Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Announces Clean Energy Projects for Minnesota Farms and Small Businesses
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, announced grants for 70 farms and small businesses across rural and Greater Minnesota to install clean energy technology on their farms. This round of funding for Minnesota totals nearly $8 million. This initiative is possible through the Renewable Energy for America (REAP) program, which Senator Smith championed and strengthened in the Inflation Reduction Act. “The clean energy transition is happening, and I want us to lead it,” said Senator Smith. “As we make the switch to cleaner, cheaper energy, we need to make sure everyone benefits. That’s why programs like REAP, which helps rural communities install renewable energy systems, are so important. These investments will save farms and small businesses all across the state thousands of dollars a year in energy costs while helping reduce harmful emissions.” Projects included can be found in the table below. The funding is specifically set aside for agricultural producers and rural small businesses to install renewable energy systems or to make energy efficiency improvements. Agriculture currently accounts for roughly one-quarter of Minnesota’s greenhouse gas emissions. Senator Smith continues to prioritize improvements to REAP, promote underutilized technologies, and help more farmers access the program. Senator Smith introduced the bipartisan, bicameral REAP Modernization Act which would increase the cost share for REAP grants, raise certain grant limits, and improve the accessibility of the program to farmers and small businesses. Toplines Total Investment: $7,875,510 Total in Energy Savings (kWh/Year): 5,975,000 Total in Energy Savings ($/Year): $692,900 Farm/
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith Announce Funding to Increase Minnesota’s STEM Talent Pipeline, Foster Diversity in STEM Fields
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced two grants for Minnesota middle schools, high schools, colleges, and universities to strengthen Minnesota’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) talent pipeline. One award sponsors the North Star STEM Alliance, a program that supports public, private, and Tribal colleges and universities in their efforts to significantly increase the numbers of students enrolling into and successfully completing high quality degree programs in STEM disciplines in order to diversify the STEM workforce. The other award supports the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities campus to partner with Saint Paul Public Schools (SPPS) and Hamline University, among others, to expand professional development opportunities for 18 science teachers working in diverse schools. “To continue our global leadership in science and technology research and development, American students must receive the best training and education,” said Klobuchar. “With these federal grants, our schools can better prepare students for the careers of tomorrow.” “Every student deserves every opportunity to succeed and build a bright future for themselves, and that all starts with a good education,” said Senator Smith. “This funding will help all students, from middle school through undergrad, no matter their background, to develop the skills they need to enter into a STEM field.” The North Star STEM Alliance aims to increase the number of students who graduate with B.S. degrees in STEM who participate in the STEM workforce. Over a five-year period, North Star Alliance will use $2,500,000 to increase STEM Bachelor of Science degrees from 700 in 2022, to 1,000 annually by 2028. To
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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