Latest Releases
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith Announce Funding for Meat and Poultry Processing in Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-MN) announced funding for two Minnesota-based agricultural projects through the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP). The grants, totaling $2 million, will increase meat processing capacity, help Minnesota farmers access new markets, and create dozens of new jobs. “Minnesota’s meat and poultry products help feed the nation and the world,” said Klobuchar. “This new funding will make it easier for our processors to bolster their capacity and get their high quality meats to new markets.” “Minnesota has long been a linchpin in America’s agricultural market, and I’m proud to advocate for projects that allow farmers in Minnesota to expand their production and processing capabilities,” said Senator Smith.“Through these innovative projects, this funding will create more jobs in our agriculture workforce and support Minnesota producers breaking into new markets.” “Clean Chickens and Co. LLC has been approved for federal funding from the USDA Meat Poultry and Processing Expansion Program (MPPEP-2). We have been working on this project for nearly 4 years and are grateful for all of the help we received along the way,” said Greg Wierschke, a grant recipient from Clean Chickens and Co. LLC in Elk River.“More specifically, this project is needed to build the goat and lamb slaughter facility in Willmar, which will help central Minnesota economically and culturally by allowing us to process goats and sheep for producers and to supply fresh, on-demand meat to our Minnesota communities and Ethnic families. Stay tuned for more details to come this fall regarding
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith Announce Two USDA Farm to School Grants to Support Agricultural Education and Local Food Access in Minnesota Schools
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-MN) announced funding from the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Farm to School Grant program for two projects in Minnesota. The projects will expand agricultural education, support local producers, and incorporate local foods into child nutrition programs in Minnesota. Two projects in Minnesota will each receive $100,000 in funding for agricultural education and child nutrition programs: 1. The Boys and Girls Club of Detroit Lakes: Funding will be used to purchase a “flex connect” farm system, 12 hydroponic towers used for crop growth, from Fork Farms. By purchasing the system, the Boys and Girls Club will expand educational opportunities for students, create an Entrepreneurial Program, and increase local food accessibility for students in Detroit Lakes. 2. Saint Paul Public Schools Nutrition Services: The grant will help expand its Grow Their Own program, a school gardening initiative which encourages food education through hands-on projects. The program currently supports student gardens at 28 different schools. Funding will go towards supporting more permanent staffing for student gardens, as well as expanding and diversifying educational opportunities through the initiative. “Providing nutritious school meals is critical for ensuring our students can succeed,” said Klobuchar. “This federal funding will expand students’ access to locally grown, nutritious food at school and bolster food education programs.” “Science has shown that proper nutrition is directly linked to academic performance, but too many of our students are not receiving the kinds of healthy meals they need to thrive in the classroom,” said Senator Smith. “This funding will
U.S. Senators Tina Smith & John Thune’s Bill to Provide Financial Stability for Federally Impacted School Districts During COVID-19 Signed Into Law
WASHINGTON, [1.21.22] – Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and John Thune’s (R-S.D.) bipartisan legislation to help federally connected schools retain funding during the COVID-19 pandemic was signed into law by President Biden. Smith and Thune’s Supplemental Impact Aid Flexibility Act will allow school districts participating in the Impact Aid Program to use previously reported student headcounts on their Impact Aid applications for the 2022-2023 school year, ensuring that they do not need to recalculate federally connected students due to prolonged uncertainty created by the COVID-19 pandemic. “As the pandemic continues to hit many Minnesota school districts hard, it’s important
Klobuchar, Smith, McCollum Announce Major Federal Funding for Saint Paul Port
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) and Representative Betty McCollum (D-MN) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has awarded more than $4.1M through its Port Infrastructure Development Program to the Saint Paul Port. “The Saint Paul Port enables Minnesota’s industries to compete in the global market and provides a cost-effective and environmentally-sustainable solution to transporting commodities in the Upper Midwest,” said Klobuchar. “This investment is key to ensuring safe access to port facilities, maintaining current barge volumes, and supporting the growth of the region.” “With nearly 6 million tons of cargo passing through
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Elizabeth Warren, Sherrod Brown Press Largest Managers of Online Degree Programs to Answer for Concerning Business Practices
WASHINGTON, [1.18.22] – United States Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) wrote to the eight largest Online Program Management (OPM) companies — 2U, Academic Partnerships, Pearson, Wiley, Bisk, Kaplan, Grand Canyon, and Zovio — that administer online degree programs for many colleges and universities, raising concerns about their business practices and tuition-sharing arrangements that incentivize aggressive recruitment tactics and may be contributing to rising student debt loads. “We continue to have concerns about the impact of OPM partnerships on rising student debt loads. The responses to our previous letters confirmed that OPMs often have tuition-sharing
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith Announce Funding to Address Health and Safety Hazards in Housing
WASHINGTON, [1.18.22] – Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-Minnesota) announced new funding for programs that will allow Minneapolis and Hennepin County to eliminate housing-related hazards. Programs in Minneapolis and Hennepin County will receive $2 million each. “In Minnesota, we know how important it is to have a safe, warm place to sleep every night,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “This funding will help address health and safety hazards that are too frequently ignored, putting Minnesota families at risk. I’ll keep working to support these vital programs and ensure hazards are examined and repaired in a timely manner.” “Housing-related
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