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Klobuchar, Smith Secure Significant Federal Funding to Expand and Upgrade I-94 in Wright County
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that they have secured $3 million in federal funding through the Fiscal Year 2023 budget to expand and upgrade a stretch of the Interstate 94 (I-94) highway in Wright County. “This federal funding will help expand and upgrade I-94, improving safety and mobility on this critical route. I am proud to have worked with local leaders to secure this funding, and I know that these resources will make a real difference for so many communities,” said Klobuchar. “The I-94 expansion project will improve access to the Interstate and reduce traffic for those traveling throughout the region,” said Smith. “Relieving congestion and making our roadways safer and more accessible is integral to keeping communities connected to jobs, local businesses, school, health care, and other important services. I’m proud of the work we did with local leaders to secure funding for this project.” This project continues efforts over the past decade to improve I-94 from Maple Grove through Clearwater, including an overlay from Fish Lake Interchange to West of Highway 101, the Dayton Parkway Interchange, lane expansion from St. Michael to Rogers, and reconstruction and expansion from Monticello to Clearwater. This would continue the process of clearing the bottleneck between Albertville and Monticello, and create a seamless 6-lane passage of traffic which is anticipated to result in continued economic development and increased safety. Klobuchar and Smith have been actively involved in securing this federal funding for projects benefiting communities across the state through
U.S. Senator Tina Smith’s Bipartisan Legislation to Provide Transparency For Those Looking to Purchase Popular Long-Term Savings Vehicles Signed Into Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) announced her bipartisan legislation with Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) to help provide transparency for consumers looking to purchase popular, long-term savings vehicles was signed into law as part of the bipartisan government funding bill. The law will help ensure that investors considering purchasing Registered Index Linked Annuities (RILAs) get clear and direct information that promotes investor understanding. “It’s more important than ever for consumers to have clear and concise information about their investments,” said Smith. “This legislation would help consumers looking to purchase RILAs by providing clear information about their potential investments in terms that they are able to understand. I hope this legislation will offer a model for how disclosures can and should be designed with consumers in mind. I am proud of our work to get this bill across the finished line and signed into law.” The sale of RILAs, which are tax-deferred, long-term investments often used for retirement, have grown rapidly in recent years. However, the lack of a tailored form for registering these products with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) often results in long, dense disclosures that are incomprehensible to the typical purchaser. The Registration for Index-Linked Annuities Act offers a model for how disclosures can be designed with the needs of investors in mind. By directing the SEC to develop a tailored RILA registration form, the bill will help ensure that investors have the information they need to determine whether the product makes sense for their
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Honors Grand Portage Chairman Norman Deschampe with Senate Tribute
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Honors Grand Portage Chairman Norman Deschampe with Senate Tribute WASHINGTON, D.C. [02/27/19]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) honored the legacy and contributions of Grand Portage Chairman Norman W. Deschampe, who recently passed away. Praising his leadership, Sen. Smith cited the numerous issues Deschampe championed in his more than 40 years of service to the Grand Portage Band, serving 27 of those years as Chairman. Sen. Smith’s tribute follows Governor Tim Walz’s declaration of February 26, 2019 as Norman Deschampe Day. “Norman Deschampe’s legacy includes a longstanding commitment to supporting the health, education, and economic development of the Grand Portage Band,” wrote Sen. Smith, a