Latest Releases
Klobuchar, Smith Resolution Honoring Late Minnesota Senator David Durenberger Passes Senate
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that their resolution honoring the late Minnesota Senator David Durenberger passed the Senate with bipartisan support. Klobuchar and Smith delivered remarks on the Senate floor to honor Senator Durenberger. Video of Klobuchar’s floor remarks are available for TV download HERE and for online viewing HERE. Video of Smith’s floor remarks can be found HERE. “Senator David Durenberger was a true public servant and dedicated legislator who was always guided by his devotion to bipartisanship and helping Minnesotans. Through his leadership on the Americans with Disabilities Act, David helped usher in a whole new era of disability rights and changed millions of lives for the better,” said Klobuchar. “Even after David left the Senate, he found new ways to improve people’s lives through his work on health care, his teaching, and his mentorship. Our resolution will honor Senator Durenberger’s remarkable life and legacy of service to our state and country.” “If I had to name one thing that characterized Dave Durenberger, it was his determination to find solutions to the problems that hold people back in their lives, especially problems with health care. He didn’t care whether an idea came from Republicans or Democrats, he cared about whether it would make a difference,” said Smith. “As we mourn the loss of Senator Durenberger, let us take inspiration from his example of a thoughtful, pragmatic, results-oriented politics. Archie and I send all our support to the Durenberger family – may his
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Joins Colleagues to Unveil New Child Care Bill
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) joined over three dozen lawmakers led by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) in unveiling new legislation that would expand access to affordable child care to every American family, offer high-quality early education to every child, and create good jobs for our early educators. “Access to childcare is essential, both for the safe and healthy development of our kids, and because it allows parents the freedom to pursue their careers and contribute to the economy,” said Senator Smith. “But right now, childcare is too expensive and inaccessible for many families. I am proud to cosponsor this legislation which would ensure every family has access to high-quality, affordable childcare so that our kids, their parents, and our economy can reach their full potential.” Under the legislation, half of families nationwide would pay no more than $10 a day for child care, and all families would see their child care costs capped. Additionally, the bill would introduce a sliding scale system to ensure child care is significantly more affordable based on families’ income, similar to the U.S. military child care program. Lack of access to high-quality, affordable child care prevents parents from fully participating in the workforce, holding them back from career opportunities, making it hard for businesses to find workers, and placing a drag on our entire economy. Lack of affordable, high-quality care and early education also means many children in the U.S. start kindergarten without the skills they need
Sen. Tina Smith Continues to Lead Push to Secure Back Pay For Federal Contract Workers Financially Devastated by Shutdown
WASHINGTON, D.C. [01/29/19]—Today, U.S. Senator Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), continued to lead the push to secure back pay for the thousands of federal contract workers who went many weeks without a paycheck during the 35-day federal shutdown. Unlike federal government employees who returned to work this week, the thousands of federal contract employees—many of whom serve in modestly-paid jobs—have no assurances that they will receive back pay to make up for the wages they missed during the shutdown. On Tuesday, Sen. Smith was joined at a Capitol Hill press conference by Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C.), and a coalition of several other Congressional Democrats to discuss
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Continues Fight For Bill to Ensure Women Get Equal Pay for Equal Work
WASHINGTON, D.C. [01/30/19]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) helped reintroduce the Paycheck Fairness Act, which would strengthen equal pay laws. The bill would also close loopholes so that women can challenge pay discrimination and hold employers accountable. “Women deserve equal pay for equal work,” said Sen. Smith. “We’ve made important progress, but there’s more work we must do—particularly for women of color. The Paycheck Fairness Act gets right to the root of that work toward full equity and I’m proud to support this legislation for women and their families.” “The Paycheck Fairness Act is an important next step towards achieving pay equity, and ultimately, true gender equity in
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Announces Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan as State of the Union Guest
Washington, D.C. [01/31/19]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said that Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan will be her guest at the President’s State of the Union Address on Tuesday, February 5 in Washington, D.C. Prior to serving in the United States Senate, Sen. Smith also served as Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota. Lt. Gov. Flanagan, a member of the White Earth band of Ojibwe, is currently the nation’s highest-ranking Native woman ever elected to executive office. She was one of the first Minnesotans Sen. Smith reached out to during the start of the recent 35-day government shutdown. The two have discussed how harmful
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Helps Lead Bipartisan Efforts to Address Violence Against Native Communities
WASHINGTON, D.C. [1/31/19]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) continued pressing for action to address violence against Native communities when she—along with Senators Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)—introduced two major, bipartisan bills to address violence against Native women, children, and tribal law enforcement: the Justice for Native Survivors of Sexual Violence Act and the Native Youth and Tribal Officer Protection Act. The Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 restored the ability of tribes to arrest and prosecute non-Indian offenders for acts of domestic violence committed on tribal lands, but it did not restore tribal authority to arrest or prosecute crimes of sexual violence, threatened
English