Latest Releases
Klobuchar, Smith Secure Significant Federal Funding for South Broadway Avenue in Rochester
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded $2,500,000 for the South Broadway Avenue project planning in Rochester. The grant, provided through USDOT’s RAISE program, will support the study, design, and engineering of a Complete Street and pedestrian and bike overpass along the approximate half-mile corridor on South Broadway Avenue between 4th Street SE and 9th Street SE. “Broadway Avenue is the main north-south access to downtown Rochester and this federal support will improve the safety of this major corridor,” said Klobuchar. “By building an overpass, we will make Broadway Avenue safer for pedestrians, bikers, drivers, and all travelers.” “If we’re going to build an economy that works for everyone, then we need to prioritize investments in vital infrastructure, like roads and bridges, that connect people with opportunities all across the state,” said Senator Smith. “This project will make South Broadway Avenue safer and more accessible for Rochester drivers, cyclists, transit users and pedestrians alike.” RAISE grants can be used by communities across the country for a wide variety of transportation projects with significant local or regional impact. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Klobuchar and Smith supported and was signed into law in 2021, delivered a 50 percent increase in the amount of available funding for the RAISE grants, as well as resources for improving the state’s roads, bridges, public transportation, and water infrastructure. ###
Klobuchar, Smith Secure Significant Federal Funding to Reconstruct Robert Street in St. Paul
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) has awarded $25,000,000 for the Highway 3/Robert St. project planning in St. Paul. The grant, provided through USDOT’s RAISE program, will reconstruct approximately 1.5 miles of State Highway 3, including upgrading pedestrian crossings, improving sidewalks and trails, managing speed, expanding multimodal options, rehabilitating or replacing 100-year-old retaining walls/bridge, and improving transit access. “Robert Street is a critical route in St. Paul, used by drivers, bikers, and pedestrians,” said Klobuchar. “This federal support will make this highway safer and more efficient for all travelers.” “If we’re going to build an economy that works for everyone, then we need to prioritize investments in vital infrastructure, like roads and bridges, that connect people with opportunities all across the state,” said Senator Smith. “This project will replace outdated infrastructure that is nearly 100 years old while simultaneously making Robert Street/Highway 3 safer for drivers, cyclists, transit users and pedestrians alike.” RAISE grants can be used by communities across the country for a wide variety of transportation projects with significant local or regional impact. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Klobuchar and Smith supported and was signed into law in 2021, delivered a 50 percent increase in the amount of available funding for the RAISE grants, as well as resources for improving the state’s roads, bridges, public transportation, and water infrastructure. ###
Klobuchar, Smith Announce Federal Investment to Reduce Wildfire Risk in St. Louis County
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-MN), announced $890,925 in federal investments to help make St. Louis County more resilient to threats of wildfires. The funding will be distributed to local fire departments, lake and road associations, and township boards in the highest wildfire risk areas within the county. The funding is made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Klobuchar and Smith helped pass last year. “The 2021 Greenwood fire in northeastern Minnesota destroyed family cabins, damaged thousands of acres of forests, and hurt small businesses that rely on tourism. That’s why we must ensure
Senator Smith, Grassley Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Research the Impact of Consolidation on Livestock Farmers and Ranchers
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA), introduced bipartisan legislation to support research into the impact of livestock market consolidation on farmers, ranchers, and consumers in an effort to better understand the problem and craft effective solutions. “Just a handful of large companies have come to dominate the meat and poultry processing industry, which means higher prices for consumers and shrinking earnings for farmers,” said Sen. Smith. “This bipartisan bill would uncover the impact of this consolidation on farmers and consumers and help us create the best possible solutions to fix the problem. I look
Senators Smith, Rounds Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Spur Economic Development in Underserved Communities
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Mike Rounds (R-SD) reintroduced bipartisan legislation to jumpstart economic development in economically distressed areas and address disparities in access to capital for underserved communities. The bill would strengthen and expand Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI), which play a critical role in bringing capital and financial services to a wide range of underserved communities – from urban areas to small towns and rural communities to Tribal lands. “Unequal access to capital and financial services is a key driver of economic disparity in rural areas, communities of color, and Indigenous communities,” said Sen. Smith.
Senator Smith, Colleagues Introduce Legislation to Help Make College Textbooks More Affordable
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Angus King (I-ME), and Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), along with U.S. Representative Joe Neguse (D-CO-02) introduced bicameral legislation designed to help students manage costs by making high quality textbooks easily accessible to students, professors, and the public for free. The Affordable College Textbook Act would authorize a competitive grant program to support the creation of and expansion of open college textbooks—textbooks that are available under an open license, allowing professors, students, researchers, and others to freely access the materials. “Textbooks are a key part of a college education – but for
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