Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Requests Cost Estimate of Big Beautiful Bill’s Data Center Tax Incentives
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), in her capacity as the top Democrat on the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth Subcommittee, is requesting an analysis to shed light on the extent to which OBBBA tax breaks went to data center development. Smith sent the request to the Joint Committee on Taxation after reports that some of the country’s largest corporations taking advantage of the generous corporate tax breaks in Republicans’ signature legislation to subsidize the development of data centers. “We’ve seen reports that tax breaks from the Big Beautiful Bill are being used by some of the biggest tech companies in the world to pad their pockets and boost the buildout of data centers. These companies have billions of dollars of revenues, and I question the fiscal rationale behind rewarding them for investments they would have made regardless of the tax benefits,” says Senator Smith. “How is it that Republicans could find the money for these massive companies to build deeply unpopular data centers, but not the money for health care and nutrition assistance? It’s complete hypocrisy and reeks of corruption, considering these same companies routinely donate millions of dollars to the President’s campaign.” Data centers and the trillion-dollar tech companies building them have reported record profits, which likely were boosted thanks to the OBBBA. OBBBA provisions most commonly utilized include expanded breaks for research and development programs, immediate deductions for the cost of investments, and a new subsidy for manufacturing structures. Senator Smith questions the fiscal rationale of
U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Measures to Simplify, Update Tax Filings for Farmers and Consumers Passes Senate
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) successfully included two measures to help Minnesotans navigate their taxes in legislation that passed the Senate. Sen. Smith’s first measure would adjust the deadline for farmers to file their taxes to align with when most other Minnesotans would file theirs, while her second would require the IRS to track how often they make taxpayers re-submit the same paperwork due to bureaucratic errors. The measures were included in the Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act that passed the Senate unanimously. “Nobody enjoys filing their taxes, but what makes it even worse is how cumbersome and illogical our tax system is, particular for farmers,” said Sen. Smith. “These measures are simple, common-sense solutions. Farmers should get just as much time to prepare their tax filings as everyone else, and the IRS needs to keep track of how often it makes taxpayers submit the same document over and over again.” The Farm Tax Filing Deadline amendment will give farmers and fishers until Tax Day, April 15, to file their taxes without penalty. Under current law, farmers and fishers must file and pay estimated taxes by March 1 to avoid penalties. Meanwhile, most other taxpayers have until April 15 to file their taxes without penalty. The current earlier deadline left farmers and fishers scrambling to get all the paperwork done in time while everyone else gets an extra month and a half. The Reporting on Document Management to Avoid Duplicative Requests to Constituents amendment that requires the
U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Bipartisan Legislation to Extend Terrorism Risk Insurance, Support Housing Construction Passes Banking Committee
Roughly 60 percent of American businesses have terrorism risk insurance, which is critical to major construction projects WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s bipartisan legislation to safeguard the availability of terrorism risk insurance coverage passed the Senate Banking Committee by a unanimous vote. Roughly 60 percent of American businesses have terrorism risk insurance, which could become unavailable without action by Congress. Sen. Smith (D-MN) leads the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2026 alongside Senators Dave McCormick (R-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Thom Tillis (R-NC). Following the attacks on September 11, 2001, many insurance companies began excluding terrorism risks from commercial insurance policies, leaving
U.S. Senators Smith, Baldwin & Murphy Reintroduce Bill to Support Young Farmers, Forgive Student Loan Debt
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) reintroduced the Student Loan Forgiveness for Farmers and Ranchers Act, legislation to create a loan forgiveness program for beginning farmers and ranchers, as well as veteran, women and minority farmers. Beginning farmers are considered those who have less than 10 years of experience operating a farm. The ag industry will soon see major shifts in farm ownership with more than one-third of American farmers being 65 years old or older. Student loan debt is among the largest obstacles America’s young farmers face, placing an enormous financial strain
U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Bill to Combat Lyme Disease & Other Tick-Borne Diseases Heads to President’s Desk
Most recent data shows Minnesota recorded 3,551 cases in 2024 alone, a rate that has likely increased in recent years WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s (D-MN) bipartisan bill to expand research, testing and treatment for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases is expected to become law after successfully passing both chambers of Congress. The Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act passed the U.S. Senate in August and passed the U.S. House of Representatives this week, heading to the President’s desk to be signed into law. “When this bill soon becomes law, it will save lives and help people battling Lyme
Sen. Tina Smith’s Statement on Agriculture Committee’s Second Partisan Markup of Long-Delayed Farm Bill
The partisan legislation forces Minnesotans to pay $140 million in administrative costs, fails to address SNAP cuts WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) released the following statement after the Senate Agriculture Committee failed to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill, instead choosing to pass a partisan version drafted by Republicans that will not gain enough support to pass the full Senate: “I said it before and I’ll say it again, patience is a virtue, it’s just not my virtue. I’m disappointed that, once again, Republicans have pursued a partisan path on the Senate Farm Bill; however, we’ll keep working
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