Latest Releases
Klobuchar, Smith Announce Federal Funding to Improve Taconite’s Water System
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced a $851,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development grant and a $1,494,000 loan to make improvements to the City of Taconite’s water system. The funding will advance the construction of a new water storage tank, a water pump house, and a replacement water tower. The project will also install individual water meters for customers and develop a meter-reader system. “To ensure families are getting quality water out of their taps, it’s important to upgrade water infrastructure once the equipment reaches the end of its useful life,” said Klobuchar. “With this federal support, Taconite can rebuild the water system to better serve residents.” “Updating the water system will make a real difference for people living in Taconite,” said Smith. “This loan from the USDA will help to construct a new water storage tank and provide safe, clean water for the city’s residents.” Senators Klobuchar and Smith are members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, which oversees the USDA. This federal funding was secured through the USDA Rural Development Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program. Program grants can be used by communities across the country to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community in a primarily rural area, such as health care facilities, public safety services, educational services, and more. ###
Klobuchar, Smith Announce Federal Funding to Improve Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water System
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced a $2,194,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development grant and a $26,179,000 loan to make improvements to the Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water system that services the counties of Lyon, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Yellow Medicine, and Redwood. This project will construct a new water source and water treatment plant, and make improvements to the current water treatment plant to ensure the growing regional water demand is met. “The Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water System currently serves five counties, and the demand for water is growing,” said Klobuchar. “With these federal resources, Lincoln Pipestone can construct the infrastructure it needs for its expansion plans.” “Safe water and wastewater management are essential to the health of our communities and our environment,” said Smith. “This investment will help five Minnesota counties make improvements to their water infrastructure with the Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water System.” Senators Klobuchar and Smith are members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, which oversees the USDA. This federal funding was secured through the USDA Rural Development Community Facilities Direct Loan and Grant Program. Program grants can be used by communities across the country to develop essential community facilities in rural areas. An essential community facility is defined as a facility that provides an essential service to the local community in a primarily rural area, such as health care facilities, public safety services, educational services, and more. ###
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Introduces Bill to Address America’s Maternal Mortality Crisis
WASHINGTON, D.C. [2/23/21]—U.S. Senator Tina Smith introduced legislation to address America’s worsening maternal mortality crisis, which has a disproportionate impact on Black, Brown, Indigenous and all People of Color. The Data to Save Moms Act seeks to understand the root causes of this emergency by improving data collection on maternal mortality and morbidity. Sen. Smith said that the United States is the only industrialized country with an increasing maternal mortality rate, and that it’s one that discriminates. African American, Native and Indigenous women are two and a half times as likely to die due to a pregnancy related complication as white women. “I believe in the fundamental value that all
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Votes to Confirm Tom Vilsack for U.S. Agriculture Secretary as Senate Gives Nomination Final Approval
WASHINGTON, D.C. [2/23/21]— Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) voted to confirm Tom Vilsack as U.S. Secretary of Agriculture as the Senate gave final approval to his nomination. Sen. Smith, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said Vilsack, a former Iowa Governor who previously served eight years as Agriculture Secretary under President Obama, understands how important agriculture is to the economic well-being of farmers and communities in the upper Midwest and across the country. “I supported Secretary Vilsack’s nomination because he understands the challenges farmers, ranchers and rural communities have faced in recent years with low farm prices, trade disruptions,
U.S. Senator Tina Smith: EPA Decision to Limit Abuse of Small Refinery Hardship Waivers Will Boost Rural Economy, Jobs
WASHINGTON, D.C. [2/22/21]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.)—a longtime champion of a strong Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)—released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it supports the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals’ RFS small-refinery requirement ruling, which could limit abuse of small refinery hardship waivers. “A strong Renewable Fuel Standard is critically important to Minnesota, where ethanol produced from corn creates billions of dollars in economic output and supports thousands of jobs,” said Sen. Smith, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. “I applaud the EPA’s decision to crack down on the abuse of hardship waivers. It’s a welcome change after the last four years, when we saw more than a 300% increase in the
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Calls for Investigation, Including Possible Price Gouging, as Massive Natural Gas Price Spikes May Pass Huge Costs on to Utilities & Consumers Nationwide
WASHINGTON, D.C. [2/20/21]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) is seeking an investigation, including possible price gouging, as natural gas prices skyrocketed during the recent extreme weather situation in Texas, and many parts of the central United States. The drastic price increases, some as high as 100 times typical rates, have putting a significant strain on utilities that have to buy this power, and costs that will likely be passed along to consumers in the form of higher gas bills. Sen. Smith believes it is unacceptable for gas barons to line their own pockets while many Americans are literally out in
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