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U.S. Senator Tina Smith Announces Climate Resiliency Projects for Lower Sioux Indian Community

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced Lower Sioux Indian Community (LSIC) will receive federal funding to reduce harmful carbon emissions and energy costs in Tribal homes and businesses. LSIC will be awarded nearly $5 million from the Inflation Reduction Act’s climate provisions, which Senator Smith helped to pass into law. This award will allow LSIC to:  “Our transition to a clean energy economy can’t leave Indian Country behind. We are finally starting to turn the page on generations of underinvestment and underfunding by the federal government in Indian Country through projects like this,” said Senator Smith. “Tribes know what works best for them and their members, and this funding allows them to meet the unique needs of their communities.”   “Lower Sioux Indian Community, Cansayapi, has been researching and working diligently to find ways to continue as good stewards of the Earth and reducing the carbon footprint by growing hemp and building homes made with hemp-based materials for insulation,” said Robert L. Larsen, Lower Sioux Community Council President.  “With the help of Senators Klobuchar and Smith, we will continue reducing harmful emissions from fossil fuels and improving local resilience by installing solar-powered heat pumps so the traditional heat sources will not have to run as often or as long. This funding supports Lower Sioux’s strategy to evaluate and weatherize homes, which ultimately will affect the cost to heat them and reduce the harmful emissions from conventional heating sources. The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions will contribute directly to Lower Sioux’s resilience goals and

Klobuchar, Smith Statements on the Bipartisan Senate Confirmation of Laura Provinzino to be U.S. District Court Judge

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Laura Provinzino to serve as United States District Court Judge for the District of Minnesota. Currently serving as an Assistant United States Attorney with the United States Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota, Provinzino was one of the candidates sent to President Biden by Senators Klobuchar and Smith following the recommendation from a judicial selection committee. “As a federal prosecutor, Laura Provinzino has dedicated her career to upholding the rule of law and her work has earned her the respect of attorneys and law enforcement across the state,” said Klobuchar. “I am confident that she will make an outstanding jurist, and I know she will make St. Cloud proud. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I worked to advance her nomination and I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their support of this outstanding nominee.” “Laura Provinzino has spent her career in service to Minnesotans. Her decades of experience advancing justice and protecting the rule of law will make her an exceptionally well-qualified U.S. District Court Judge,” said Smith. “I congratulate her on her bipartisan confirmation.” Laura Provinzino was born and raised in St. Cloud, and attended St. Cloud Technical High School. Her mother taught at Apollo High School, and her father was a lawyer in St. Cloud. Provinzino has spent her entire legal career in Minnesota.   She has served as

Klobuchar, Smith Introduce Legislation to Rename Twin Cities Post Offices In Honor of Three Distinguished Minnesotans

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced three pieces of bicameral legislation to rename three post offices in the Twin Cities in honor of distinguished Minnesotans. The legislation proposes renaming the Minneapolis Post Office in honor of former Congressman Martin Sabo; the Richfield Post Office in honor of U.S. Marine Corps veteran Charles Lindberg, who served during World War Two and helped raise the first American flag at Iwo Jima; and the South St. Paul Post Office in honor of Officer Leo Pavlak, a member of the St. Paul Police Department who lost his life

Klobuchar, Smith Announce Federal Funding for Fillmore County Airport Infrastructure Improvements

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will award $950,000 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to the Fillmore County Airport. The airport will use the money to design and construct a new general aviation terminal. This project will replace an existing outdated facility that was constructed in 1981. “Investments in our airports serve as a down payment on the long-term economic well-being of our state,” said Klobuchar. “This funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will improve the travel experience at the Fillmore County Airport by supporting the construction

Klobuchar, Smith Announce Federal Funding for Bemidji Regional Airport Infrastructure Improvements

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will award $95,000 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to the Bemidji Regional Airport. The airport will use the money to reconfigure and expand the security checkpoint.  “Investments in our airports serve as a down payment on the long-term economic well-being of our state,” said Klobuchar. “This funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will improve the travel experience at the Bemidji Regional Airport by expanding the passenger security checkpoint.”  “The Bemidji Regional airport is a key transportation hub and economic driver for

Klobuchar, Smith Announce Federal Funding for Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport Infrastructure Improvements

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that the that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will award $21,300,000 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The airport will use the money to improve passenger boarding bridges, rehabilitate roofs, and increase energy efficiency.  “Investments in our airports serve as a down payment on the long-term economic well-being of our state,” said Klobuchar. “This funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will improve the travel experience and energy efficiency of the Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport while also creating good paying jobs.” “The Minneapolis-St. Paul

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