Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Releases Statement After Supreme Court Upholds Birthright Citizenship
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) released the following statement after the Supreme Court ruled in favor of protecting birthright citizenship in a stunning rebuke of President Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda: “The Constitution means what it says: Children born in the United States are citizens of the United States. The promise and privilege of American citizenship extends to every child born in our jurisdiction, and those children deserve just as much of a shot at the American dream as those whose families have been here for generations. No xenophobic Executive Order can undo that,” said Senator Smith. “Minnesota’s immigrant families have been reckoning with an Administration hellbent on denying their rights and their dignity, but today’s ruling is a victory for the rule of law and continues our longstanding history as a nation of immigrants.” ###
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Marsha Blackburn Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Prevent Veteran and Military Suicide by Victims of Military Sexual Trauma
Two million American servicemembers reported experiencing Military Sexual Trauma, increasing the risk of suicide WASHINGTON, D.C. – [6/29/2026] U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) introduced the Improving Personal Risk Assessments to Prevent Suicide Act, a bill to help better understand the relationship between servicemembers and veterans’ experiences of military sexual trauma (MST) and suicide risk. The bill would require the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to publish a study on the links between MST, intimate partner violence and the risk of suicide. The bill would also require the Departments to incorporate those findings into clinical assessments for identifying and treating patients at risk of suicide – the first time military sexual trauma has been included in those official clinical tools. This will improve clinical risk assessment for patients and help the DoD, VA and clinicians recognize MST-related risk factors before someone attempts or dies by suicide. MST refers to the sexual assault or threatening sexual harassment servicemembers may experience during service. Many servicemembers choose not to report MST until after their service because they fear retaliation or threats from their superiors. Veterans are around 50% more likely to die by suicide than civilians, and the link between servicemembers who experienced MST and higher risk of suicide is well-established, making this bill essential to overall veteran suicide prevention efforts. “It is our solemn duty to provide the highest quality care for those who serve our country,” said Sen. Smith. “That includes making sure servicemembers who endured military sexual trauma have access to the best clinical care and suicide prevention tools available as they work to heal. I’m proud to introduce this bill to incorporate what we know about the relationship between experiencing military sexual trauma and the risk of suicide into clinical practice, improving the care that helps save lives.” “It is absolutely unacceptable that veterans are 50% more
U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Statement on President Trump’s Political Attack on Minnesota’s Energy Infrastructure
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) released the following statement after the Trump Administration announced it was cancelling energy infrastructure awards only in states that either did not support him in the presidential election or whose Senators are pushing to negotiate a bipartisan deal to re-open the federal government amidst the current shutdown, including Minnesota. “This is beyond stupid. At a time when most Minnesotans are just trying to scrape together enough money to pay their bills and live their lives, these politically motivated attacks on our state are just going to make it that much harder for Minnesotans
Amid Government Shutdown, Sen. Smith, Rep. Pressley Introduce Bill to Provide Back Pay for Federal Contract Workers, Including Low-Wage Food Service and Custodial Staff
WASHINGTON, DC – Following the federal government shutdown, Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) introduced legislation to secure back pay for the thousands of federal contract workers who face furloughs and missed paychecks when the federal government is shutdown. Unlike federal employees, the thousands of federal contract workers—including janitorial, food, and security services workers—have no assurances that they will receive back pay to make up for their loss of hours and pay during a shutdown. The bill is co-led by Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD). The Fair Pay for Federal Contractors Act would
U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Statement on the Federal Government Shutdown
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) released the following statement after Congressional Republicans and the White House refused to negotiate to lower health care costs for Americans, resulting in a federal government shutdown. “I’ll work with anyone who wants to work with me to bring down health care costs, but I won’t give Donald Trump a blank check and be bullied into voting for their partisan bill that will leave Minnesotans facing a near-doubling of their health insurance costs,” said Senator Smith. “Grocery bills are going up, utility bills are going up, and health care costs are
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Joins Colleagues in Introducing Major Bill to Reform, Expand Head Start and Early Learning for Working Families
WASHINGTON, D.C — As the Trump administration continues to attack early education opportunities like Head Start, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) joined her colleagues in working to expand early childhood education options and opportunities by introducing the Head Start for America’s Children Act. This bill would expand Head Start to ensure that more than 11 million young children from working class families can access high-quality early education and comprehensive services, while also ensuring Head Start educators earn the wages they deserve. “Access to childcare and early learning programs is essential – both for parents, to be able to go to
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