Latest Releases
U.S. Senators Smith, Braun Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Address Big Pharma Ploy That Keeps Drug Prices High for Consumers
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Mike Braun (R-IN), reintroduced bipartisan legislation to address a big pharma ploy that prevents access to affordable prescription drugs for millions of people across the country. The Expanding Access to Low-Cost Generics Act—which was the first piece of Senate legislation introduced by Sen. Smith in 2018—addresses an anti-competitive prescription drug practice called “parking.” “Parking” occurs when a brand name manufacturer agrees not to sue the first company that submits an application to create a generic version of that drug—a so-called “first filer”—as long as the generic company agrees to delay bringing that generic drug to market. No other company can bring a generic version of a brand name drug to market until 180 days after the first filer has done so. These anti-competitive agreements among drug companies allow fewer lower-cost generic products to come to market and keep prices higher for consumers. Right now at least 75 percent of “first filer” generic products have delayed their market entry due to “parking” arrangements with brand-name companies. The Senators’ bipartisan bill takes major steps toward eliminating this practice. “When I travel around Minnesota, the high price of prescription drugs is always one of the first things families and seniors talk to me about,” said Sen. Smith, a member of the Senate Health Committee. “This bill takes important steps toward ending anti-competitive practices that big pharmaceutical companies exploit to keep drug prices high and unaffordable for people in Minnesota and across the country.” “Everywhere
Klobuchar, Smith Announce Federal Investment to Reduce Wildfire Risk in St. Louis County
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-MN), announced $890,925 in federal investments to help make St. Louis County more resilient to threats of wildfires. The funding will be distributed to local fire departments, lake and road associations, and township boards in the highest wildfire risk areas within the county. The funding is made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Klobuchar and Smith helped pass last year. “The 2021 Greenwood fire in northeastern Minnesota destroyed family cabins, damaged thousands of acres of forests, and hurt small businesses that rely on tourism. That’s why we must ensure our communities and firefighters have the resources they need to keep Minnesotans safe from future wildfires,” said Klobuchar. “This federal funding will provide St. Louis County with vital tools to reduce wildfires and bolster forest resilience.” “As climate change makes extreme weather events more common, we need to be doing everything we can to ensure our communities are as prepared and resilient as possible,” said Smith. “Thanks to this funding, which is made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, families in St. Louis County will be better protected against the threat of wildfires.” The funding is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Wildfire Defense Grant Program, which helps communities plan for and mitigate wildfire risks as the nation faces an ongoing wildfire crisis. In 2021, both Klobuchar and Smith toured the Greenwood Lake Fire and saw firsthand the devastating impact wildfires can have. These federal investments will help
Sen. Tina Smith Helps Introduce Bill to Improve Access to Mental Health Services for Students
WASHINGTON, D.C. [06/21/2018]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.)—a member of the Senate Health Committee—helped introduce legislation in order to better address the increasing number of students with mental health concerns at colleges and universities across the country. The bill—known as the Higher Education Mental Health Commission Act—would create a national commission to study the mental health concerns that students face. This commission would includerepresentatives from higher education institutions, disability and student advocacy groups, students with mental health conditions, and family members of college students. “Facilitating open, honest conversations about mental health is an important first step toward eliminating the stigma that
Sens. Smith, Warren Press HHS Secretary Azar on Trump Administration’s Broken Promises to Lower Drug Prices Ahead of Hearing on Tuesday, June 12
WASHINGTON, D.C. [06/11/18]—U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)—both members of the Senate Health Committee—have called on Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar to address their concerns about the Trump Administration’s inadequate proposals to reduce drug prices and his broken campaign promises to “negotiate like crazy” for lower drug prices. Last month, the senators also sent letters to the top ten drug company CEOs asking if they had voluntarily reduced prices as President Trump and Secretary Azar have suggested they would in response to the Administration’s drug pricing blueprint. Not one company had done so—and one of the few companies that gave
Sen. Tina Smith Says 2010 Supreme Court Decision to Allow Secretive, Unregulated Money to Influence U.S. Elections is Imperiling U.S. Democracy
WASHINGTON, D.C. [06/13/18]—U.S Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said the 2010 Supreme Court ruling that allowed a torrent of secretive, unregulated money to influence American political campaigns should be reversed because it is giving unknown wealthy donors outsized influence in elections and imperiling the nation’s democracy. In a Senate floor speech Tuesday, Smith pressed for enactment of a constitutional amendment to reverse the Court’s Citizens United decision and outlined several other campaign finance reforms to restore fairness to the political process. You can download a video of Sen. Smith’s speech by clicking here. “The sharp rise of secretive, unregulated money in politics means that we
Sen. Tina Smith Introduces Bill to Allow Tribal Governments to Determine How Programs to Combat Hunger Best Serve Indian Country
WASHINGTON D.C. [06/12/18]—Ahead of this week’s first Senate consideration of the Farm Bill, Senator Tina Smith—a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee—introduced legislation to allow tribes in Minnesota and across the country to have more control over how federal hunger programs are administered in their communities. Sen. Smith said her measure would give tribal governments a more active role in the administration of the USDA’s vital Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (commonly known as SNAP). Her bill would help make sure SNAP is administered in a culturally-appropriate way that promotes the health and economic well-being of tribal communities. Federal programs to combat
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