Latest Releases
Klobuchar, Smith Announce Federal Funding to Improve Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water System
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced a $2,194,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development grant and a $26,179,000 loan to make improvements to the Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water system that services the counties of Lyon, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Yellow Medicine, and Redwood. This project will construct a new water source and water treatment plant, and make improvements to the current water treatment plant to ensure the growing regional water demand is met. “The Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water System currently serves five counties, and the demand for water is growing,” said Klobuchar. “With these federal resources, Lincoln Pipestone can construct the infrastructure it needs for its expansion plans.” “Safe water and wastewater management are essential to the health of our communities and our environment,” said Smith. “This investment will help five Minnesota counties make improvements to their water infrastructure with the Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water System.” Senators Klobuchar and Smith are members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, which oversees the USDA. This federal funding was secured through the USDA Rural Development Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program. Program grants can be used by communities across the country to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community in a primarily rural area, such as health care facilities, public safety services, educational services, and more. ###
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Thom Tillis, Cory Booker and Todd Young Introduce Resolution Honoring 100th Anniversary of the National League of Cities
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Todd Young (R-IN) introduced a resolution honoring the 100th anniversary of the National League of Cities. The National League of Cities is the oldest and largest organization of municipal governments in the United States, representing over 19,000 cities, towns, and villages and more than 218,000,000 residents. Senators Smith, Tillis and Booker served in local government before coming to Congress. “I always say that the best ideas come from those closest to the work, and local governments exemplify that best,” said Senator Smith. “As former Chief of Staff to the Mayor of Minneapolis, I know firsthand how important local government is to the functioning of our nation. I am so grateful for the leadership and partnership of all local government officials and staff across Minnesota.” “As someone who served on the Cornelius Board of Commissioners, I know first-hand that local government is the one closest to the people and can play a vital role in improving their quality of life,” said Senator Tillis. “I am proud to co-lead this resolution honoring the 100-year anniversary of the National League of Cities, and to recognize their work to support municipal officials in North Carolina and the rest of the country.” “Through my experience serving in the local government of Newark, first as a city councilman and then as mayor, I’ve witnessed the invaluable contributions municipalities make to our nation’s fabric,” said Senator Booker. “Local governments and leaders play a pivotal role in shaping our communities, and the
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith, Democratic Senate Colleagues Urge Trump Administration to Expand Child Care Options for Workers and Families, Provide Guidance for Providers During Coronavirus Pandemic
WASHINGTON, D.C. [03/31/20]—Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (D-Minn.)—along with 20 of their Democratic Senate colleagues—urged the Office of Child Care within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to take additional steps to expand child care options for health care workers and others on the frontlines responding to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The senators also advocated for providers by urging the Office of Child Care to provide critical guidance so centers that remain open know how to take appropriate action to minimize the risk of spreading COVID-19, and to share details of how the emergency funding
Klobuchar, Smith, Stauber Announce $4.5 million Sediment Cleanup in the St. Louis River Area of Concern in Duluth, Minnesota
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, and Representative Pete Stauber (MN-08) announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has signed a $4.5 million agreement to remediate contaminated sediment in the St. Louis River Area of Concern (AOC) on Lake Superior. The St. Louis River AOC is one of 43 toxic hotspots identified by the United States and Canada in the Great Lakes basin, and is the second largest AOC in the United States. EPA and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) will fund the work through a Great Lakes Legacy Act cost-sharing partnership. “The Great Lakes are a
As Farm Prices Slump Due to Coronavirus, U.S. Senators Klobuchar, Smith Announce USDA Crop Insurance Flexibilities to Support Producers
WASHINGTON, D.C. [03/30/20]—U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (D-Minn.)—both members of the Senate Agriculture Committee—said that the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Risk Management Agency (RMA) is providing flexibilities to support producers who are facing slumping commodity prices and a possible labor shortage due to COVID-19. These accommodations include additional time and deferring interest on premium and other payments, extending the date for production reports, and enabling producers to send notifications and reports electronically. “Minnesotans across the state are facing economic turmoil caused by the coronavirus pandemic and that includes our farmers,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “As the backbone of our state’s economy, farmers need our support during periods
U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Legislation to Prevent Social Isolation Among Seniors and Improve Care for Tribal Elders Becomes Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. [03/27/20]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s (D-Minn.) measures to address the negative mental and physical health effects—and the economic consequences—of social isolation among seniors, as well as efforts to strengthen grants for Tribal organizations to provide home and community-based services, were signed into law by the President this week as part of the Older Americans Act reauthorization. The legislation signed into law includes provisions from Sen. Smith’s Older Americans Social Isolation and Loneliness Prevention Act, and from Sen. Smith’s bipartisan Strengthening Services for Native Elders Act with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). Sen. Smith says that COVID-19 isolation and social distancing could take a serious toll on Americans’
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