Latest Releases
Klobuchar, Smith Announce USDA Grant Program to Support Health Care in Rural Communities
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) joined U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to announce that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will make significant funding available through Emergency Rural Health Care grants to help rural health care facilities, tribes, and communities expand access to coronavirus vaccines, health care services, and nutrition assistance. “Strengthening access to quality health care in rural areas is crucial to the success and prosperity of our state,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “This federal funding will make a big difference by providing medical equipment, telehealth services, food assistance, and coronavirus vaccines to those in our rural communities. As we round the corner of this pandemic, I’ll continue working to ensure all Minnesotans can receive the care and services they need.” “This is how we advance our commitment to improving access to health care in rural areas. With this new funding, rural health care providers will be able to develop their infrastructure, and contribute to a resilient community,” said Sen. Smith, a member of both the Senate Health and Ag Committees and Co-Chair of the bipartisan Senate Rural Health Caucus. “I look forward to continuing to work with Secretary Vilsack and the Biden Administration to pursue a comprehensive investment in rural communities.” “Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, USDA is playing a critical role to help rural America build back better and equitably as the nation continues to respond to the pandemic,” said U.S. Agriculture Secretary Vilsack. “Through the Emergency Rural Health Care Grants, USDA will help rural hospitals and local communities
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Says Senate Passage of Historic, Bipartisan Infrastructure Package Will Deliver Billions in Upgrades to Minnesota
WASHINGTON, D.C. [08/10/21]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said Senate passage today of a historic, bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure package will deliver billions of dollars in long-overdue investments to Minnesota’s roads, bridges, broadband, water pipes and other needed upgrades. Sen. Smith said the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act was produced after months of difficult, bipartisan negotiations, resulting in a package that will jumpstart the economy and create jobs and economic development in rural, urban and suburban communities across the state. “We’re no longer just talking about infrastructure, we’re actually delivering a once-in-a-generation package that will make life better for millions of Minnesotans, create a generation of good-paying jobs and economic growth, and position the United States to succeed in the 21st Century,” said Sen. Smith. “It’s going to improve the state’s competitiveness and it will mean that people living in rural, urban, suburban, and Tribal communities are going to be able to get where they need to go to more safely. And importantly, it’s going to bring at least $100 million to our state for broadband, which is the infrastructure of the 21st Century and necessary to build an economy that works for everyone.” Sen. Smith said the package will bring significant investments to communities across the state, including: $4.5 billion for Minnesota highways; $819 million for transit systems across the state; $302 million for bridges, as well as competitive grant funding available for economically-significant bridges; At least $100 million for broadband internet systems in communities across the state, and provide access to at least 83,000
U.S. Senators Klobuchar, Smith Works to Ensure Argosy University Students in Minnesota, Nationwide Receive the Assistance They Deserve
U.S. Senators Klobuchar, Smith Works to Ensure Argosy University Students in Minnesota, Nationwide Receive the Assistance They Deserve Senate Colleagues Demand Education Department Help Students Explore Options for Continuing Studies at High-Quality Institutions, Properly Distribute Student Loans WASHINGTON, D.C. [03/11/2019]—U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.)—along with Sens.Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), and 10 of their Senate colleagues—called on the Department of Education to take immediate action to assist students in the aftermath of the agency’s February 27 decision to terminate Argosy University’s eligibility for federal Title IV financial aid and reports of Argosy’s imminent closure.
U.S. Sens. Tina Smith, Jerry Moran Reintroduce Bill to Make Life-saving Oral Cancer Medications More Affordable
U.S. Sens. Tina Smith, Jerry Moran Reintroduce Bill to Make Life-saving Oral Cancer Medications More Affordable Senators’ Reintroduce Legislation to Ensure Oral Cancer Drugs are Covered in Same Way as Traditional IV Chemotherapy WASHINGTON, D.C. [03/12/19]—Today, U.S. Sens. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kansas) took steps to bring down health care costs for cancer patients by reintroducing their bipartisan bill to make sure oral cancer drugs are covered in the same way as traditional intravenous (IV) chemotherapy. Currently, over 40 states—including both Minnesota and Kansas—and the District of Columbia have passed “oral parity” laws that stop insurers from charging more
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar Call on FCC Chair to Launch Probe into Frontier Communications’ Business Practices Amid Troubling Minnesota State Report, Attorney General Investigation
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar Call on FCC Chair to Launch Probe into Frontier Communications’ Business Practices Amid Troubling Minnesota State Report, Attorney General Investigation Frontier Received Millions in Federal Funding to Improve Rural Broadband While Delivering Shoddy Internet and Telephone Services; Senators Say Minnesotans Deserve Full FCC Investigation Into Use of Federal Funding WASHINGTON, D.C. [03/13/19]—In light of Minnesota state investigations into telecommunications provider Frontier Communications Corporation (Frontier) and its subsidiaries—which have received millions in federal funding—detailing poor service to consumers, today U.S. Sens. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) pressed Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chair Ajit Pai to launch an investigation into Frontier’s business practices. A Minnesota
Klobuchar, Smith Call for Continued Efforts to Support Farmers and Ranchers after Devastating February Blizzards
Klobuchar, Smith Call for Continued Efforts to Support Farmers and Ranchers after Devastating February Blizzards WASHINGTON, D.C. [03/15/19] – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) to commit to continued public outreach to farmers and ranchers following February’s devastating blizzards. In a letter to Joe Martin, the State Executive Director for the Minnesota FSA, the senators asked that he continue to conduct public outreach throughout the impacted counties to ensure that impacted farmers and ranchers fully understand their options, including for payments under several Farm Bill disaster programs and
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