Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Legislation to Combat Lyme Disease & Other Tick-Borne Diseases Becomes Law
Most recent data shows Minnesota recorded 3,551 cases in 2024 alone, a rate that has likely increased in recent years WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s (D-MN) bipartisan bill to expand research, testing and treatment for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases has been signed into law by the President. The Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act passed the U.S. Senate in August, passed the U.S. House of Representatives in mid-September. “The number of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses has been rising at an alarming rate. This law will step up regional efforts at researching, testing and treating Lyme and other tick-borne diseases. We must cut down on tick-borne illnesses for the sake of Americans’ health and well-being,” said Sen. Smith. “This law will save lives, especially in states like Minnesota, where tick populations have been rising.” Over the past two decades, Minnesota has experienced a significant rise in tick-borne diseases. According to the Minnesota Department of Health, Lyme disease remains the state’s most reported tick-borne illness, with 3,551 probable cases reported in 2024. In the same year, Minnesota also reported hundreds of cases of other tickborne diseases: 627 cases of anaplasmosis, 89 cases of babesiosis and 14 cases of Powassan virus disease. The bill, co-led by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), was named in honor of former Sen. Kay Hagan (D-NC), who passed away on October 28, 2019, due to complications from the tick-borne Powassan virus. Using a three-pronged approach, The Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act will: This will support ongoing federal
U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Bipartisan Bill to Extend Terrorism Risk Insurance, Support Housing Construction Passes the Senate Unanimously
Roughly 60 percent of American businesses have terrorism risk insurance, which is critical to major construction projects WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s bipartisan legislation to safeguard the availability of terrorism risk insurance coverage passed the full Senate by a unanimous vote. Roughly 60 percent of American businesses have terrorism risk insurance, which could become unavailable without further action by Congress. Sen. Smith (D-MN) led the bipartisan Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2026 alongside Senators Dave McCormick (R-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Thom Tillis (R-NC). Following the attacks on September 11, 2001, many insurance companies started excluding terrorism risks from commercial insurance policies, leaving businesses and industries without access to coverage. Since insurance is a precondition for commercial lending and real estate transactions, this gap in coverage threatened broad economic damage across real estate, construction, energy, transportation and related industries. Congress responded by passing the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002 (TRIA), creating a federal reinsurance backstop to stabilize the private market and ensure that commercial policyholders could continue to obtain terrorism risk coverage. The private insurance market has relied on the TRIA backstop ever since. When TRIA briefly lapsed in December 2014, terrorism exclusions that insurers had pre-filed with state regulators took effect automatically, making terrorism coverage effectively unavailable across commercial policies nationwide. As a result, terrorism risk coverage was removed from policyholders immediately and without notice. Given that the current threat landscape remains elevated, allowing a similar lapse in terrorism coverage would expose policy holders to
U.S. Senators Smith, Klobuchar Secure Significant Federal Funding for Infrastructure Improvements in Anoka County
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) announced the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded $18 million for the Minnesota State Highway 65 and Bunker Lake Boulevard Project. The grant, provided through the USDOT’s BUILD program, will be used to construct an interchange at the intersection of Minnesota State Highway 65 and Bunker Lake Boulevard. This project is part of a larger initiative to convert the highway into a freeway with grade-separated interchanges. “Highway 65 is a critical link between the Twin Cities and Greater Minnesota. But we’re seeing drivers intentionally avoiding the intersection
U.S. Senators Smith, Klobuchar Secure Significant Federal Funding to Replace Bridges Over the Red River in Norman, Polk and Clay Counties
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded $24 million for the Red River Regional Bridge System Replacement Project in Norman, Polk and Clay counties. The grant, provided through USDOT’s BUILD program, will replace up to three bridges over the Red River. This project upgrades aging bridges frequently impacted by flooding across the three counties. The bridge system supports commuters, freight movement and commercial transportation between Minnesota and North Dakota. “The bridges connecting Minnesota and North Dakota in the Red River Valley are vital to our ag
U.S. Senators Smith, Klobuchar Secure Significant Federal Funding to Improve Rail Crossing Safety in St. Louis County
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded $6 million for the CSAH 100 Rail Crossing Grade Separation Project in Aurora, Minnesota. The grant, provided through USDOT’s BUILD program, will construct a grade separated bridge to improve connectivity for school transportation, emergency services, and freight for mining and logging. The overpass would include a dedicated space for bicycles, snowmobiles, and ATVs. “Nothing is worse than running late and being stuck sitting on the road waiting for trains to pass on Highway 100. We hear you, and
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
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