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 Hoeven Reintroduce Bill to Improve Financial Stability of Electric Coops, Small Rural Broadband Providers
WASHINGTON, D.C. [03/26/21]—U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.) reintroduced a bipartisan bill to help stabilize the finances of the nation’s rural electric cooperatives and rural broadband providers. The Flexible Financing for Rural America Act would make it possible for rural electric cooperatives and telecommunications providers to refinance their Rural Utilities Service (RUS) debt at lower interest rates. A House companion was introduced by Reps. Tom O’Halleran (D-Ariz.) and Vicky Hartzler (R-Mo.). Sens. Smith and Hoeven said that this could help rural cooperatives and businesses better manage cash-flow, invest in rural communities, and pass savings on to customers. “Rural electric cooperatives are critical to
U.S. Senators Smith, Capito Lead Bipartisan Senate Effort to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions with Carbon Capture Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. [3/25/21]—Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) will be leading a bipartisan group of senators in introducing legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Their bill would make tax credits that encourage carbon capture projects more available and easier to use. The bipartisan Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage Tax Credit Amendments Act is also supported by Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) and Joni Ernst (R-Iowa). This legislation would make improvements to ensure that carbon capture utilization and
U.S. Sens. Smith, Young Renew Bipartisan Push to Improve Public Health Preparedness with Coordinated “One Health” Approach
WASHINGTON, D.C. [3/18/21]—Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) are continuing their bipartisan work to improve public health preparedness by ensuring federal agencies advance a “One Health” approach—the idea that human and animal health are linked, and that they should be studied together—to prevent and respond to disease outbreaks. We know from the current COVID-19 pandemic—with CDC confirmation that the virus originally came from an animal—that it is vital to make sure our nation is prepared for the future. The Advancing Emergency Preparedness Through One Health Act would improve coordination among those studying animal and human health by requiring the
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Presses Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to Uphold Commitment to End Historic USDA Discrimination Against Farmers of Color
WASHINGTON, D.C. [3/17/21]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) continued her push to ensure U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack upholds his commitment to ensure the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) ends the historic discriminatory practices that have not only robbed farmers of color across the country of needed services and assistance, but have also cost U.S. taxpayers more than $1.25 billion in past restitution payments. Sen. Smith, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said that when she questioned Sec. Vilsack at his confirmation hearing last month about past USDA discrimination, he signaled his strong intention to work both internally at
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