Latest Releases
U.S Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar Announce Funding to Improve Bus Infrastructure in Eden Prairie
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Transportation, and Senator Amy Klobuchar (both D-MN) announced a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to strengthen bus and transportation infrastructure in Eden Prairie. One hundred and seventeen communities across the country are getting infrastructure upgrades thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, legislation passed by President Biden in 2021 that has delivered infrastructure upgrades to nearly 5,000 communities nationwide. SouthWest Transit, the public transportation agency serving the Western metro area, will receive $520,436 from the Federal Transit Administration to rehabilitate the Southwest Station Park and Ride and bus garage. The project includes accessibility and security improvements for riders, as well as upgrades to the maintenance facilities to improve safety for workers. The project will support secure, accessible, and efficient transit service for travelers. “Each day, transit systems connect Minnesotans to their jobs, schools, grocery stores and countless other opportunities – all while reducing traffic congestion and pollution,” said Senator Smith. “But for many people, especially those in rural areas, safe, reliable public transportation is hard to find. This funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will deliver faster, safer, and more energy efficient transportation to communities across the Western metro area.” “Investments in public transit reduce traffic and make it easier for Minnesotans to get to school, work, and other destinations,” said Klobuchar. “This federal funding will go towards creating the modern, efficient public transit system families in the West Metro need to reliably get around.” ###
U.S Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar Announce Funding to Improve Bus Infrastructure in Southwestern Minnesota
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Transportation, and Senator Amy Klobuchar (both D-MN) announced a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to strengthen bus and transportation infrastructure in Southern Minnesota. One hundred and seventeen communities across the country are getting infrastructure upgrades thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, legislation passed by President Biden in 2021 that has delivered infrastructure upgrades to nearly 5,000 communities nationwide. The Minnesota Department of Transportation will receive $2,303,200 to buy propane buses and build the necessary fueling infrastructure in Marshall, Minnesota. The project will improve service, reliability and lower maintenance costs for southwest and south central Minnesota rural transit providers. The grant is distributed by the Federal Transit Administration and is part of the Reducing Transit Emissions in Rural Minnesota (RTERM) program. “Each day, transit systems connect Minnesotans to their jobs, schools, grocery stores and countless other opportunities – all while reducing traffic congestion and pollution,” said Senator Smith. “But for many people, especially those in rural areas, safe, reliable public transportation is hard to find. This funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will deliver faster, safer, and more energy efficient transportation to communities across Southwestern Minnesota.” “Investments in public transit make it easier for families in rural Minnesota to get to school, work, and other destinations,” said Klobuchar. “This federal funding will go towards creating the modern, efficient public transit system families in Southwestern Minnesota need to reliably get around.” ###
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Leads Senators in Introducing Resolution to Designate November as “National Lung Cancer Awareness Month”
WASHINGTON, D.C. [12/1/21]—Last night, U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s (D-Minn.) Senate resolution to designate November as “National Lung Cancer Awareness Month” passed by unanimous consent. Smith was joined by U.S. Senators Rubio (R-Fla.), Van Hollen (D-Md.), Capito (R-W.Va.), and Scott (R-S.C.) in introducing the bipartisan resolution to express support for the early detection of lung cancer to help save lives and recognize the need for research to improve early screening, diagnosis, and treatment. “We need to take every possible step to fight this terrible disease that kills tens of thousands of people in Minnesota and across the country each year,” said
After Push from U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Biden Administration to Release Oil from Strategic Petroleum Reserve
WASHINGTON D.C. [11/23/21]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said the Biden Administration plans’ to release oil from the nation’s Strategic Petroleum Reserve is good news for hardworking Minnesota families who have been struggling to cope with the rising gas prices. The announcement comes two weeks after Sen. Smith and eleven Senate Democrats pressed the administration to take action to ease gas prices, including by releasing supply from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The Senators said that recent decisions by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) threaten to push prices higher and the move to release oil from the Strategic Reserve
U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Statement on Jerome Powell and Dr. Lael Brainard’s Nominations to the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
WASHINGTON, D.C. [11/22/21]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) released the following statement in response to President Biden’s nomination of Jerome Powell and Dr. Lael Brainard to serve as Chair and Vice Chair of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, respectively: “Jay Powell and Lael Brainard are highly qualified and dedicated public servants. I have confidence that together, they can guide us through complicated economic times as we emerge from the pandemic.” Sen. Smith is a member of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee which will hold hearings on Powell and Brainard’s nominations.
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Announces Three Multi-Million Dollar RAISE Grants to Improve Minnesota’s Transportation Infrastructure
WASHINGTON, D.C. [11/19/21]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced three multimillion dollar Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) grants that will fund critical transportation projects across the state. This funding is from the U.S. Department of Transportation. The RAISE grants will help fund safety and accessibility improvements along East 7th Street and Arcade Street in St. Paul, the U.S. Highway 169 and Highway 282 Interchange, and a Rondo Streets improvement study in St. Paul. “In order to build an economy that works for everyone, we must invest in crucial infrastructure,” said Sen. Smith. “I’m thrilled to announce this significant
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