Latest Releases
Klobuchar, Smith Secure Significant Federal Funding for Kellogg Bridge Infrastructure Improvements
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that they have secured significant federal funding in the Fiscal Year 2023 federal budget to make infrastructure improvements to the Kellogg Bridge in St. Paul. These resources will replace the outdated, 80-year-old eastbound bridge, bolstering multi-modal safety and access. “By enabling the much-needed upgrade of the Kellogg Bridge, this project will help strengthen bridge safety and provide Minnesotans with safer and easier access to downtown St. Paul,” said Klobuchar. “I am proud to have worked with local leaders to push for this funding, and I know that these resources will make a real difference for so many St. Paul residents.” “This investment in the Eastbound Kellogg Bridge is vital to St. Paul’s lively downtown business district,” said Smith. “I am glad to see this federal funding being used for much needed repairs on a critical connecting piece to downtown St. Paul.” “Funding for the Eastbound Kellogg bridge and the North End Community Center will make a huge impact on our community,” said St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter. “I’m grateful to Senators Klobuchar and Smith for securing this investment in the vitality of our city and region.” The reconstructed eastbound Kellogg Boulevard Bridge will connect downtown St. Paul and the east side neighborhood districts of Dayton’s Bluff and Mounds Par, providing residents with better access to economic opportunities. The new bridge will also create additional pedestrian and biking access, increase vehicle access points, and link downtown St. Paul to the regional transit system. Klobuchar and
U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Bipartisan Bill to Improve Rural Health Care Signed Into Law
WASHINGTON [01/06/23] – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Co-Chairs of the Senate Rural Health Caucus, announced that their bipartisan bill to improve rural health care was signed into law by President Biden. The State Offices of Rural Health (SORH) Reauthorization Act of 2022 will reauthorize a key program that supports health facilities in rural areas across the country. “When I meet with families, farmers, businesses and community leaders in greater Minnesota, one of the first issues that comes up is health care,” said Smith. “This bipartisan legislation will help make sure State Offices of Rural Health have the resources they need to expand and improve health care services in rural communities. I’m proud of our work to get this bill signed into law and help address the unique health care needs of rural America.” “As a doctor, I have seen how this critical program benefits clinics and hospitals in rural areas across Wyoming. I am pleased to see the president sign our bill to reauthorize this important program into law,” said Barrasso. “Now, we can ensure Wyoming’s Office of Rural Health continues to have the necessary resources needed to give our patients the highest quality of care they deserve.” This bill supports State Offices of Rural Health by extending a successful law on information-sharing, technical assistance, and care delivery in rural settings. Under the bill, the program will be reauthorized for five years, which will preserve the program’s flexibility to meet the needs of providers and
Sen. Smith “Proud” to be Joining Leadership of Bipartisan Rural Health Caucus
Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith released the following statement after being named to leadership of the bipartisan Senate Rural Health Caucus: “All families deserve quality health care no matter where they call home,” said Sen. Smith. “But rural communities face unique challenges when it comes to access to health care, which is why I’m proud that I’ll be able to serve as a leader of the Senate Rural Health Caucus. It will give me an additional avenue to help fight to lower the cost of health care, combat the opioid crisis, and address the needs that rural communities face when
Sen. Tina Smith Pushes to Help Minnesotans Cut Costly Student Loan Debt
U.S. Senator Tina Smith has thrown her support behind a proposal to help tens of millions of student loan borrowers in Minnesota and around the country lower their monthly debt burden. The Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act would give Americans with student debt the opportunity to refinance their loans at lower interest rates. Right now, people can refinance other types of debt—e.g. home, car, or business loans—but there’s no national program in place to refinance federal student loans. “The price tag on a college degree is a serious source of anxiety for Minnesota students and families, and often, the
Sen. Tina Smith Fights to Ensure 22,000 Retired Minnesota Workers Can Keep Hard-Earned Pensions
After recently meeting with retirees in Duluth whose hard-earned pensions are at risk of being drastically reduced due to chronic underfunding of the Central States Pension Fund, U.S. Senator Tina Smith is backing up her promise to support legislation that would help protect the pensions of retirees across the country, including 22,000 in Minnesota. The Butch Lewis Act—named for a veteran who was the head of his local union in Ohio and who fought to preserve fellow Teamsters’ pensions—would help shore up the Central States Pension Fund and strengthen the multi-employer pension system for all workers by creating a Pension Rehabilitation
Sen. Tina Smith Condemns Unchecked Dark Money in Politics, Calls for Legislation to Reform & Strengthen Campaign Finance Laws
U.S. Senator Tina Smith called on Congress to strengthen our nation’s campaign finance laws by ending the flood of unchecked, unlimited, and secret corporate money into our elections. Since the Supreme Court’s 2010 Citizens United v. FEC decision—which opened the door to unlimited corporate spending in politics—more than $600 million has been spent in federal elections without free and open information about where these millions are coming from. In response to the urgent need for campaign finance changes, Sen. Smith is cosponsoring two legislative reforms. The first would overturn Citizens United once and for all, and the second—the DISCLOSE Act—would require super PACs and other
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