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
U.S. Sens. Smith, Merkley Introduce Bill to Protect Consumers From Predatory Rent-to-Own Housing Contracts
Senators’ Legislation Would Establish Standards for Predatory Rent-to-Own Contracts, Which Have Traditionally Targeted Underserved Communities and Lower-Income Americans WASHINGTON, D.C. [02/27/19]—U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) have introduced the Residential Rent-to-Own Protection Act to protect consumers in Minnesota and across the country from predatory rent-to-own housing contracts. Their measure would allow rent-to-own residents—many of whom are often people of color or low-income Americans—to seek damages from landlords who violate contracts and put protections in place to ensure these residences are safe. “Rent-to-own contracts can create valuable pathways to homeownership and security, but they don’t always protect consumers. We want
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Honors Grand Portage Chairman Norman Deschampe with Senate Tribute
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Honors Grand Portage Chairman Norman Deschampe with Senate Tribute WASHINGTON, D.C. [02/27/19]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) honored the legacy and contributions of Grand Portage Chairman Norman W. Deschampe, who recently passed away. Praising his leadership, Sen. Smith cited the numerous issues Deschampe championed in his more than 40 years of service to the Grand Portage Band, serving 27 of those years as Chairman. Sen. Smith’s tribute follows Governor Tim Walz’s declaration of February 26, 2019 as Norman Deschampe Day. “Norman Deschampe’s legacy includes a longstanding commitment to supporting the health, education, and economic development of the Grand Portage Band,” wrote Sen. Smith, a
U.S. Sens. Smith, Durbin, Cramer, Cassidy’s Call to FDA: Price of Insulin is “Unacceptable” and Action is Needed to Bring Generics to Market
Senators Urge FDA to Revise Recent Policy Changes That Would Prevent Lower-Cost Insulin Products From Coming to Market WASHINGTON, D.C. [03/04/2019]—U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), recently urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reverse course on changes the agency has proposed that would make it harder for lower-cost, generic insulin products to come to market. Today, Eli Lilly—one of only three insulin manufacturers in the United States—announced that the company will sell a half-price version of its most popular insulin. While Sen. Smith is glad Eli Lilly is
U.S. Sens. Klobuchar, Smith Press Trump to Immediately Extend Deadline for Thousands of Liberians Who Risk Deportation
Senators Join Group of More Than 50 members of Congress In Urging Extension of Temporary Status WASHINGTON, D.C. [03/05/19]—U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) pressed President Trump to immediately reverse an order he gave last year that could deport thousands of native Liberians living lawfully in Minnesota and across the country back to their troubled nation as soon as March 31. The Senators said Trump’s 2018 order to end the temporary status, known as Deferred Enforced Departure (DED), for Liberians living in the United States would hurt thousands of people—many of whom fled their country to escape civil war more
English