Tina Smith

What they've actually done about it

Each commitment below is something this senator has publicly said they would pursue, followed by the concrete record on it: bills they authored or cosponsored, floor speeches they gave. We describe the record — we don't grade it.

• Taxation

  Increase Child and Dependent Care Tax Credits

  Seeks to enhance tax credits to make child care and dependent care more affordable for families.

  Where it stands: Senator Smith sponsored the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act of 2025, which was referred to the Committee on Finance and is still pending.

  On the record: 20 bills

  See the 8 records behind this

  • Bill authoredChild and Dependent Care Tax Credit Enhancement Act of 2025Latest action 2025-04-10
  • Bill cosponsoredChild Care for Every Community ActLatest action 2025-09-30
  • Bill cosponsoredChild Care for Working Families ActLatest action 2025-07-15
  • Bill cosponsoredJohn Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family ActLatest action 2025-11-20
  • Bill cosponsoredRestoring Food Security for American Families and Farmers Act of 2025Latest action 2025-11-20
  • Bill cosponsoredA joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services relating to "Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Marketplace Integrity and Affordability".Latest action 2026-01-13
  • Bill cosponsoredVeteran Families Health Services Act of 2025Latest action 2025-07-30
  • Bill cosponsoredFirst-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Act of 2025Latest action 2025-07-23
  • Their bills on Congress.gov
  • Congressional Record: “taxation increase child dependent care”
  • Floor video on C-SPAN
  • Statements on smith.senate.gov
• Agriculture

  Support Farmers and Local Food Systems

  Aims to expand training and grant programs that help new and existing farmers, and promote access to locally grown food.

  Where it stands: Senator Smith has sponsored the 'Farming Opportunities Training and Outreach Grant Program Reauthorization Act of 2026' and 'A bill to amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to authorize grants for eligible institutions to carry out agriculture workforce training programs, and for other purposes' in the current Congress (2025-2026), and cosponsored the 'Supporting Urban and Innovative Farming Act of 2026' and 'Opportunities in Organic Act', all of which are pending in c

  On the record: 25 bills

  See the 8 records behind this

  • Bill authoredFarming Opportunities Training and Outreach Grant Program Reauthorization Act of 2026Latest action 2026-06-22
  • Bill authoredFarming Opportunities Training and Outreach Grant Program Reauthorization Act of 2023Latest action 2023-07-19
  • Bill authoredIncreasing Land Access, Security, and Opportunities ActLatest action 2023-07-18
  • Bill authoredA bill to amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to authorize grants for eligible institutions to carry out agriculture workforce training programs, and for other purposes.Latest action 2023-07-18
  • Bill cosponsoredOpportunities in Organic ActLatest action 2026-01-28
  • Bill authoredPromoting Access to Local Agriculture Act of 2026Latest action 2026-05-11
  • Bill cosponsoredSupporting Urban and Innovative Farming Act of 2026Latest action 2026-04-30
  • Bill authoredA bill to amend the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 1990 to authorize grants for eligible institutions to carry out agriculture workforce training programs, and for other purposes.Latest action 2022-07-25
  • Their bills on Congress.gov
  • Congressional Record: “agriculture farmers local food systems”
  • Floor video on C-SPAN
  • Statements on smith.senate.gov
• Education

  Address Teacher Shortages

  Pledges to introduce legislation and initiatives designed to recruit, train, and retain teachers to combat educational staffing gaps.

  Where it stands: Senator Smith has repeatedly sponsored the 'Addressing Teacher Shortages Act' in multiple Congresses, but none of these bills have advanced beyond referral to committee.

  On the record: 24 bills · 1 speech

  See the 8 records behind this

  • Bill authoredAddressing Teacher Shortages Act of 2018Latest action 2018-07-09
  • Bill authoredAddressing Teacher Shortages Act of 2026Latest action 2026-03-09
  • Bill authoredAddressing Teacher Shortages Act of 2023Latest action 2023-07-20
  • Bill authoredAddressing Teacher Shortages Act of 2022Latest action 2022-08-01
  • Bill authoredJob Protection ActLatest action 2025-02-05
  • Bill authoredChildcare Supply Improvement Act of 2024Latest action 2024-12-19
  • Bill authoredEmployee and Retiree Access to Justice Act of 2024Latest action 2024-09-25
  • Bill authoredA resolution supporting afterschool programs and Lights On Afterschool, a national celebration of afterschool programs held on October 24, 2024.Latest action 2024-09-25
  • Their bills on Congress.gov
  • Congressional Record: “education address teacher shortages”
  • Floor video on C-SPAN
  • Statements on smith.senate.gov
• Democracy

  Protect Voting Rights and Election Integrity

  Supports efforts to ensure secure and accessible elections, upholding the fundamental right to vote for all eligible citizens.

  Where it stands: Senator Smith cosponsored the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025, which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary and is still pending.

  On the record: 24 bills · 1 speech

  See the 8 records behind this

  • Bill cosponsoredA resolution designating September 2025 as "National Voting Rights Month".Latest action 2025-09-16
  • Bill cosponsoredJohn R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2025Latest action 2025-07-29
  • Bill authoredImproving Access to Behavioral Health Integration ActLatest action 2022-05-25
  • Bill authoredNative Behavioral Health Access Improvement Act of 2021Latest action 2021-06-24
  • Bill authoredNative Behavioral Health Access Improvement Act of 2018Latest action 2018-03-14
  • Floor speech / statementLOCAL ACCESS TO COURTS ACTLatest action 2026-08-31
  • Bill authoredExpanding Access to Family Planning ActLatest action 2025-04-09
  • Bill authoredProtecting Access to Medication Abortion ActLatest action 2022-06-23
  • Their bills on Congress.gov
  • Congressional Record: “democracy protect voting rights election”
  • Floor video on C-SPAN
  • Statements on smith.senate.gov
• Health

  Ensure Fair Cancer Drug Coverage

  Advocates for legislation requiring equitable insurance coverage for all cancer treatments, regardless of administration method.

  Where it stands: Senator Smith sponsored the Cancer Drug Parity Act of 2026, which was introduced on 2026-07-15 and is currently referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.

  On the record: 25 bills

  See the 8 records behind this

  • Bill authoredCancer Drug Parity Act of 2023Latest action 2023-06-15
  • Bill authoredCancer Drug Parity Act of 2021Latest action 2021-10-27
  • Bill authoredCancer Drug Parity Act of 2018Latest action 2018-12-12
  • Bill authoredCancer Drug Parity Act of 2026Latest action 2026-07-15
  • Bill authoredA resolution designating November 2021 as "National Lung Cancer Awareness Month" and expressing support for early detection and treatment of lung cancer.Latest action 2021-11-30
  • Bill authoredA resolution designating November 2025 as "National Lung Cancer Awareness Month" and expressing support for early detection and treatment of lung cancer.Latest action 2026-01-12
  • Bill authoredA resolution designating November 2024 as "National Lung Cancer Awareness Month" and expressing support for early detection and treatment of lung cancer.Latest action 2024-11-21
  • Bill authoredA resolution designating November 2022 as "National Lung Cancer Awareness Month" and expressing support for early detection and treatment of lung cancer.Latest action 2022-12-07
  • Their bills on Congress.gov
  • Congressional Record: “health ensure fair cancer drug”
  • Floor video on C-SPAN
  • Statements on smith.senate.gov
• Democracy

  Improve Public Postal Services

  Commitment to ensuring reliable and accountable postal delivery services for all communities, particularly in rural areas.

  Where it stands: Senator Smith sponsored S. 4680, the 'Postal Delivery Accountability Act,' on 2026-06-03, which is currently pending in the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and directly addresses reliable and accountable postal delivery services.

  On the record: 25 bills

  See the 8 records behind this

  • Bill authoredPostal Delivery Accountability ActLatest action 2026-06-03
  • Bill authoredPostal Delivery Accountability ActLatest action 2023-12-04
  • Bill cosponsoredA bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 200 1st Avenue Southeast in Austin, Minnesota, as the "John Madden Memorial Post Office".Latest action 2026-08-04
  • Bill authoredRural Housing Service Reform Act of 2023Latest action 2023-05-01
  • Bill authoredRural Housing Service Reform Act of 2023Latest action 2024-04-16
  • Bill cosponsoredA joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of the Department of Health and Human Services relating to "Medicare Program; Implementation of Prior Authorization for Select Services for the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) Model".Latest action 2026-07-16
  • Bill cosponsoredA joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of the Department of Health and Human Services relating to "Medicare Program; Implementation of Prior Authorization for Select Services for the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) Model".Latest action 2026-06-09
  • Bill cosponsoredA joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Department of Veterans Affairs relating to "Reproductive Health Services".Latest action 2026-03-25
  • Their bills on Congress.gov
  • Congressional Record: “democracy improve public postal services”
  • Floor video on C-SPAN
  • Statements on smith.senate.gov
• Health

  Expand Rural Healthcare Workforce

  Commitment to increase the number of healthcare professionals in underserved rural areas through training and development programs.

  Where it stands: Senator Smith sponsored the Rural Residency Planning and Development Act of 2026 (S.XXXX), which was introduced on 2026-08-04 and is currently pending in committee.

  On the record: 24 bills · 1 speech

  See the 8 records behind this

  • Bill authoredRural Residency Planning and Development Act of 2026Latest action 2026-08-04
  • Bill authoredRural Residency Planning and Development Act of 2024Latest action 2024-12-09
  • Bill authoredMental Health Professionals Workforce Shortage Loan Repayment Act of 2021Latest action 2021-05-12
  • Bill authoredYouth Workforce Readiness Act of 2021Latest action 2021-05-19
  • Bill authored21st Century Workforce Partnerships ActLatest action 2021-05-13
  • Bill authoredRural MOMS ActLatest action 2021-06-08
  • Bill authoredRural Health Relief ActLatest action 2020-05-07
  • Bill authoredNative American Rural Homeownership Improvement Act of 2023Latest action 2024-03-12
  • Their bills on Congress.gov
  • Congressional Record: “health expand rural healthcare workforce”
  • Floor video on C-SPAN
  • Statements on smith.senate.gov

Everything here is sourced from public records — Congress.gov, the Congressional Record, and the member's own statements. Nothing is scored or ranked. How we research these profiles.