The fight for the Boundary Waters isn’t over, it just looks a little different now. We will not give up. That would play right into their hands.

Losing hope is exactly what they want us to do. While the vote against the Boundary Waters is fresh on our minds, the work continues. 
 
Headed to Greater Minnesota now to keep up the fight. We have so much to do to tackle corporate greed in areas like housing and health care.

Do not lose hope. This fight is not over. We should all be so proud of the coalition we built to fight this. Tribal Nations. Outdoorsmen. Conservationists. Public lands advocates. But most importantly, Minnesotans who deeply appreciate what these waters mean to us and our shared obligation to safeguard them for our kids, our grandkids, and every generation thereafter.

One day, the shoe will be on the other foot, and they will regret what they did to the Boundary Waters today — because this was a mistake. They've set a new precedent that no public lands are ever truly sate, including those in Montana. Utah. The Dakotas. Idaho. Republicans privately told me they knew this is wrong, and I wish they had voted their conscience. Tonight, we take a much-needed rest. Tomorrow, we figure out what comes next. -Tina

Save the Boundary Waters

Do not lose hope.

SENATORS DELIVER FINAL REMARKS BEFORE BOUNDARY WATERS VOTE YouTube video by Senator Tina Smith

I'm about to deliver my closing remarks in opposition to a measure that would allow toxic copper-nickel sulfide mining in the watershed of the Boundary Waters.

Tune in.

Photo of my desk with a boundary waters canoe area forest service sign next to the Minnesota state flag and a framed photo of my parents.

Since they’re abusing the Congressional Review Act to get around the filibuster, I am reserving some of my time so I can make closing remarks in the morning before the final vote. Maybe they’ll listen to reason after a night’s sleep.

Stay tuned.

Save the Boundary Waters.

SENATOR HOLDS THE FLOOR TO DEFEND THE BOUNDARY WATERS YouTube video by Senator Tina Smith

I’m holding the Senate floor tonight in protest of legislation that would allow a copper-nickel sulfide mine on the doorstep of the Boundary Waters.

Not this mine. Not this place.

70% of Minnesotans do NOT want copper nickel mining near the Boundary Waters.

The Senate has a chance to do right by them by leaving the mining moratorium in place.

As soon as today, the US Senate will vote on a House resolution that allows copper mining by a Chilean company near Minnesota’s Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The Boundary Waters is the most-visited wilderness area in the country, and it cannot be replaced.

Burcum: Will the Senate betray the Boundary Waters? This is not a drill: The Senate is poised to blow up Boundary Waters mining protections, columnist Jill Burcum writes.

This is not a drill: The Senate is poised to blow up Boundary Waters mining protections, columnist Jill Burcum writes.

FOREIGN-OWNED MINE THREATENS MINNESOTA'S BOUNDARY WATERS, PUBLIC LANDS?! YouTube video by Senator Tina Smith

Not this mine.
Not this place.
Save our Public Lands.
Save the Boundary Waters.

Map showing the pollution a proposed copper-nickel mine would have on the Boundary Waters, Voyageurs National Park and Quetico Provincial Park.

The Boundary Waters don’t just belong to Minnesotans. They’re the birthright of every single American.

Why would we let a foreign mining company ruin them just so they can mine OUR resources, ship them off to China and enrich their shareholders?

Not this mine. Not this place. Tell Congress: NO on HJRes 140!

Photo of a canoe in the Boundary Waters. The waters are so still that the sky is reflected on the surface.

The threat to the Boundary Waters isn’t just about Minnesota — the legislative gymnastics being thrust upon us to allow copper-nickel mining in this watershed would mean no public lands are ever truly protected.

We would be opening Pandora’s box… for what? The profits of a foreign mining company?

It’s an incredible day to watch our astronauts make history. 
 
Welcome home!

From the guy who promised to “bring back American manufacturing”

…the irony would be comical if it weren’t so frustrating

From the guy who promised to “bring back American manufacturing”

…the irony would be comical if it weren’t so frustrating

Can’t trust a word they say.

They’re lying about what they’re doing in Minnesota and across the country. This is exactly why I’m not voting for a single penny for ICE or CBP without massive, agency-wide changes.

Today is day 127 of the ICE occupation of MN.

ICE is still here. Neighbors are still being abducted.

So we’re here too. Still carrying whistles. Still standing watch in our neighborhoods. Still doing mutual aid.

Still fighting for ICE OUT EVERYWHERE.

NEW: Since Donald Trump waged war on Iran, Americans have paid over $8 BILLION MORE for gas.

Americans are less safe and paying more for gas and everyday goods.

He wasted billions of dollars on an unjustified war and we are worse off because of it.

Grateful there wasn’t further escalation, but this ceasefire is anything but a win.

So much chaos and pain for an ill-conceived war. A massive strategic failure.

Republicans should be calling us back to DC right now. We should be voting to stop him.

Not to mention the serious danger this poses to American troops and risk of entrapping us in another endless war in the Middle East that nobody asked for.

Threatening to wipe out an entire civilization is morally bankrupt and a major war crime, risking the lives of innocent civilians - including children.

He seems detached from reality. I don’t know who (if anyone) can get through to him. Congress needs to step in and stop him.

“America First”

He’s taking money that could be used to help our own and shipping it overseas for another seemingly endless war that nobody asked for.

“America First”

trump's proposed 2027 budget.
defense up $440.9 billion.
most everything else — health, housing, education, labor, agriculture — cut.

And that’s saying a lot, considering my place of employment.

We need more housing to keep up with demand. The PRO Housing program is helping big cities and suburbs remove barriers to building more housing. This move is completely shortsighted.

Reading the housing section of Trump's budget and have a lot of thoughts, but for now I’ll just say this: Cutting a program that helps cities tackle zoning reform and build more housing… during a housing shortage…

One of the dumbest ideas I’ve heard in a long time.