for essential prescription drugs. Seventy-seven percent of key pharmaceutical ingredients come from overseas, including from China, threatening the security of the supply chain and leading to shortages of essential prescription drugs. The American Made Pharmaceuticals Act would reduce our dependence on foreign countries for pharmaceuticals by boosting production here at home. The legislation would create federal incentives to onshore manufacturing of essential medicine, while taking steps to shore up links in the supply chain. “We know that depending on foreign countries for key resources – whether it’s oil or medicine – leaves us vulnerable to global supply chain shocks and shortages,” said Sen. Smith. “This bipartisan legislation would reduce our dependence on foreign pharmaceutical manufacturing and help boost production here at home. I look forward to getting this bill across the finish line so we can relieve prescription drug shortages and build more resilient supply chains.” “The Chinese Communist Party threatened to cut off America’s access to vital drugs during the pandemic,” said Sen. Cotton. “It’s time to bolster onshore manufacturing of pharmaceuticals to ensure Americans never have to rely on China for lifesaving medicine.” “Amneal applauds Senators Smith and Cotton on their targeted approach to increase pharmaceutical manufacturing here in the United States,” said Chirag Patel, President & Co-CEO of Amneal Pharmaceuticals. “Ensuring that
U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Democratic Colleagues Fight for Nation’s Registered Apprenticeship Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. [08/27/19]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and 45 of her Senate colleagues are calling on Acting Labor Department Secretary Patrick Pizzella to oppose the Department’s recent proposal that would undermine the highly-effective and widely-supported registered apprenticeship program. The proposed rule would create duplicative, unnecessary, and lower-quality “industry-recognized apprenticeship programs” (IRAPs), which would not provide the same crucial benefits and protections as long-established registered apprenticeships. The Department has also proposed the establishment of new entities to oversee the IRAPs, potentially allowing these programs to evade accountability, even to apprentices themselves. “Rather than invest federal taxpayer dollars in a duplicative, less
U.S. Senators Smith, Klobuchar, Stabenow, Durbin, Peters, Baldwin, and Brown Call for Stronger Renewable Fuel Standard
WASHINGTON, D.C. [08/26/19]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.)—along with Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Gary Peters (D-Mich.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio)—is standing up for the nation’s rural economy by urging the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to end the harmful abuse of small refinery hardship waivers under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). In a letter sent to EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, Sen. Smith and her colleagues pointed out that under the Trump Administration, the granting of waivers has increased by 370 percent with “small refinery” waivers going to large oil companies. While the president has
U.S. Sen. Tina Smith Announces New Bipartisan Senate Effort to Highlight What’s Working in Rural Communities
East Grand Forks, MN [08/12/19] – Saying she’s been inspired by the spirit, resilience and ingenuity of the people she’s met in rural communities across Minnesota, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced today that she will lead a new bipartisan Senate group that will highlight what’s working in rural America, and lift up the local ideas that are helping rural communities thrive in the face of a persistent slump in the farm economy. Sen. Smith said she is forming the bipartisan Senate “Rural Economic Working Group” along with Republican Senator Mike Rounds of South Dakota to connect with people and organizations
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith Announce $830k USDA Grants to Help MN Farmers Cut Energy Costs
WASHINGTON, D.C. [08/20/19]—Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced that the USDA is investing nearly $830,000 in grants to Minnesota to help reduce energy costs for farmers and ag producers through the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP). Grants have been awarded to 54 Minnesota projects, mostly on family farms. Minnesota recipients can use REAP grants to install renewable energy systems—like biofuels or power generation from wind, solar, or biomass, for example—and make energy efficiency improvements. Funds can also be used on energy storage projects and energy audits. “These Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grants will help Minnesotans develop renewable energy and energy efficiency projects to increase the productivity and efficiency of their farms and
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