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’s Measures to Improve Mental and Physical Health for Seniors Pass Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C. [03/04/20]—Yesterday, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) moved forward measures to address the negative mental and physical health effects—and the economic consequences—of social isolation among seniors, as well as efforts to strengthen grants for Tribal organizations to provide home and community-based services, as part of a Senate-passed bill to amend the Older Americans Act. The legislation passed by the Senate on Tuesday contains provisions from Sen. Smith’s Older Americans Social Isolation and Loneliness Prevention Act, and from Sen. Smith’s bipartisan Strengthening Services for Native Elders Act with Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska). “Seniors need to be connected to communities in order to thrive. So I’m pushing to
Klobuchar, Smith Urge Administration to Increase Access to Counseling Services for Veterans, Servicemembers, their Families
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) called on the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) to increase access to Readjustment Counseling Services to help Minnesota veterans, servicemembers, and their families transition to both military and civilian life. In the letter, Klobuchar and Smith also highlighted the importance of mental health services – particularly in rural Minnesota – to combat Minnesota’s rising veteran suicide rate. “It is critical that the Department address the shortage of behavioral health providers and expand access to these services for our veterans,” Klobuchar and Smith wrote. “For over forty years, Readjustment Counseling Services
U.S. Senators Smith, Klobuchar & Senate Colleagues Call on Census Bureau to Address Impact of Coronavirus on 2020 Census
WASHINGTON, D.C. [03/04/20]—Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.)—along with fellow Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)—pushed the Director of the U.S. Census Bureau to put a plan in place to ensure that the expanding Coronavirus outbreak doesn’t impact the accuracy of the 2020 Census, and to make certain the health of census takers is protected. In addition to Sen. Klobuchar, Sens. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Bob Casey (D-Pa.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.),
U.S. Senators Klobuchar & Smith Announce Additional Aid to Help Minnesota Producers Recover from Extreme Weather
WASHINGTON, D.C. [03/02/20]—U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced additional U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funding to help Minnesota producers recover from 2018 and 2019 losses related to excessive rain. The USDA is also finalizing agreements with sugar beet cooperatives to distribute $285 million to grower members for 2018 and 2019 crop losses. Funding is made available through the USDA’s Wildfires and Hurricane Indemnity Program Plus (WHIP+). The Senators said that producers should go to their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) starting March 23 to apply for WHIP+ assistance. Sugar beet growers should go directly to their cooperative. “This announcement from the
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