Latest Releases
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar Announce Clean Energy Support for Three Minnesota Tribes
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tina Smith, a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, and Amy Klobuchar (both D-Minn.) announced federal funding to connect Tribal homes to clean electricity, including homes previously not connected to electricity at all. Minnesota Tribes selected for funding include Prairie Island Indian Community, Red Lake Nation and Bois Forte Band of Chippewa. The grants are made possible by President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act, which Senators Smith and Klobuchar both supported. “For generations, Native communities have been hurt by underinvestment and underfunding of basic infrastructure. Our transition to a clean energy economy can’t leave Indian Country behind,” said Senator Smith. “This funding gets us closer to ensuring every household in Minnesota, including on Tribal lands, have access to clean electricity.” “This federal grant will deliver critical clean energy infrastructure improvements,” said Senator Klobuchar.“Investments into clean electricity are vital for securing the power grid in Tribal communities and bolstering the transition to renewable energy.” “This investment in Indian Country and, specifically, the Prairie Island Indian Community, will literally help create a brighter future for our people,” said Prairie Island Tribal Council President Grant Johnson. “Achieving energy sovereignty while eliminating or offsetting all greenhouse gas emissions on Prairie Island is the goal of our net zero program. This grant will allow us to make electrification improvements to our members’ home and involve them more directly in our efforts to change our energy narrative and achieve our net zero goal.” “We are excited and honored to have received the funding from the Biden-Harris Administration America Agenda to Electrify Homes Across Indian Country with Clean Energy. This funding will assist us in the implementation capacity
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Kevin Cramer, John Fetterman and Katie Britt Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Domestic Bus Manufacturing Market
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) led her colleagues Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND), John Fetterman (D-PA) and Katie Britt (R-AL) in introducing bipartisan legislation to cut red tape and reform the domestic bus manufacturing industry by providing more flexibility for local transit systems when purchasing buses. Current U.S. standards impose outdated, 40-year-old payment practices on our bus manufacturers and purchasers, which result in unnecessarily high costs. Many domestic bus manufacturers have gone bankrupt or left the market, despite high demand for new vehicles. The Bus Rolling Stock Modernization Act would help fix this problem.The legislation allows bus manufacturers to apply for advanced payments up to 20%, enabling them to invest in the labor and machinery needed to meet demand of transit agencies and keep production costs down. “Each day, transit systems connect Minnesotans to their jobs, schools, grocery stores and countless other opportunities – all while reducing traffic congestion and pollution,” said Senator Smith. “This bill makes a straightforward and commonsense update to the current FTA regulations that would cut unnecessary red tape and strengthen the domestic bus manufacturing market. This small change will also support U.S. bus manufacturing jobs, get more buses into service, and help Americans get to their work, school, and health care appointments more easily.” “This legislation represents a bipartisan effort to revitalize the bus manufacturing industry across America. This simple change will have the dual benefit of much-needed flexibility for local transit agencies and contracting stability for manufacturers like Motor Coach Industries in Pembina North Dakota. This helps pave the way for further investment and job
Senators Klobuchar, Smith Say $75K Federal Investment Will Target South Central Minnesota Manufacturers Hit Hard by Pandemic
WASHINGTON, D.C. [1/26/21]—U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) say a $74,552 Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant will help manufacturers and communities in South Central Minnesota recover from economic losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The investment will go to the Region 9 Development Commission (RNDC) as it establishes a disaster and economic recovery plan to address the manufacturing and job losses in local communities. Manufacturing accounts for more than 22 percent of the jobs in the region and the funds will help RNDC assist local manufacturers as they recover from COVID-19. “We know that our state’s manufacturers are hurting right now. This investment will
Senators Klobuchar, Smith Announce More Than $375M in Federal Funding to Combat Coronavirus Pandemic in Minnesota
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will award the Minnesota Department of Health more than $375 million to support the state’s efforts to combat the coronavirus pandemic. This funding is part of the $22 billion being provided to states by the federal government through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2021. “For more than ten months, Minnesotans have worked tirelessly to combat the pandemic. This much-needed additional funding will expand testing and help prepare communities for vaccine distribution. There is a
U.S. Senators Smith, Warren Applaud President-elect Biden’s Call for Emergency Child Care Aid in COVID-19 Rescue Plan
WASHINGTON, D.C. [1/15/21]—Today, United States Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)—both members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee (HELP)—issued the following statement regarding the child care provisions included in President-elect Biden’s American Rescue Plan: “Right now, child care providers are struggling to keep their doors open while a pandemic and economic crisis devastate a system that was already deeply broken. That is why we are glad that President-elect Biden has included strong support for child ca WASHINGTON, D.C. [1/15/21]—Today, United States Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.)—both members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor,
President Biden Heeds U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Call to Protect Americans from COVID-19 Testing Charges
WASHINGTON, D.C. [1/22/20]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) says that an executive order signed by President Joe Biden during his first week in office heeds her call to protect Americans from coronavirus (COVID-19) testing charges. The order directs agencies to provide free testing to people who lack health insurance. It also clarifies insurers’ obligation to cover testing. Sen. Smith has been working to make COVID-19 testing free for all Americans since the start of the pandemic. And on January 5, Sen. Smith urged President Biden and Vice President Harris to take executive action to protect patients from out-of-pocket charges for COVID-19 tests, regardless
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