Latest Releases
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith Announce Investment for Utility Upgrades in Granite Falls
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-MN) announced a grant from the Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) to the city of Granite Falls, Minnesota, for electrical grid upgrades in support of local businesses. This grant will provide an updated utility infrastructure, providing businesses with reliable service during future natural disasters. This EDA investment will be matched with $1.9 million in local funds, is expected to create or retain 275 jobs, and generate $1 million in private investment. “A modernized power grid enables rural communities to keep pace with investment into local businesses,” said Senator Klobuchar. “This federal funding will enable Granite Falls to upgrade its electric utility infrastructure to make it more resilient against future natural disasters.” “Reliable electricity is vital to every thriving community, and Granite Falls is no exception,” said Senator Smith. “This grant will strengthen electricity grid infrastructure in Granite Falls, support local business and improve the lives of the community.” This project is funded under the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, which provided EDA with $483 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery for areas that received a major disaster declaration occurring in calendar years 2021 and 2022. ###
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Introduces Legislation to End Veteran Homelessness Nationwide
Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chair of the Senate Housing Subcommittee, introduced the Housing for All Veterans Act, legislation that would help bring an effective end to veteran homelessness. Minnesota is on the cusp of ending veteran homelessness, and nationwide levels of homelessness among former service members have been cut in half in the fifteen years since the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs launched the first-ever strategic plan to prevent and end the scourge of veteran homelessness in America. This legislation would help get us the rest of the way there and prevent veteran homelessness going forward. “We promise our veterans that we will take care of them after their service to our nation. But every day that we have veterans struggling to find a safe, affordable place to live, we’re failing them,” said Senator Smith. “Guaranteeing housing for low-income veterans shouldn’t be optional. It should a promise fulfilled for every veteran, to bring them home. We’ve made some great progress in solving veteran homelessness in the last fifteen years – Minnesota especially. But the Housing for All Veterans Act would finish the job and ensure every veteran has a roof over their heads.” “Our country continues to face a crisis of housing affordability,” said Kathryn Monet, CEO of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans. “NCHV is thankful for Senator Smith’s leadership to address this crisis head on for veterans facing housing instability. Subsidies are a crucial support and we urge Congress to act upon this bill as a downpayment toward a world where affordable housing is available for all Americans.” “This legislation addresses the root cause of housing affordability, providing our veterans with a long-term, sustainable
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Continues Fight to Make COVID-19 Vaccine Free
WASHINGTON, D.C. [03/4/21]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) continued her fight to protect all Americans, regardless of their insurance status, from out-of-pocket charges for their coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine by urging Senate and House leaders to prioritize this effort while negotiating the next COVID-19 relief package. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Sen. Smith said that eliminating cost barriers is necessary to deliver vaccines as equitably as possible and prevent further exacerbating health disparities. “Ever since the launch of Operation Warp Speed (OWS), a public-private partnership
U.S. Senators Tina Smith & Thom Tillis, U.S. Representative Grace Meng Lead Bipartisan Push to Support Health Care for Veterans Exposed to Radiation
WASHINGTON, D.C. [3/3/21]—Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), and U.S. Representative Grace Meng (D-NY 6), reintroduced their bipartisan bill in the Senate and the House to secure health care benefits for “Atomic Veterans” who were exposed to harmful radiation when they cleaned up nuclear testing sites during the late 1970s. The Mark Takai Atomic Veterans Healthcare Parity Act would allow veterans who participated in the cleanup of Enewetak Atoll on the Marshall Islands to receive the same health care and benefits given to other servicemembers who were involved in active nuclear tests. From 1946 to 1958, the U.S. military conducted more than 40
U.S. Senator Tina Smith, U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester Continue Fight to Prepare Public Facilities for Future Emergencies
WASHINGTON, D.C. [03/3/21]—As the country continues to confront the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and U.S. Representative Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) reintroduced legislation to make public facilities both better prepared for future emergencies and more energy efficient. The Open Back Better Act would provide stimulus funding for energy efficiency and resiliency retrofit projects—such as improving safety and air quality—in schools, medical facilities, government buildings, education institutions, libraries and more. Sen. Smith and Rep. Rochester said their legislation promotes environmental justice by prioritizing infrastructure improvements in communities of color and low-income areas hit hardest by COVID-19. “COVID-19 has exposed the
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Named Chair of Housing, Transportation & Community Development Subcommittee
WASHINGTON, D.C. [3/2/21]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced that she has been named Chair of a key Senate Banking Subcommittee that oversees important aspects of the nation’s housing, transportation and community development policies. Sen Smith said Tuesday that besides being tapped to lead the Housing, Transportation and Community Development Subcommittee, she will also serve on Securities, Insurance and Investment Subcommittee, and the Economic Policy Subcommittee, as part of serving on the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee. “We need to stand up for consumers, improve access to public transportation, work to ensure fair access to financial services for
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