Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Statement on Texas Judge’s Medication Abortion Ruling
WASHINGTON, D.C. [04/07/23] — Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) issued the following statement in response to a far-right activist judge blocking approval of a safe and effective abortion medication: “I’m furious. A single ultra-conservative activist judge just attempted to strip away access to safe and effective medication abortions for millions of women nationwide. This ruling is nothing but an extremist, anti-democratic national abortion ban. “This outrageous decision would do irreparable harm to women’s health. It’s a clear attack on our freedoms and it cannot be allowed to stand. “This ruling makes it undeniable: Extremist Republicans won’t be satisfied until they’ve stripped all American women of their most fundamental human rights to bodily autonomy and self-determination.”
Senators Smith, Rounds Lead Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Mental Health Services in Rural America
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) reintroduced legislation to improve access to mental health and substance use services. The Home-Based Telemental Health Care Act of 2023 would establish a grant program for health providers to expand telemental health services in rural areas and for individuals working in the farming, forestry and fishing industries. “When I experienced depression, resources were there for me. But right now, too many people don’t have access to the mental or behavioral health care they need, and that’s especially true in rural communities,” said Smith. “Our bipartisan bill will help health providers in rural areas expand tele-mental health care services for farmers, ranchers and foresters, and many others in local communities who are experiencing stress, burnout and other mental challenges.” “Individuals in rural areas may not have easy access to a mental health facility, making in-person visits difficult for those seeking care,” said Rounds. “Utilizing telemental health capabilities will allow South Dakotans in rural areas to receive quality care from the comfort of their homes. Not only does this save time and resources, it provides an important mental health service for our farmers and ranchers, who for years have suffered economically due to challenging weather, trade disputes and price disparities.” This legislation would direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in coordination with the Rural Health Liaison of the Department of Agriculture, to award grants to public and non-profit mental health and substance use providers to expand access to telehealth services
U.S. Sen. Tina Smith Presses Swiss Pharmaceutical Giant Novartis to Ensure Improper Company Actions Aren’t Pushing Up U.S. Prescription Drug Prices
WASHINGTON D.C. [08/23/18]— Today, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) pushed for answers from Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis on improper financial and lobbying efforts – including a $1.2 million dollar payment to President Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen – that could be contributing to high prescription drug prices for people in Minnesota and across the country. In May, Novartis confirmed that it erred when it paid Cohen through a shell company to help influence Trump Administration health care policy. Those payments came after Novartis had already agreed in 2016 to comply with a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) order to establish
Sen. Smith Presses to Enhance Nation’s Energy Storage Capabilities
WASHINGTON D.C. [08/24/18]— U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said legislation she is introducing would significantly increase America’s energy storage capabilities and help expand the role that renewable energies like wind and solar play in the nation’s energy portfolio. “Expanding the nation’s energy storage capabilities will not only help expand use of renewables like wind and solar energy but will contribute to our nation’s energy and economic security,” said Sen. Smith. “This bill will help to significantly improve our nation’s efforts to store energy, and jump start energy storage research and the deployment of energy storage technologies.” Sen. Smith’s “Advancing Grid Storage Act” would authorize $500 million over
Sen. Tina Smith Introduces Comprehensive Bill To Address A Top Minnesota Issue: Skyrocketing Prescription Drug Prices
WASHINGTON D.C. [09/05/18]—U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said today that for far too long the health and financial well-being of families in Minnesota and across the country has been harmed by the skyrocketing price of prescription drugs, and she introduced legislation—which is also supported by Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar—designed to hold large pharmaceutical companies accountable for high prices and bring down costs for both consumers and taxpayers. Sen. Smith, a member of the Senate Health Committee, said her measure will increase transparency for drug companies that are setting exorbitant prices, end the restriction that prevents the federal Medicare program from
Sen. Tina Smith Blasts DeVos Proposal That Would Leave Minnesota Students at Hands of Predatory Career Training Programs
WASHINGTON, D.C. [09/13/18]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.)—a member of the Senate Education Committee—stood up for students in Minnesota and across the country by calling on Education Secretary Betsy DeVos to withdraw a proposal aimed at striking down a rule to protect students and borrowers from career training programs that leave students saddled with debt and poor job prospects. Sen. Smith said students in Minnesota and across the country deserve to know which career training programs are successful, and which programs have a history of providing a low-quality education and overly-expensive degrees that have little value on the job market. Under
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