 Senator Tina Smith's staff was in Bemidji this afternoon to meet with local parents and activists to discuss the child care shortage. The meeting was a part of the senator's statewide child care access and affordability tour. Community members brought up various issues to Senator Smith's staff including challenges in finding workers, low pay and keeping child care providers in the area. According to her staff, Senator Smith has been working in Washington D.C. to bring all these problems to the forefront. With her position on the health education, labor and pensions, the help committee, Senator Smith is uniquely positioned to work in D.C. on issues focused on access to child care. She has signed on to bills that will help families afford child care and help child care providers get more in terms of funds from families. Senator Tina Smith's staff plans to host more meetings on child care in the region in the future.