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U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith Celebrate Award to Repair Flood Damage from Rapidan Dam Failure
ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-MN) announced a grant for Southeastern Minnesota to survey and repair damage done by severe storms in May 2024, which caused flooding and damage to road infrastructure in 42 counties. One notable example is the Rapidan Dam, a well-known and well-traveled-to location which was severely damaged and made the nearby bridge on County Road 9 unsafe for travelers. “The floods of May 2024 took a heavy toll on southeastern and south-central Minnesota and when natural disasters hit we need to work together to rebuild,” said Klobuchar. “This funding will allow us to repair and rebuild our roads and infrastructure, making them safer and more resilient–a critical step for our businesses and our communities to fully recover.” “Minnesotans deserve to drive on safe, reliable roads,” said Senator Smith. “As a result of the flooding last summer, that’s not the reality for some residents in the southeastern and south-central part of our state. I’m fighting to secure the funding needed from the federal government to help us recover and make travel safe and accessible.” The grant comes from the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program, which helps communities repair roads damaged by natural disasters. In December 2024, Senators Klobuchar and Smith supported emergency supplemental funding for this program to address the backlog of roads in need of repair, including this one in Minnesota. The grant totals $5,000,000. ###
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 and address disparities in access to capital. 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 small businesses, homeowners and housing developers. Their legislation—the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program Improvement Act will extend authorization of the CDFI Bond Guarantee Program, while making it more reliable and accessible to smaller CDFIs. This legislation will expand and improve a successful program that operates at no cost to taxpayer and allows CDFIs to access long-term, stable funding. The CDFI Bond Guarantee Program was established in 2010 to provide long-term, low-cost capital to CDFIs, which use the funding for economic development activities in underserved communities. The program’s authorization lapsed in 2014, but it has been extended on a year-by-year basis in annual appropriations bills. Under current program rules, borrowers must have a loan size of at least $100 million – which means that the program can only be used for relatively large projects. “Unequal access to capital and financial services is a key driver of economic disparity around Minnesota,” said Sen. Smith. “This legislation will jumpstart economic development in these communities by expanding and enhancing a program with a track record of effective capital investment and community development.” “Since 2010, the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFI) Bond Guarantee Program has extended long-term, low-cost capital to underserved communities across America,” said Sen. Crapo. “By reducing the minimum dollar amount for each loan,
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Celebrates 4th Year of Juneteenth Being Recognized as a Federal Holiday
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith celebrated the fourth year that Juneteenth was officially recognized as a federal holiday in the United States. The annual holiday celebrates the date that news of emancipation of slaves in the South reached Galveston, Texas, two years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. Senator Smith’s bill establishing the holiday was signed into law by President Biden in June, 2021. Smith helped introduced a bipartisan Senate resolution this week for the legislative body to commemorate the date. She celebrated Juneteenth in Minnesota at the Northside Juneteenth Festival Celebration on June 15th. “The end of slavery in this country is
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith, Minnesota Fire Chiefs Celebrate Passage of the Fire Grants and Safety Act
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) issued the statements below after the Senate passed the Fire Grants and Safety Act, bipartisan legislation to continue providing federal funding for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant programs. This bill now goes to the President’s desk to be signed into law. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant program helps firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources. The SAFER Grants program provides direct funding to fire departments and volunteer firefighter organizations to
U.S. SENATOR TINA SMITH’S STATEMENT ON NOMINATION OF CHRISTY GOLDSMITH ROMERO TO CHAIR THE FDIC
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) , a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, applauded President Biden’s decision to nominate Christy Goldsmith Romero to be Chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC): “Christy Goldsmith Romero is a widely respected, principled financial regulator with extensive federal experience, and I applaud President Biden’s decision to nominate her as Chair of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). This nomination comes at a pivotal time at the FDIC, and Goldsmith Romero’s track record of holding bad actors accountable at the Troubled Asset Relief Program and advancing consumer interests at the CFTC is exactly
U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan Celebrate First-Ever Trade Mission Focused on Indigenous Products
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan (DFL) announced the first-ever trade mission by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) focused solely on Indigenous products. Lieutenant Governor Flanagan will join Red Lake, Inc. in representing Native producers from Minnesota on this historic trade mission to Canada from June 17-20 alongside 15 Tribal agribusinesses and 13 Native agricultural leaders from across the country. “This is a historic opportunity for Native farmers and producers and Tribal businesses to access a new market for their goods. Native farmers and producers face unique and challenging barriers, and this market
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