Latest Releases
U.S Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar Announce Funding to Improve Bus Infrastructure in Eden Prairie
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Transportation, and Senator Amy Klobuchar (both D-MN) announced a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to strengthen bus and transportation infrastructure in Eden Prairie. One hundred and seventeen communities across the country are getting infrastructure upgrades thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, legislation passed by President Biden in 2021 that has delivered infrastructure upgrades to nearly 5,000 communities nationwide. SouthWest Transit, the public transportation agency serving the Western metro area, will receive $520,436 from the Federal Transit Administration to rehabilitate the Southwest Station Park and Ride and bus garage. The project includes accessibility and security improvements for riders, as well as upgrades to the maintenance facilities to improve safety for workers. The project will support secure, accessible, and efficient transit service for travelers. “Each day, transit systems connect Minnesotans to their jobs, schools, grocery stores and countless other opportunities – all while reducing traffic congestion and pollution,” said Senator Smith. “But for many people, especially those in rural areas, safe, reliable public transportation is hard to find. This funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will deliver faster, safer, and more energy efficient transportation to communities across the Western metro area.” “Investments in public transit reduce traffic and make it easier for Minnesotans to get to school, work, and other destinations,” said Klobuchar. “This federal funding will go towards creating the modern, efficient public transit system families in the West Metro need to reliably get around.” ###
U.S Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar Announce Funding to Improve Bus Infrastructure in Southwestern Minnesota
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Tina Smith, Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Transportation, and Senator Amy Klobuchar (both D-MN) announced a grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to strengthen bus and transportation infrastructure in Southern Minnesota. One hundred and seventeen communities across the country are getting infrastructure upgrades thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, legislation passed by President Biden in 2021 that has delivered infrastructure upgrades to nearly 5,000 communities nationwide. The Minnesota Department of Transportation will receive $2,303,200 to buy propane buses and build the necessary fueling infrastructure in Marshall, Minnesota. The project will improve service, reliability and lower maintenance costs for southwest and south central Minnesota rural transit providers. The grant is distributed by the Federal Transit Administration and is part of the Reducing Transit Emissions in Rural Minnesota (RTERM) program. “Each day, transit systems connect Minnesotans to their jobs, schools, grocery stores and countless other opportunities – all while reducing traffic congestion and pollution,” said Senator Smith. “But for many people, especially those in rural areas, safe, reliable public transportation is hard to find. This funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will deliver faster, safer, and more energy efficient transportation to communities across Southwestern Minnesota.” “Investments in public transit make it easier for families in rural Minnesota to get to school, work, and other destinations,” said Klobuchar. “This federal funding will go towards creating the modern, efficient public transit system families in Southwestern Minnesota need to reliably get around.” ###
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Susan Collins, Cory Booker, and Lisa Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Rebuild Public Health Workforce Amidst Shortages
WASHINGTON, [1.14.22] – Last night, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minnesota), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Cory Booker (D-New Jersey), and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced bipartisan legislation to reinforce and expand our public health workforce amidst significant shortages. Their legislation, the Strengthening the Public Health Workforce Act, would help restore the public health workforce at the state, local, and Tribal level to support the COVID-19 response effort. These measures are particularly urgent given the current state of our public health sector; according to CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky, there is a nationwide shortage of 80,000 public health professionals. This bill is endorsed by
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, John Kennedy Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Boost Rural Small Businesses
WASHINGTON, [1.13.22] – Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and John Kennedy (R-La.) introduced bipartisan legislation that would help grow rural small businesses and their local economies. “Access to capital is essential to the economic health and growth of rural communities in Minnesota and across the country,” said Sen. Smith. “Rural small businesses often face disproportionate obstacles when trying to secure capital to develop and grow their businesses. This legislation would help rural small businesses overcome these hurdles and strengthen our rural economies.” “Louisiana’s small business owners create jobs and strengthen rural economies,” said Sen. Kennedy. “This bill takes a key
U.S. Senators Smith, Baldwin, Kaine Press Biden Administration to Ensure Easy Access to COVID-19 Rapid Tests
WASHINGTON, D.C. [01/07/22]—Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.), and Tim Kaine (D-Va.) led a letter urging the Biden Administration to ensure easy access to rapid COVID-19 tests for Americans across the country. In a letter Friday, the Senators pressed the Biden Administration to take needed steps to streamline access to at-home testing. The letter comes after the Biden Administration announced additional actions to combat COVID-19, including through rapid COVID-19 tests. “As you work to draft guidance to allow Americans with private health insurance to be reimbursed for rapid, at-home COVID-19 tests, we urge you to take steps to make
U.S. Senator Tina Smith in Senate Floor Speech: “The Insurrection and Coup Attempt on January 6th, 2021 Was Unsuccessful. But the Fight Continues in State Legislatures Across the Country, and They Are Prevailing”
WASHINGTON, D.C. [01/06/22]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) delivered a speech from the Senate floor to mark the one year anniversary of the January 6 insurrection, recalling her experience that day and calling on her colleagues to protect our democracy against ongoing attacks. You can access video of Sen. Smith’s remarks here and the full remarks are included below. “The insurrection and coup attempt on January 6th, 2021 was unsuccessful. But the fight continues in state legislatures across the country, and they are prevailing,” said Sen. Smith in her remarks from the Senate floor. “According to the Brennan Center, in 2021, 19
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