Latest Releases
Klobuchar, Smith Secure Funding for Mental Health Services in Detroit Lakes
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that they secured $75,000 in funding in the Fiscal Year 2024 federal budget to support mental health services in Detroit Lakes. The funding will provide A Place to Belong with resources for outreach and recruitment of persons with mental illness. A Place to Belong is a social club for adults who are diagnosed with a serious mental illness. “We need to make mental health care more accessible, especially in rural communities,” said Klobuchar. “With this funding, A Place to Belong will have additional resources to ensure local residents who are experiencing a mental illness can get the care they need.” “A Place to Belong helps create a community for people tackling serious mental illness, things like peer support and shared meals,” said Smith. “Everyone should feel like they have a place to belong, and I’m proud to have brought necessary resources to support that work.” 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 Project in Harris
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that they secured $1,574,000 in funding in the Fiscal Year 2024 federal budget for a project to extend municipal sewer and water services in Harris. Klobuchar and Smith requested the funding along with U.S. Representative Pete Stauber (R-MN). “The City of Harris has been attracting new businesses, but the water and sewer service lines need to be expanded to accommodate the growing demand,” said Klobuchar. “With the federal funding we secured, Harris will be able to upgrade this important infrastructure.” “Minnesotans deserve to have safe, clean water,” said Smith. “The City of Harris is no exception, and this investment will update the city’s water and wastewater infrastructure system, directly impacting all of its residents.” 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. Senators Tina Smith, John Hoeven Lead Bipartisan Effort to Improve Financial Stability of Electric Coops, Small Rural Broadband Providers in Next COVID Relief Package
MINNESOTA [08/20/20]— U.S. Sens. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.) are pushing Senate leaders to add their bipartisan plan to help stabilize the finances of the nation’s rural electric cooperatives and rural broadband providers in the next coronavirus relief package. In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the Senators pressed their Flexible Financing for Rural America Act, which would make it possible for rural electric cooperatives and telecommunications providers to refinance their Rural Utilities Service (RUS) debt at lower interest rates. By taking advantage of current lower interest rates, these rural cooperatives and businesses would be able to better
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Elizabeth Warren, Chris Murphy Call on Health Agencies to Require “Complete, Transparent, and Timely National Reporting of COVID-19 Cases” on College Campuses
MINNESOTA [08/20/20]— U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn.)—all members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee—are pressing the nation’s health agencies to issue detailed guidance for colleges and universities for reporting COVID-19 cases. In a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Senators urged the agencies to provide direction to institutions of higher education about how COVID-19 cases should be reported to state, local, and federal health officials, including the timeline for reporting suspected and confirmed cases, demographic data
U.S. Sen. Tina Smith Discusses Impact of U.S. Postmaster’s “Chaotic Approach and Rapid Fire Change” at Eagan Mail Processing Facility
MINNESOTA [08/18/20]—Today U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.), who has raised deep concerns over the recent and sudden changes at the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), toured an Eagan mail-processing center and discussed with USPS officials the impact of the changes that have already disrupted mail delivery in the state and may affect mail-in ballots during this fall’s election. Recent operational and leadership changes put in place by newly-installed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy—including denying overtime to mail clerks and carriers—have slowed timely mail delivery for millions of people in Minnesota and across the country. The delays hold significant implications for veterans, older citizens and rural residents who
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith, Colleagues Call on Postal Board of Governors to Immediately Reverse Changes Made by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, Which Have Degraded and Delayed Postal Service Operations
WASHINGTON, D.C. [8/17/2020]—Today U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and colleagues sent a letter to the United States Postal Service (USPS) Board of Governors, calling on them to immediately use their authority to reverse changes to Postal Service operations and mail service delays put in place by Trump donor turned Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. Mr. DeJoy appears to be engaged in a deliberate effort, with the support of the President, to delay and degrade mail service and undermine the mission of the United States Postal Service. Sens. Klobuchar and Smith said that fundamental changes to Postal Service operations made by DeJoy—including cutting back
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