Latest Releases
Klobuchar, Smith Secure Significant Federal Funding to Eliminate Dangerous Rail Crossings in Central Minnesota
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that they have secured significant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for rail infrastructure projects in Central Minnesota. The TH 10 & CSAH 11 Railroad Crossing Improvement Study in Sherburne County has received $1.4 million to support grade crossing improvements in Becker Township. This at-grade intersection and BNSF rail crossing is an area of safety and mobility concern and several past studies have demonstrated the need for grade separation in several past studies. The Railroad Crossing Elimination Planning project in Douglas County has received $240,000 to evaluate alternatives for grade separation at McKay Avenue rail crossing in Alexandria. This project will develop plans to separate this crossing and improve a nearby crossing on Geneva Road. “Blocked rail crossings not only inconvenience drivers, but also delay emergency vehicles and threaten public safety,” said Klobuchar. “This federal investment will reduce traffic, boost efficiency and improve rail crossing safety. Investments in our infrastructure serve as a down payment on the long-term economic well-being of our state.” “If we’re going to build an economy that works for everyone, then we need to prioritize investments in vital infrastructure like railroads to be more efficient and safer,” said Senator Smith. “The upgrades in Sherburne County will make rail crossings safer for drivers and pedestrians, while the investment in Douglas County will help officials evaluate ways to reconstruct rail crossings in Alexandria to protect residents.” This investment is made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which both
Klobuchar, Smith Secure Significant Federal Funding to Eliminate Dangerous Rail Crossings in Northern Minnesota
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that they have secured significant funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) for rail infrastructure projects in Northern Minnesota. The Midway Road (CSAH 13) Railroad Crossing Elimination Planning and Development project has received $1.8 million to provide a long-term multimodal freight solution improving safety, reliability, and efficiency along the CN rail corridor and the Midway Road (CSAH 13) corridor, benefiting the entire region’s transportation network. The Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Moorhead to Duluth Corridor Crossing Elimination and Improvement Study has received $800,000 to study crossings along a 250-mile stretch of the BNSF Railway Northern Transcontinental Line within Minnesota, which will evaluate existing conditions, identify alternatives, and develop a corridor project inventory to improve safety. “Blocked rail crossings not only inconvenience drivers, but also delay emergency vehicles and threaten public safety,” said Klobuchar. “This federal investment will reduce traffic, boost efficiency and improve rail crossing safety. Investments in our infrastructure serve as a down payment on the long-term economic well-being of our state.” “Northern Minnesota relies on freight rail to transport goods, especially to the Port of Duluth where our goods travel to all corners of the world,” said Senator Smith. “Making the railroads more efficient and safer will boost the Northland’s economy for decades, and is exactly the kind of smart investment we should be making to improve the lives of Minnesotans.” This investment is made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which both Klobuchar and Smith supported and worked to
Senators Smith, Booker Introduce Legislation to Affirm Federal Regulation of Reproductive Health Products
WASHINGTON, D.C. [8.2.22] – Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced legislation that affirms the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) long standing preemptive authority over state law for all FDA-approved reproductive health products, including drugs used in medication abortion. The U.S. Constitution’s Supremacy Clause prohibits states from interfering with the federal government’s power to regulate drugs. The Protecting National Access to Reproductive Care Act codifies this preemptive power and the Department of Justice’s authority to enforce federal laws and regulations. It also provides private individuals, and health care providers an avenue to sue states with laws
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Reintroduces Bill to Help Schools Overcome Teacher Shortages in Minnesota, Across the Country
WASHINGTON, D.C. [08.02.22] – Today, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.)—a member of the Senate Education Committee—reintroduced legislation to help schools and districts in Minnesota and across the country facing teacher shortages. More than 40 percent of the nation’s small, rural school districts struggle to adequately staff their schools, and shortages are most acute in certain subject areas. There is a growing need for STEM, foreign language, and special education teachers. Additionally, there is a severe lack of racial diversity—nationwide teachers of color compromise only 18 percent of the teacher workforce. “I’m hearing from Minnesota school superintendents about the many vacancies they’re struggling to fill. More than 40 percent of our nation’s small, rural school districts report that it’s
Senator Smith Announces Passage of Bipartisan Legislation That Will Unlock Major Investments in Nation’s Waterways
Washington D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced the Senate has passed the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2022, which will unlock and expedite a number of significant projects in Minnesota and across the country. The legislation greenlights investments in the nation’s ports and waterways and includes several priorities Senator Smith has pushed for including Mississippi River protections and Great Lakes coastal resiliency. “Minnesota is blessed with pristine waterways and lakes from Lake Superior to the headwaters of the Mississippi,” said Senator Smith. “This bipartisan legislation will help unlock funding to improve and restore our ports,
Senator Smith, Assistant Speaker Clark Introduce Bicameral Legislation to Expand Trauma-Informed Practices in Schools
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) and Assistant Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Katherine Clark (D-MA-5) introduced legislation to improve support for youth with the Trauma-Informed Schools Act. The bill would make key federal funding sources available for teachers, staff and after school programs to support trauma-informed practices in school settings. The bill also defines “trauma-informed practices” for the first time in federal education law, ensuring that such practices are evidence-based and help all students. The bill is co-led by Congressmen Mike Quigley (D-IL-5) and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-1). The bill would support positive behavioral interventions,
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