Latest Releases
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith Announce Funding from U.S. Department of Agriculture to Help Expand High-Speed Internet Access in Rural Areas
WASHINGTON, June 27th, 2024 – Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-Minn.) announced $25 million in funding availability from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase high-speed internet access in rural and Tribal communities. The funding is made available through the USDA’s Broadband Technical Assistance (BTA) Program, part of the Biden Administration’s historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to connect every community in America with affordable, reliable, high-speed internet. “We should be able to bring high-speed internet to every family in Minnesota— regardless of their zip code,” said Klobuchar. “This funding will ensure that the broadband upgrades going on across our state also reach our rural areas. As co-chair of the Senate Broadband Caucus, I’ll keep working across the aisle to make sure all Minnesotans can reliably access the high-speed internet they need.” “Internet access is not just a luxury in the 21st century, it’s a necessity,” said Senator Smith.“In Minnesota and across the country, people in rural areas, small towns, and Tribal communities need access to reliable, high-speed internet. Investing in broadband infrastructure with the Broadband Technical Assistance Program is a step in the right direction, helping connect communities in every part of the country to high-speed internet and strengthening communities from the ground up.” The program will support local governments, organizations, cooperatives, and Tribes as they work to expand broadband access in rural communities, delivering on President Biden’s promise to invest in infrastructure and strengthen the economy from the inside out. This includes funding infrastructure studies, network designs, hiring efforts, application assistance and more. The announcement marks the second round of funding for the program.
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Announces Federal Investment to Foster Local Zoning Reform in Twin Cities
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Chair of the Senate Housing Subcommittee, announced $4 million in funding to assist localities around the Twin Cities trying to update local ordinances to build more affordable housing. The award will provide technical support to cities and towns already in the process of updating their zoning codes to incentivize more housing construction. The announcement comes on the heels of a visit from the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, who was in Minneapolis for a roundtable discussion on housing and a tour of a federally-funded affordable housing apartment made possible thanks to Minneapolis’ updated zoning codes, federal funding through the American Rescue Plan and solar tax credits provided by the Inflation Reduction Act. “Without a safe, decent, affordable place to live, nothing else in your life works. Our housing crisis can’t be solved by just one level of government. We need to increase our supply of all kinds of housing to boost the number of homes available and drive down costs, and that takes federal, state, local and private-sector coordination,” said Senator Smith. “Cities across the Metro have been working hard to reduce barriers to affordable housing and boost housing supply. This funding will support these efforts and further invest in the production and preservation of affordable housing in the region.” “Access to stable, affordable, quality housing is key to expanding economic opportunities for families but right now the housing market is inaccessible for far too many,” said Senator Amy Klobuchar. “This funding
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
U.S. Sens. Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig Lead MN Members in Introducing Resolution to Designate November 17 as “National Butter Day”
WASHINGTON, D.C [11/17/21]— U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar (both D-Minn.) and U.S. Representative Angie Craig (D-Minn.) today introduced resolutions in both the House and Senate to designate November 17, 2021 as “National Butter Day.” The Members were joined by U.S. Representative Betty McCollum and U.S. Representative Michelle Fischbach in introducing the Resolution. The three leads, all of whom serve on the Agriculture Committee, said that as a dairy state, Minnesota is a major butter producer and their resolution would promote the production of butter, not only in their state, but across the country. “Dairy producers play an important economic
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Leads Senate Push to Preserve Special Education Funding Increases for Schools in Minnesota and Across the Country
WASHINGTON, D.C [11/16/21]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) pressed top Senate Appropriators to continue the recent increases in special education funding that have been critically important in helping educate students with disabilities in Minnesota and across the country. In a letter Tuesday, Sen. Smith, led a group of 12 key Senators in pressing Appropriations Committee Chair Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Vice Chair Richard Shelby (R-AL) to maintain the $2.6 billion increase in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) funding proposed in both the House and Senate, as they work on end-of-the-year funding bills. The preservation of the increased IDEA funding
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