Latest Releases
Klobuchar, Smith Secure Funding for Substance Use Treatment Program in Hubbard and Beltrami Counties
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that they secured $550,000 in funding in the Fiscal Year 2024 federal budget to implement the Stratis Health CIRCLE of Care program in Hubbard and Beltrami Counties. The project is a substance use treatment program aimed at reducing morbidity and mortality for those with opioid use disorder (OUD). “The opioid epidemic has been hurting communities across Minnesota for far too long,” said Klobuchar. “With this funding, Stratis Health will have resources to expand proven treatment programs to additional counties to bolster access to treatment for those who are living with substance use disorder.” “Supporting mental health and substance use disorder services is essential—mental health is health, and we need to make sure more people get the care they need,” said Smith. “This funding will help people in Hubbard and Beltrami access life-saving substance use treatment.” Klobuchar and Smith have been actively involved in securing this federal funding for projects benefiting communities across the state through a process called “Congressionally Directed Spending” (CDS). During the CDS process, Klobuchar and Smith have considered project proposals and advocated for funding in close coordination with leaders from across the state. Projects are expected to receive funding over the next several months. ###
Klobuchar, Smith Secure Funding for Infrastructure and Housing Improvement Projects in Red Wing
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that they secured federal funding in the Fiscal Year 2024 federal budget for projects benefiting Red Wing. These projects will help support Sorin’s Bluff Reservoir and the Red Wing Hill Street Triplex Project. “These projects will improve critical water infrastructure and housing options for communities in Red Wing,” said Klobuchar. “With this federal funding, these projects will have the resources to move forward.” “Without a safe place to live – including clean drinking water – nothing in your life works,” said Smith. “These investments in Red Wing will directly benefit the community and improve public health by making housing safer and protecting access to clean drinking water.” Klobuchar and Smith have successfully secured: Klobuchar and Smith have been actively involved in securing this federal funding for projects benefiting communities across the state through a process called “Congressionally Directed Spending” (CDS). During the CDS process, Klobuchar and Smith have considered project proposals and advocated for funding in close coordination with leaders from across the state. Projects are expected to receive funding over the next several months. ###
U.S. Sen. Tina Smith: USDA Shortchanged MN Farmers When Distributing Billions to Compensate for President’s Damaging Trade War
Washington, DC [09/15/2020]– U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, said findings from a newly released investigation by the non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the Trump Administration shortchanged farmers in Minnesota and several other states outside of the South when it distributed billions of dollars in aid to partially compensate producers for the significant losses they suffered under the President’s damaging trade wars. Senator Smith said the report, released Monday, found that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) not only funneled more money to farmers in southern states, but also favored large operations over
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith Announce $929 Million Grant for Southwest Light Rail
Washington, DC [09/14/2020]–Today Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced a $928.8 million Federal Transit Administration grant for the Southwest Light Rail. Once completed, the 14.5-mile, 16-station extension of the METRO Green Line will connect downtown Minneapolis to Eden Prairie, serving residents in Minneapolis, St. Louis Park, nearby Edina, Hopkins, Minnetonka and Eden Prairie. The $2.003 billion project will be the largest public infrastructure project in the state’s history. The Senators said the project will provide a significant economic boost to the region, both during construction when it creates jobs, as well as afterward when it will carry thousands of passengers to work, shopping and other venues
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar Working to Provide Relief to Northwest Angle Businesses
Washington, DC [09/11/2020]– Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced legislation to provide relief to Minnesota businesses in the Northwest Angle that are hurting due to coronavirus (COVID-19) travel restrictions between the United States and Canada. The Remote Recreational Small Business Interruption Program Act would provide forgivable loans to small businesses in exclaves of the contiguous United States near the Canadian border. In order to safely reach the Northwest Angle, Americans must travel through Canadian territory by automobile at a border crossing. The alternative is a 40 mile boat trip across Lake of the Woods. Sens. Smith and Senator Klobuchar have urged cooperation between the U.S. and Canadian governments to find solutions to
U.S. Senators Tina Smith & Lisa Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Help Tribes Combat COVID-19, Other Public Health Crises
WASHINGTON, D.C. [09/10/2020]—Today U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) introduced bipartisan legislation to help Tribes access public health data and address health disparities that hit American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities especially hard. The Tribal Health Data Improvement Act would strengthen data sharing between Tribes, Tribal Epidemiology Centers and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) so Tribes can more effectively address public health challenges. Tribes and Tribal Epidemiology Centers are routinely denied access to important health data systems, despite having clearance to do so. Accessing federal and state public health data is critical for engaging in preventative public health work and combatting current health crises. Structural barriers to accessing data have been especially problematic during COVID-19, which has disproportionately
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