Latest Releases
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 severe storms and flooding. These natural disasters have caused significant damage, and we ask that you quickly grant approval for federal disaster assistance,” said the lawmakers. The lawmakers continued, “Time and time again, Minnesotans have stepped up to support their neighbors after natural disasters. When flood waters rise and homes are damaged, volunteers and neighbors are quick to fill sandbags, clean up debris, and lend a hand to those in need. Impacted communities will repair the damage and rebuild following these disasters, but rapid federal assistance will speed up this recovery effort.” Full text of the letter is available HERE and below: Dear Mr. President: 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 severe storms and flooding. These natural disasters have caused significant damage, and we ask
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. Farmers and producers utilize REAP to pay for energy upgrades like an energy-efficient grain dryer or solar panels to power all the buildings on a farmstead. Previously, the program granted money to farmers and producers upfront, helping them put a down payment on the expensive equipment. Now, farmers won’t be able to apply for the program until their projects have been fully built and are operational, all without any guarantee they would actually receive a grant. Sens. Klobuchar and Smith, along with 19 of their colleagues, urged USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins to change the REAP payment method in a letter on Oct. 23. The Senators write, “This rule would foreclose many of its intended beneficiaries from utilizing this popular and important program at a time when energy costs are soaring. This goes against the intent of the REAP program—to incentivize and support renewable energy projects that farmers might not otherwise
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
U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Measures to Simplify, Update Tax Filings for Farmers and Consumers Passes Senate
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) successfully included two measures to help Minnesotans navigate their taxes in legislation that passed the Senate. Sen. Smith’s first measure would adjust the deadline for farmers to file their taxes to align with when most other Minnesotans would file theirs, while her second would require the IRS to track how often they make taxpayers re-submit the same paperwork due to bureaucratic errors. The measures were included in the Taxpayer Assistance and Service Act that passed the Senate unanimously. “Nobody enjoys filing their taxes, but what makes it even worse is how cumbersome
U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Legislation to Combat Lyme Disease & Other Tick-Borne Diseases Becomes Law
Most recent data shows Minnesota recorded 3,551 cases in 2024 alone, a rate that has likely increased in recent years WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s (D-MN) bipartisan bill to expand research, testing and treatment for Lyme and other tick-borne diseases has been signed into law by the President. The Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act passed the U.S. Senate in August, passed the U.S. House of Representatives in mid-September. “The number of Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses has been rising at an alarming rate. This law will step up regional efforts at researching, testing and treating Lyme and other tick-borne
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