Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Joins Colleagues in Urging Biden Administration to Address Humanitarian Crisis in Ethiopia
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator and Tina Smith (D-MN) joined her colleagues in sending a letter to the Biden administration regarding the mounting humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia. The letter was led by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and was also signed by Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Tim Kaine (D-VA). The Senators urged U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator Samantha Power to work with partners to ensure continued international humanitarian support for the people of Ethiopia as the country confronts an ongoing humanitarian crisis exacerbated by armed conflict and climate chaos. “While we are heartened by United States’ and international efforts to provide food assistance and other humanitarian aid to the Ethiopian people, their needs remain great, especially when factoring in the more than 100,000 Sudanese refugees who have recently fled the violence in their country and taken refuge in Ethiopia,” the Senators wrote. “We support the Administration’s continued global leadership in the provision of humanitarian aid to those most in need,” the Senators continued. “We also acknowledge that it is critical to maintain effective oversight of assistance and ensure that it is not being abused or diverted. However, commitments from other donor countries and the international community have failed to keep up with the increasing needs globally.” Read the full text of the letter below: Dear Secretary Blinken and Administrator Power, We write to express deep concern about the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ethiopia, which is set to worsen this year
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
Klobuchar, Smith Announce Extension of Crop Insurance Premium Flexibility for Farmers
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN), both members of the Senate Agriculture Committee, announced that the United Sates Department of Agriculture (USDA) is deferring accrual of interest on 2019 crop year insurance premiums to support farmers affected by recent flooding and extreme weather. Producers will now have until January 31, 2020, to pay their 2019 crop insurance premium without accruing interest. For any premium that is not paid by that date, interest will accrue consistent with the terms of the policy. “Many farmers in Minnesota were unable to get into their fields this fall due
Klobuchar, Smith, Peterson Announce $1.7 Million for Rural Infrastructure Investments in Sacred Heart
WASHINGTON– U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Representative Collin Peterson (D-MN-07) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded a loan of $1,700,000 to the City of Sacred Heart, Minnesota for infrastructure improvements. The funding will be utilized for rehabilitation and re-construction of city streets affected by water and storm sewer upgrades. “Investments in more reliable infrastructure, like this one in Sacred Heart, are crucial to improving Minnesota communities,” Klobuchar said. “Our 21st century economy demands 21st century infrastructure, and that requires investments in roads, bridges, airports, and rural communities.” “This investment in Sacred Heart is an investment in community
Klobuchar, Smith Announce Rural Development Funding to Support Local Agriculture in Minnesota
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded grants totaling $800,000 to provide technical assistance and support for local cooperatives and small businesses in Minnesota. “These grants will help ensure that local cooperatives and small businesses have access to the support and training opportunities they need to succeed and continue developing more value–added uses for crops and coproducts and local agricultural opportunities,” Klobuchar said. “We must continue working to expand opportunity for farmers to enhance and sustain their livelihood for generations to come.” “This investment will help move Minnesota products to market, support a
U.S. Sens. Smith & Cramer Unveil Bipartisan Bill to Fully Examine Scope of Insulin Affordability Crisis in Order to Bring Relief to Americans Struggling to Afford Medication
WASHINGTON, D.C. [11/14/19]—In association with World Diabetes Day, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) today introduced bipartisan legislation—along with Sens. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) and Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)—to create a national study to more fully understand the scope of the insulin affordability crisis in America. Earlier this year, Sens. Smith and Cramer introduced bold, bipartisan legislation to bring down the cost of insulin and hold manufactures accountable for excessive increases in the price of the life-sustaining medicine. Now, the senators and a bipartisan group of their Senate colleagues are working to expand the scope
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