(Editor’s Note: The following column was submitted by the Sen. Tina Smith team.)

With the rise of the Omicron variant, this winter HAS been hard for all of us. As Minnesotans have responded to the ongoing pandemic with such resilience, I have been hard at work in Washington fighting for Minnesotans.

New legislation that I helped pass into law went into effect a few weeks ago, and it prevents patients from receiving surprise medical bills for most types of emergency care. I have also continued to push the Biden Administration to increase access to free, at-home COVID-19 testing. 

And thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, I am excited to share that the U.S. Department of Transportation will begin rolling out its largest financial investment in bridge construction and repair in its history. Hundreds of Minnesota bridges will see repairs and improvements, along with a boost in local construction contracts and new jobs.  

No Surprises Act 

On January first, a new law I helped passed to stop people from receiving surprise medical bills for most types of emergency medical care went into effect. 

When Minnesotans go to the emergency room, they receive care from doctors and nurses who may not accept your insurance. In the past, patients were stuck with bills sometimes costing thousands of dollars for choices they did not make. That’s not going to happen anymore. Hospitals and insurance companies will now have to figure it out instead of saddling the patient with the bill.

Wilma Mankiller

The U.S. Mint has granted my request for Wilma Mankiller, the first woman elected principal chief of the Cherokee Nation, to be featured on the U.S. quarter. I am proud to celebrate and honor such a prolific humanitarian and leader.

Mankiller was a strong advocate for Tribal sovereignty, freedoms, and social justice. In 1998, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom and was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in 1993. 

Bridge Projects and Repairs

I am happy to announce that Minnesota will soon see new federally funded bridge projects and repairs, thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law I helped pass last year. 

This means the bridges Minnesotans drive over every day will be safe and more resilient to climate change and severe weather. These bridge projects will create more local construction jobs.

Although exact details are still underway with the state legislature, the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) believes this funding will be used for bridge repairs on the I-494 Minnesota River Bridge, the I-94 Douglas County bridges, the I-535 Blatnik Bridge, and the Highway 61 Ontario Border Bridge over the Pigeon River. 

The Federal Highway Administration and MnDOT are also considering hundreds of other smaller bridge improvement projects across Minnesota.