Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Honor Deceased Peace Corps Members
Sen. Smith’s legislation is the result of a Minnesotan who was barred from engraving the Peace Corps symbol into the gravestone of her brother, a longtime Peace Corps member WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced a bipartisan bill to allow the official Peace Corps seal, emblem and logo to be used on gravestones, plaques and death announcements for deceased Peace Corps volunteers, officers and staff. Sen. Smith’s bill, the Memorializing Peace Corps Service Act, updates a current law that prohibits the use of the Peace Corps seal, emblem and logo on those commemorative items. “Volunteering with the Peace Corps is dedicating your life to meaningful service in some of the most difficult corners of our world. It’s an incredibly humbling and inspiring organization to be a part of, and volunteering in the Peace Corps should be honored after someone’s passing,” said Sen. Smith. “We need to change this outdated law so families, like Susan’s, can rightfully honor their loved ones.” This bill is inspired by the work of Thomas (Tom) W. Stieve, who served in the 1980s as a Peace Corps volunteer in Kiribati (pictured below) and later a Peace Corps–sponsored United Nations volunteer in Vanuatu. During his four years of service, Tom worked on construction projects and built water holding tanks for places that didn’t have clean drinking water. Tom (pictured below in 2019) developed cancer and passed away in 2023 near his hometown in Michigan at the age of 69. After his passing, Tom’s
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar Secure $28.6 Million to Improve Railroad Safety, Efficiency and Reliability in Minnesota
The federal grants will upgrade tracks, equipment and rail cars in Greater MN and the Twin Cities metro WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) secured $28.6 million in three separate U.S. Department of Transportation grants to improve railroad infrastructure, safety and reliability in Minnesota. The funds will ensure Minnesota’s railroad network can continue to safely move people, commodities and other goods that power small towns, rural communities and big cities. “Minnesota farmers and businesses depend on a safe and reliable rail system to get their products to market and keep our economy moving. These federal grants will replace aging tracks, boost efficiency, and improve rail safety,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “Maintaining strong rail infrastructure is critical for the long-term economic well-being of our state and for keeping Minnesota competitive.” “Railroads are the lifeblood for Minnesota farmers, producers and small businesses,” said Sen. Smith. “That’s why it’s critical to keep this economic engine on track by upgrading railroad lines and equipment, giving Minnesotans greater and safer access to national and international markets. Sen. Klobuchar and I are ‘all aboard’ on keeping Minnesota’s railway network reliable and efficient.” “Twin Cities & Western is proud to partner with our Minnesota grain customers, the Federal Railroad Administration and our champions in Congress,” said Twin Cities & Western Railroad President Vic Meyers. “This project will ensure Minnesota farmers remain connected to the Mississippi River with safe, efficient and reliable rail service.” The three grants are respectively awarded to the Twin
Smith, Klobuchar, Finstad Urge Trump Administration to Approve Minnesota’s Request for Disaster Declaration
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar (both D-MN) and Representative Brad Finstad (R-MN) urged the Trump Administration to approve Minnesota’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration to help communities in southeastern Minnesota that are working to recover from severe weather and flooding this past September. If this disaster declaration is approved, the federal government will be able to provide disaster assistance for various recovery efforts. “We write to you in strong support of the state of Minnesota’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration for Individual Assistance under the Stafford Act to assist our constituents recovering from
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar Push USDA to Reinstate Grants Helping Farmers Pay for Expensive Energy Upgrades
The energy upgrades reduce reliance on foreign oil, save farmers money & ease the strain on electric & natural gas supplies SAINT PAUL, MN – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-MN) are pushing the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reverse major changes made to a grant program helping farmers and producers install energy upgrades at their operations. The Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) was the target of a new Trump Administration rule on Oct. 1, making it harder for farmers and producers to pay for expensive energy upgrades without going into major debt.
Smith, Klobuchar, McCollum, Stauber, Craig, Finstad, and Morrison Urge FEMA to Distribute Delayed Hazard Mitigation Grants
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar (both D-MN), along with Reps. Betty McCollum (D-MN), Pete Stauber (R-MN), Angie Craig (D-MN), Brad Finstad (R-MN), and Kelly Morrison (D-MN) are pushing the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to end prolonged delays and disruptions to federal disaster mitigation and response funding for Minnesota. The bipartisan, bicameral group of Minnesota members of Congress urged FEMA to quickly approve hazard mitigation grant applications and move forward with obligations and payments for pending grants, including funding related to record flooding in 2024. “We write to urge you to address prolonged delays and
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Requests Cost Estimate of Big Beautiful Bill’s Data Center Tax Incentives
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), in her capacity as the top Democrat on the Senate Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth Subcommittee, is requesting an analysis to shed light on the extent to which OBBBA tax breaks went to data center development. Smith sent the request to the Joint Committee on Taxation after reports that some of the country’s largest corporations taking advantage of the generous corporate tax breaks in Republicans’ signature legislation to subsidize the development of data centers. “We’ve seen reports that tax breaks from the Big Beautiful Bill are being used by some of the biggest
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