Latest Releases
Klobuchar, Smith Announce Federal Funding for Mora Municipal Airport
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced they secured significant federal funding for Mora Municipal Airport for infrastructure improvements. The grant provides $210,780 to start Phase 1 of the Runway 17/35 improvement project. Improvements include rebuilding and updating the existing lighting and rehabilitating 4,794 feet of paved runway which has met the end of its useful life. “Mora Municipal Airport is an essential link for residents and businesses in Kanabec County and beyond,” said Klobuchar. “This federal grant will make needed infrastructure updates to ensure the airport can continue serving travelers for years to come.” “I’m glad to see the Biden-Harris administration once again delivering for travelers in Minnesota and around the country,” said Smith. “Small and regional airports like the Mora Municipal Airport are vital parts of their communities and this funding will go directly towards repaving the runway and making necessary structural improvements.” This funding is from the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which provides federal grants for airport infrastructure projects such as runways, taxiways, signage, lighting, and markings. ###
Klobuchar, Smith Announce Federal Funding for Falls International Airport
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced they secured significant federal funding for Falls International Airport located in International Falls, MN. for infrastructure improvements. The grant provides $3,635,242 to reconstruct 19,400 square yards of the existing general aviation apron pavement, shift Taxiway C1 by 50 feet to bring the airport into conformity with current standards, and reconstruct 220 feet of Taxiway B1 pavement. “Falls International Airport is an essential link for residents and businesses in Northern Minnesota, Canada, and beyond,” said Klobuchar. “This federal grant will make needed infrastructure updates to ensure the airport can continue serving travelers for years to come.” “I’m glad to see the Biden-Harris administration once again delivering for travelers in Minnesota and around the country,” said Smith. “Small and regional airports like the Falls International Airport are vital parts of their communities and this funding will go directly towards structural upgrades so it is safe and functional for travelers.” This funding is from the Airport Improvement Program (AIP), which provides federal grants for airport infrastructure projects such as runways, taxiways, signage, lighting, and markings. ###
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar & Tina Smith Announce Emergency Haying & Grazing in Minnesota
WASHINGTON, D.C. [8/5/21]—In response to the severe and worsening drought causing Upper Midwest cattle producers to run out of hay for their herds, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced that producers can now request haying and grazing on Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) land in 79 Minnesota counties. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) authorized the change on Wednesday. The senators said that Minnesota counties are approved for emergency haying and grazing due to drought conditions on a county-by-county basis, when a county is designated as level “D2 Drought – Severe” according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. FSA provides a weekly, online update of eligible counties here. “The droughts across Minnesota have created
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Joins Young Americans on National Mall to Highlight Need to Address Climate Change, Promote Clean Energy
WASHINGTON, D.C. [8/4/21]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) joined young climate leaders just steps from the U.S. Capitol to call for federal action on addressing climate change and establishing a Clean Electricity Standard (CES). You can access photos from the event here, here, here and here. “This is our moment to make the change we need, and we can’t wait,” said Sen. Smith. “The place to start in Congress is by passing strong climate legislation. This summer, I’m working hard to make sure infrastructure legislation includes a clean electricity standard—which is a powerful, practical, progressive investment to get us to net-zero carbon emissions in power generation as
U.S. Sens. Smith, Cassidy Say FDA Approval of First Generic Insulin Will Lower Prices Across Country
WASHINGTON, D.C. [7/29/21]—U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) have long pushed to bring lower-cost insulin to market, and today the senators highlighted the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of the first generic insulin product that will rein in costs after years of significant increases. Wednesday’s approval by the FDA is due in part to Sens. Smith and Cassidy’s bipartisan bill—the Protecting Access to Biosimilars Act—enacted in 2019. “We know that high insulin prices are jeopardizing the financial security of Minnesotans and Americans, and forcing some into alarming, and at times fatal, rationing,” said Sen. Smith, a member
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Introduces Legislation to Examine History of Racially Restrictive Covenants
WASHINGTON, D.C. [7/29/21]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) introduced legislation to examine the history of racially restrictive covenants—which were used as tools of discrimination to keep Black families and households of color from moving into certain neighborhoods—so we can better understand the scope of these covenants. Sen. Smith’s Mapping Housing Discrimination Act is inspired by work being done at the University of Minnesota to map racially restrictive covenants, which will help to study the connection between past discrimination and current disparities in wealth, homeownership, employment, education, health care, and much more. You can access a summary of the bill here and text of the
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