Tina Smith
Senator for Minnesota · Democratic · United States
“``(B) Frequency of transfers.--Pursuant to an agreement entered into under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may transfer land to the Secretary of the Interior on a rolling basis as that land is identified and surveys are completed.''; and (3) in subsection (d)-- (A) in paragraph (1)-- (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``described in su…”
“``(B) Frequency of transfers.--Pursuant to an agreement entered into under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may transfer land to the Secretary of the Interior on a rolling basis as that land is identified and surveys are completed.''; and (3) in subsection (d)-- (A) in paragraph (1)-- (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``described in su…”
“Today, all these years later, many of these homes are in disrepair, and the Rural Housing Service is in desperate need of reform and modernization. So Senator Mike Rounds and I got to work. Our bill, the Rural Housing Service Reform Act, makes simple, commonsense improvements.”
“Over 22 million people in this country are paying more than 30 percent of their income on rent, which means that they don't have enough money for the other necessities in their lives. Over 12 million people pay more than half of their income on rent. In Minnesota alone, there is a shortage of 100,000 affordable homes.”
“There will be more work to make it possible so that, every day, every American will have a home that they can afford, but this bill is an incredible step forward.”
“You know, I began working on this issue when I first came to the Senate over 8 years ago, and people in Minnesota were telling me that they couldn't find an affordable place to live. Businesses were telling me that housing shortages were making it impossible for them to recruit talent to their communities.”
The complete record
Every one of 33 lines we hold for Tina Smith, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account.
“Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following interns in my office be granted floor privileges for the day: Mumtaaz Hirsi and Elijah Minicozzi. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.”
“(c) Reaffirmation.--Congress reaffirms the applicability of section 97A.151 of the Minnesota Statutes, including the settlement agreement ratified by that section, for purposes of ensuring that the hunting, fishing, and recreation rights of non-Tribal members remain unchanged by the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation Restoration Act (Public Law 116-255; 134 Stat. 1139) and the amendments made to that Act by this section. (d) Implementation.--In implementing the amendments made by this section, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall provide for public engagement and comment in accordance with applicable laws (including regulations). ______”
“``(B) Frequency of transfers.--Pursuant to an agreement entered into under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may transfer land to the Secretary of the Interior on a rolling basis as that land is identified and surveys are completed.''; and (3) in subsection (d)-- (A) in paragraph (1)-- (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``described in subsection (b)(1)(A)(i)'' after ``Federal land''; and (ii) in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``submit a map and legal description of the Federal land'' and inserting ``submit maps and legal descriptions of the Federal land transferred pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (c), as applicable,''; (B) in paragraph (2)-- (i) by striking ``map and legal description'' and inserting ``maps and legal descriptions''; and (ii) by striking ``map or legal description'' and inserting ``maps or legal descriptions''; and (C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``map and legal description'' and inserting ``maps and legal descriptions''.”
“1139) is amended-- (1) in subsection (b)(1)-- (A) in subparagraph (A)-- (i) by striking ``means the approximately'' and inserting ``means-- ``(i) the approximately''; (ii) in clause (i) (as so designated), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and (iii) by adding at the end the following: ``(ii) any other land managed by the Secretary, through the Chief of the Forest Service, located in the Chippewa National Forest in Cass County, Minnesota, which records maintained by the Bureau of Indian Affairs show was sold without the unanimous consent of the rightful landowners.''; and (B) in subparagraph (B)-- (i) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as clauses (ii) and (iii), respectively; and (ii) by inserting before clause (ii) (as so redesignated) the following: ``(i) any land transferred pursuant to an agreement entered into between the Secretary and the Tribe under subsection (c)(2);''; (2) in subsection (c)-- (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``paragraph (2)'' and inserting ``paragraphs (2) and (3)''; (B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and (C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: ``(2) Agreement.-- ``(A) In general.--On agreement between the Secretary and the Tribe, the Secretary shall substitute, for purposes of the transfer under paragraph (1), alternative National Forest System land located in Cass County, Minnesota, on an acre- for-acre basis, for those parcels of Federal land to be transferred under that paragraph in a manner that avoids in- holdings and provides a preference for land adjacent to or near existing Leech Lake trust lands and lands of cultural importance to the Tribe, to the maximum extent practicable.”
“(a) Findings.--Section 2(a)(5) of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation Restoration Act (Public Law 116-255; 134 Stat. 1140) is amended by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following: ``(B) does not intend immediately to modify the use of the Federal land.''. (b) Inclusion of Additional Federal Land.--Section 2 of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation Restoration Act (Public Law 116-255; 134 Stat.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 103 (Thursday, June 18, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 103 (Thursday, June 18, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S2941] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 5857. Ms. SMITH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the appropriate place, insert the following: SEC. __. TRANSFER OF ADDITIONAL FEDERAL LAND TO THE LEECH LAKE BAND OF OJIBWE.”
“The request of the Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota to surrender the charter of incorporation issued to that community and ratified on July 17, 1937, pursuant to section 17 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (commonly known as the ``Indian Reorganization Act'') (48 Stat. 988, chapter 576; 25 U.S.C. 5124), is hereby accepted and that charter of incorporation is hereby revoked. ______”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 103 (Thursday, June 18, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 103 (Thursday, June 18, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S2941] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 5856. Ms. SMITH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the appropriate place, insert the following: SEC. ____. REVOCATION OF CHARTER OF INCORPORATION OF THE LOWER SIOUX INDIAN COMMUNITY.”
“The question is, Is it the sense of the Senate that debate on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 6644, a bill to increase the supply of housing in America, and for other purposes, with amendment No. 5823, offered by the Senator from South Dakota, Mr. Thune, shall be brought to a close? The yeas and nays are mandatory under the rule. The clerk will call the roll. The bill clerk called the roll.”
“The bill clerk read as follows: Cloture Motion We, the undersigned Senators, in accordance with the provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the motion to concur in the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 6644, a bill to increase the supply of housing in America, and for other purposes, with amendment No. 5823. John Thune, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Katie Boyd Britt, Pete Ricketts, John Barrasso, Bernie Moreno, Tim Sheehy, Mike Crapo, Joni Ernst, John Cornyn, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Jon Husted, Mike Rounds, John Boozman, Jim Banks, John R. Curtis, Lindsey Graham. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under the previous order, the mandatory quorum call under rule XXII has been waived.”
“There will be more work to make it possible so that, every day, every American will have a home that they can afford, but this bill is an incredible step forward. I want to again thank Senator Scott and Senator Warren and their staffs for their creativity and diligence and optimism to put this bill together at a time when Congress needs more bipartisan work. I also appreciate Representatives Waters and Hill for their partnerships with the Senate to get this bill done. Passing the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act will improve people's lives and help them afford a decent place to live, and that is well worth our effort. I yield the floor. Cloture Motion The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Pursuant to rule XXII, the Chair [[Page S2917]] lays before the Senate the pending cloture motion, which the clerk will state.”
“So this bill, our Rural Housing Service Reform Act, which will be included in the larger ROAD to Housing Act, will recreate the success in Saint Peter across the country, and 400,000 apartments and homes in rural communities will remain available, high quality, and affordable. I especially want to thank Mike Rounds, my colleague from South Dakota, for being such an excellent partner and friend in this work. I want to thank Senator Shaheen for her work on preserving rural housing. I also want to thank the many advocates who helped us put this bill together. This has been a yearslong labor of love, and with the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, we are going to get it done. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act will do a lot of good. Of course, there is always more work to do.”
“Last August, I visited the Maplewood Apartments in Saint Peter, MN, which is a small and wonderful community in southern Minnesota. Maplewood needed a lot of TLC to be a decent place for people to live, and so local nonprofits and public partners joined together to fix it up. I had a chance to see what this place meant for its residents and one resident in particular, Lisa Gallegos, who welcomed me to her new home in Maplewood. Lisa told me about how in her apartment she finally had the space to be able to focus on her life instead of worrying each month about how she would make rent. I have visited so many of these properties and heard from so many of these residents about how important this is.”
“Today, all these years later, many of these homes are in disrepair, and the Rural Housing Service is in desperate need of reform and modernization. So Senator Mike Rounds and I got to work. Our bill, the Rural Housing Service Reform Act, makes simple, commonsense improvements. We cut redtape to make it easier for nonprofits to assume the mortgages of these properties when the private sector can't manage them anymore and then go ahead and fix them up and preserve them for low- income renters for years to come. It simplifies the foreclosure process to save the government money and protect tenants so that properties can be transferred to new owners. It gives the Rural Housing Service more capacity to work with local banks on financing and helps them to modernize their computer systems. Here is what all this work can look like.”
“The Rural Housing Service--a lot of people probably haven't heard of it, but it has played a vital role across the country for decades in helping to finance very affordable places for people to live in rural communities. We are talking about elders living on a fixed income who want to stay in the places where they raised their families. We are talking about people living with disabilities and working families, folks working in low-wage jobs that can't afford a place to live. Many of these properties built through the Rural Housing Service were built in the 1960s with the help of Federal mortgages to finance them, and often, they are literally the only affordable place to call home in many rural communities.”
“You know, I began working on this issue when I first came to the Senate over 8 years ago, and people in Minnesota were telling me that they couldn't find an affordable place to live. Businesses were telling me that housing shortages were making it impossible for them to recruit talent to their communities. Mayors told me that the housing shortage was hurting the vitality of their communities. Homebuilders were telling me it was too complex and expensive to build new homes. In 2018, Senator Shaheen and I went to work, and we figured out how the USDA could do a better job of preserving affordable rural housing. Then, starting in 2022, when I became chair of the Housing Subcommittee, Senator Mike Rounds and I started to hold hearings that dug into the challenges that faced the Rural Housing Service at the USDA.”
“Very importantly, this bill cracks down on large institutional investors who swoop in, make all-cash offers on homes, and then buy up single-family homes as investments and rent them back to people for a profit. Out-of-State landlords have gobbled up homes, leaving properties in disrepair, tenants in the lurch, and jacking up the rent. For the first time, in this bill, we are banning big private investors from buying up the American dream of home ownership, because homes should be for people, not corporations. But I want to focus for a minute on reforms in this bill to the Rural Housing Service to preserve over 400,000 very affordable homes in rural communities. This has been a project I have been working on for quite a few years, and I am so excited that it is included in this big bill.”
“It creates incentives for cities and towns to build more housing. It removes regulatory barriers to help streamline environmental review and to speed up construction and make it less expensive. It strengthens existing programs that help local communities address their housing and infrastructure needs--especially when it comes to natural disasters. This bill also takes several important steps to promote high-quality modular and manufactured housing, including doing away with outdated chassis requirements for manufactured homes that add thousands of dollars in costs but no value. And thanks to the important work of Senator Cortez Masto, this bill will also help preserve and upgrade manufactured home communities.”
“Over 22 million people in this country are paying more than 30 percent of their income on rent, which means that they don't have enough money for the other necessities in their lives. Over 12 million people pay more than half of their income on rent. In Minnesota alone, there is a shortage of 100,000 affordable homes. Home ownership, as we have heard today, is increasingly out of reach. Mortgage payments are roughly 40 percent higher than they were in 1990, and that is even after adjusting for inflation. And in the past few years, the median home price has reached $400,000. So all of this is why the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act will make such a difference. This bill will boost housing supply by cutting redtape and empowering local governments to make it easier and less expensive to build good places for people to live.”
“Millions of people in big cities and small towns and rural communities that we all represent stretch to pay their mortgage or make their rent payment. And the American dream of owning your own home? It feels like a pipe dream to working families. I hear from young Minnesotans who tell me they can't even imagine a future where they own their own home. So why is this happening? There are simply more people who need a place to live than there are houses that people can afford to rent or buy. And affordable places to live for people working in low-wage jobs, for veterans, or for folks living on a fixed income? We don't have nearly enough places for these people to live. The result is that the cost of housing is soaring higher and higher.”
“Mr. President, I rise today as the Senate takes the next important step toward passage of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act. [[Page S2916]] This legislation is probably the most important bill Congress has passed in decades to lower housing costs and boost the construction of homes for Americans. We all know that without a safe, comfortable, affordable place to live, nothing in your life works--not your job, not your family, not your education, not your health. Our homes are a source of stability and comfort and dignity, and they give us the freedom and the opportunity to build the lives we want to live. Today in America, people are trying to figure out how to afford their lives and how to hold it together as prices skyrocket and paychecks aren't keeping up.”
“President, Nathan Hays, to whom I just referred, is an intern in my office. He is from Baton Rouge. He is a rising junior at LSU. Lucy John is from Lafayette, LA. Lucy is a rising senior at Tulane. Bradley Fusilier is from Ville Platte. Bradley is a rising senior at LSU. And Gabby Sumrall from Monroe is a rising junior at Covenant College there. They are interning in my office this summer, and I am glad to have them. ____________________”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 103 (Thursday, June 18, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 103 (Thursday, June 18, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S2974] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] PRIVILEGES OF THE FLOOR Ms. SMITH. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following interns in my office be granted floor privileges for the day: Mumtaaz Hirsi and Elijah Minicozzi. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Mr. KENNEDY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the following interns in my office be granted floor privileges until June 19, 2026: Nathan Hays, Bradley Fusilier, Gabby Sumrall, and Lucy John. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Mr. KENNEDY. Mr.”
“(c) Reaffirmation.--Congress reaffirms the applicability of section 97A.151 of the Minnesota Statutes, including the settlement agreement ratified by that section, for purposes of ensuring that the hunting, fishing, and recreation rights of non-Tribal members remain unchanged by the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation Restoration Act (Public Law 116-255; 134 Stat. 1139) and the amendments made to that Act by this section. (d) Implementation.--In implementing the amendments made by this section, the Secretary of Agriculture, acting through the Chief of the Forest Service, shall provide for public engagement and comment in accordance with applicable laws (including regulations). ______”
“``(B) Frequency of transfers.--Pursuant to an agreement entered into under subparagraph (A), the Secretary may transfer land to the Secretary of the Interior on a rolling basis as that land is identified and surveys are completed.''; and (3) in subsection (d)-- (A) in paragraph (1)-- (i) in subparagraph (A), by inserting ``described in subsection (b)(1)(A)(i)'' after ``Federal land''; and (ii) in subparagraph (B), in the matter preceding clause (i), by striking ``submit a map and legal description of the Federal land'' and inserting ``submit maps and legal descriptions of the Federal land transferred pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (c), as applicable,''; (B) in paragraph (2)-- (i) by striking ``map and legal description'' and inserting ``maps and legal descriptions''; and (ii) by striking ``map or legal description'' and inserting ``maps or legal descriptions''; and (C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``map and legal description'' and inserting ``maps and legal descriptions''.”
“1139) is amended-- (1) in subsection (b)(1)-- (A) in subparagraph (A)-- (i) by striking ``means the approximately'' and inserting ``means-- ``(i) the approximately''; (ii) in clause (i) (as so designated), by striking the period at the end and inserting ``; and''; and (iii) by adding at the end the following: ``(ii) any other land managed by the Secretary, through the Chief of the Forest Service, located in the Chippewa National Forest in Cass County, Minnesota, which records maintained by the Bureau of Indian Affairs show was sold without the unanimous consent of the rightful landowners.''; and (B) in subparagraph (B)-- (i) by redesignating clauses (i) and (ii) as clauses (ii) and (iii), respectively; and (ii) by inserting before clause (ii) (as so redesignated) the following: ``(i) any land transferred pursuant to an agreement entered into between the Secretary and the Tribe under subsection (c)(2);''; (2) in subsection (c)-- (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``paragraph (2)'' and inserting ``paragraphs (2) and (3)''; (B) by redesignating paragraph (2) as paragraph (3); and (C) by inserting after paragraph (1) the following: ``(2) Agreement.-- ``(A) In general.--On agreement between the Secretary and the Tribe, the Secretary shall substitute, for purposes of the transfer under paragraph (1), alternative National Forest System land located in Cass County, Minnesota, on an acre- for-acre basis, for those parcels of Federal land to be transferred under that paragraph in a manner that avoids in- holdings and provides a preference for land adjacent to or near existing Leech Lake trust lands and lands of cultural importance to the Tribe, to the maximum extent practicable.”
“(a) Findings.--Section 2(a)(5) of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation Restoration Act (Public Law 116-255; 134 Stat. 1140) is amended by striking subparagraph (B) and inserting the following: ``(B) does not intend immediately to modify the use of the Federal land.''. (b) Inclusion of Additional Federal Land.--Section 2 of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Reservation Restoration Act (Public Law 116-255; 134 Stat.”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 103 (Thursday, June 18, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 103 (Thursday, June 18, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S2941] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 5857. Ms. SMITH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the appropriate place, insert the following: SEC. __. TRANSFER OF ADDITIONAL FEDERAL LAND TO THE LEECH LAKE BAND OF OJIBWE.”
“The request of the Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of Minnesota to surrender the charter of incorporation issued to that community and ratified on July 17, 1937, pursuant to section 17 of the Act of June 18, 1934 (commonly known as the ``Indian Reorganization Act'') (48 Stat. 988, chapter 576; 25 U.S.C. 5124), is hereby accepted and that charter of incorporation is hereby revoked. ______”
“Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 103 (Thursday, June 18, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 103 (Thursday, June 18, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S2941] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] SA 5856. Ms. SMITH submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by her to the bill S. 4784, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2027 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other purposes; which was ordered to lie on the table; as follows: At the appropriate place, insert the following: SEC. ____. REVOCATION OF CHARTER OF INCORPORATION OF THE LOWER SIOUX INDIAN COMMUNITY.”
“I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The clerk will call the roll. The bill clerk called the roll.”
“I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The clerk will call the roll. The bill clerk called the roll.”
“I ask for the yeas and nays. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The clerk will call the roll. The senior assistant legislative clerk called the roll.”