Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Colleagues Push Legislation to Pay All Federal Employees, Service Members, and Contractors During Shutdown
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) joined 24 colleagues to introduce the True Shutdown Fairness Act to pay all federal employees and the contractors supporting their work during the shutdown. The Senators’ legislation, the True Shutdown Fairness Act, would also prevent the Administration’s attempts at mass firings (Reductions in Force or RIFs) while the government is shutdown. The legislation was blocked from passage by Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI). “Our troops and federal workers shouldn’t be used as political pawns in this shutdown fight. They never signed up to have their paychecks used as leverage. They shouldn’t be punished because President Trump refuses to negotiate a deal with Congress to re-open our government and has refused to take any action to prevent massive health care cost increases for Minnesota families,” said Senator Smith. “This is a commonsense, straightforward bill that would take federal workers and troops out of the crosshairs of a shutdown fight without handing over more unchecked power to President Trump and his unelected lackey, Russell Vought.” The Senators’ legislation is endorsed by major labor unions that represent federal employees across the country, including: Background on the True Shutdown Fairness Act: The True Shutdown Fairness Act would immediately restart pay for all excepted and furloughed federal workers, servicemembers, and federal contractors during the current shutdown. The Senators’ legislation also includes a prohibition on Reductions In Force while the federal government is shut down. Federal employees are ensured retroactive pay after a shutdown ends due to the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act – legislation that was signed into law by President Trump in 2019. The legislation is cosponsored
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar Urge Trump Administration Restore Minnesota Energy Infrastructure Funding
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) called on the Trump Administration to reverse their politically motivated cancellation of $645 million in funding for Minnesota energy projects. The letter comes after the White House announced it was canceling energy infrastructure awards only in states that did not support President Trump in the presidential election, including Minnesota. “Electricity bills have already jumped nearly 10% since the Trump administration took office. Your decision to cancel federal investment that is meant to upgrade our aging electric grid and help get new power sources connected to meet new demand is only going to punish households with even higher electricity bills in the months and years to come,” wrote Senators Smith and Klobuchar. “At a time when most Minnesotans and Americans are just trying to scrape together enough money to pay their bills and live their lives, this kind of politically motivated attack on our state is just going to make it that much harder for them to pay their utility bills every month. That is not securing American energy dominance, and it will not advance President Trump’s stated commitment to delivering affordable, reliable, and secure energy for the American people. We ask you to reverse course and reinstate these funds immediately,” the Senators concluded. Some of the Minnesota projects that had their funding canceled include: You can read the full text of the letter here or below. Dear Secretary Wright, We urge you to reverse your announced termination of more than $600 million in
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Announces Clean Energy Projects for Minnesota Farms and Small Businesses
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, announced grants for 70 farms and small businesses across rural and Greater Minnesota to install clean energy technology on their farms. This round of funding for Minnesota totals nearly $8 million. This initiative is possible through the Renewable Energy for America (REAP) program, which Senator Smith championed and strengthened in the Inflation Reduction Act. “The clean energy transition is happening, and I want us to lead it,” said Senator Smith. “As we make the switch to cleaner, cheaper energy, we need to make sure everyone benefits. That’s why programs like
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith Announce Funding to Increase Minnesota’s STEM Talent Pipeline, Foster Diversity in STEM Fields
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced two grants for Minnesota middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities to strengthen Minnesota’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) talent pipeline. One award sponsors the North Star STEM Alliance, a program that supports public, private, and Tribal colleges and universities in their efforts to significantly increase the numbers of students enrolling into and successfully completing high quality degree programs in STEM disciplines in order to diversify the STEM workforce. The other award supports the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus to partner with Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) and Hamline University, among others, to
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith Announce Clean Energy Manufacturing Investment in Fridley
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-Minn.) announced Cummins, Inc. received a tax credit allocation of $10,500,000 for investment in electrolyzer manufacturing and testing in Fridley, Minn., for its Accelera by Cummins zero-emissions business. This investment is expected to support more than 260 direct jobs and nearly 2,000 indirect jobs. Electrolyzers separate water into oxygen and hydrogen, and when done using renewable energy, create carbon-free hydrogen that can be stored and used as a clean energy source. The funding comes from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which both Klobuchar and Smith supported. “Minnesota has long been a hub for innovation
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Joins Colleagues to Reintroduce Bill to Help Educate Americans about the Effects of Climate Change
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) joined her colleagues in introducing legislation that would support a variety of programs nationwide to help Americans better understand what climate change will mean for our everyday lives—things like including information about climate change in school science curricula and public education campaigns. The bill, called the Climate Change Education Act, would establish a Climate Change Education Program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to provide grants and technical assistance to state and local education agencies, institutions of higher learning, professional associations and academic societies, and youth corps organizations. “Climate change is happening, and we cannot ignore it,” said Senator
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