Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Presses JPMorgan CEO for Answers on Bank’s Ties to Jeffrey Epstein
WASHINGTON [5.10.23] – Today, Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN), wrote a letter to JPMorgan Chase’s CEO, Jamie Dimon, demanding answers following recent reports and court filings describing the bank’s financial involvement with Jeffrey Epstein. In her letter, Smith pressed Dimon for the bank’s policies and procedures around identifying and reporting human trafficking after allegations surfaced that JPMorgan ignored obvious signs of Epstein’s illegal activity and maintained its relationship with him against the advice of its own compliance department. “If true, JPMorgan’s decision to turn a blind eye to such egregious misconduct raises serious questions about its role in facilitating Epstein’s abuse, and its willingness or ability to root out and prevent other, less apparent instances of sex trafficking,” wrote Senator Smith According to an April 12 court filing, Epstein was a client at JPMorgan from 1998 to 2013 and maintained upwards of 50 accounts totaling hundreds of millions of dollars. This not only granted him access to exclusive banking and wealth management services, but apparently earned him the bank’s discretion. The filing alleges that in 2006, two years before Epstein was convicted for soliciting a minor for prostitution, a JPMorgan Rapid Response Team flagged internally that Epstein was making cash withdrawals ranging from $40,000 to $80,000 several times per month. By that year, the bank was reportedly aware that Epstein paid cash to have underage girls and young women trafficked to his home. This apparently became an open secret among senior executives, even devolving into a topic of jest. Still, the
Senators Smith, Rounds Unveil Major Bipartisan Package to Modernize and Update Rural Housing Programs
Washington [5.2.23] – This week, Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) introduced significant bipartisan legislation to improve federal rural housing programs, cut red tape, and strengthen the supply of affordable housing. The legislation would represent the most significant Rural Housing Service reforms years. “Without a safe, affordable place to live, nothing else in your life works. Not your job, not your education, not your health,” said Senator Smith. “We know that the housing crisis is hurting communities across the country, and the problem is particularly acute in rural places. This legislation is the direct result of bipartisan hearings and conversations with stakeholders who helped identify ways we can make federal rural housing programs work better for people struggling to find a safe, affordable place to live.” “Homeownership is part of the American dream and a key to building wealth,” said Senator Rounds. “Over the past year, Senator Smith and I have held hearings, met with stakeholders and visited with constituents in our states about the hurdles within the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Housing Service. This legislation makes important improvements and updates to the Rural Housing Service that will create and preserve affordable housing opportunities in South Dakota. As we face an affordable housing crisis across the nation, I look forward to working with my colleagues to get these important, bipartisan updates signed into law.” Lack of affordable housing remains an impediment for many rural towns and communities as they struggle to attract new businesses, residents and
Sen. Tina Smith Introduces Bill to Prevent Another Sun Country Airlines Debacle
WASHINGTON, D.C. [06/28/18]—Today, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) followed up on her promise to explore legislation to prevent another incident like the Sun Country Airlines blunder by introducing the Airline Consumer Protection Act. Earlier this year, Eagan-based Sun Country Airlines stranded travelers in Mexico and around the country, leaving them scrambling to find additional lodging and their own way home. Sen. Smith’s Airline Consumer Protection Act seeks to ensure that this won’t happen again by guaranteeing that when a consumer purchases an airline ticket you are getting the transportation you paid for—which often is not the case in the fine print of airline tickets. The bill would also
Sens. Smith, Warren Continue to Demand Answers on Trump Administration’s Failed Promise of “Voluntary, Massive Drops” in Prices
WASHINGTON, D.C. [07/02/2018]—U.S. Sens. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) are continuing their investigation of the Trump Administration’s promises of “voluntary, massive drops” after these reductions in drug prices fail to materialize. The senators have reached out to nine Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and drug distributors asking for their response to allegations by Secretary Azar during a Senate Health Committee hearing that they are setting uproadblocks that are preventing drug companies from voluntarily lowering their drug prices. This latest effort follows similar letters previously sent toSecretary Azar and to drug manufacturers. “These are extremely disturbing allegations by Secretary Azar,” wrote Sens. Smith and Warren. “If
Smith, Klobuchar Call on Federal Communications Commission to Establish Protections for Consumers from Unwanted, Harassing Robocalls
U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar joined Senator Edward Markey (D-MA) and 11 other senators in calling for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish protections for consumers from unwanted and harassing robocalls and robotexts. “In an era when the onslaught of unwanted and abusive robocalls is on the rise, we are concerned that the absence of core protections would result in even more invasive calls and texts,” the senators wrote in their letter to FCC Chairman Ajit Pai. “It is the FCC’s obligation to use its existing authority to reestablish robust, enforceable protections to enhance the precious zone of privacy
Sen. Tina Smith’s Statement on EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt’s Resignation
WASHINGTON, D.C. [07/05/18]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.)—a member of the Senate Energy Committee—released the following statement on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt’s resignation. This statement originally appeared on Sen. Tina Smith’s official Senate Facebook page. “Scott Pruitt abused our trust. I’m glad he stepped down. I had repeatedly called on him to do so, and now the Trump Administration needs to replace him with somebody who has the integrity and effectiveness to fight for our environment. After all, that’s the job of the EPA Administrator.” ###
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