Latest Releases
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar Press Postmaster General Louis DeJoy About Minnesota Mail Delays
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar (both D-MN) sent a letter pressing Postmaster General Louis DeJoy for answers on recent mail delays across Minnesota, particularly in the Rochester area. The follow-up comes after both Senators led the entire Minnesota and North Dakota Congressional delegations in a bipartisan letter pressing the Postmaster General to improve service following an Inspector General report. That report found nearly 130,858 missing or delayed pieces of mail at six post offices over the course of only two days. “Letter carriers, especially in rural areas, work extremely hard to make deliveries on time, especially around the holidays. But without support from district management and the Postmaster General in Washington, their jobs go from difficult to nearly impossible,” said Senator Smith. “These new reports only confirm what we’ve already been hearing, which is that USPS leadership is not doing enough to support their workers and deliver mail on time. The Postmaster General needs to take accountability for service issues and do something about it.” “Minnesotans rely on the Postal Service to deliver their prescriptions, Social Security checks, and more, and they need and deserve timely service,” said Senator Klobuchar. “We have heard reports of mail being delayed for four days or more in Rochester. That’s why Sen. Smith and I are calling on Postmaster General Dejoy to address these issues, ensuring that Rochester and the rest of Minnesota’s residents receive reliable service.” You can read the full letter to the Postmaster General here. Senators Smith and Klobuchar requested the audit of the Minnesota-North
U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar Announce 130 New Clean Energy Projects for Rural Minnesotans
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar (both D-MN) announced nearly 130 new clean energy projects across rural Minnesota. The $15.6 million investment will save farms and rural small businesses nearly $18.4 million on their energy bills per year while simultaneously reducing harmful carbon emissions. A full breakdown of the awards and projected savings can be found below. “The clean energy transition is happening; the question is whether we lead or follow. I want us to lead,” said Senator Smith. “But as we make the switch to cleaner, cheaper energy, we need to make sure everyone benefits, including small towns and rural communities. That’s one reason why projects funded by the Rural Energy for America Program are so important. These investments will help farmers and business owners save money and improve their bottom lines while reducing harmful carbon emissions.” “Investing in long-term energy is a win-win for rural customers and businesses,” said Senator Klobuchar.“With this federal funding, we’re taking a big step toward deploying new energy technologies to power rural communities across Minnesota for decades to come.” This year alone, Minnesota has seen over 380 clean energy projects on farms and in rural communities thanks to the Renewable Energy for America Program (REAP). Senator Smith championed and strengthened REAP in the Inflation Reduction Act, which both Senators supported. The funding is specifically set aside for agricultural producers and rural small businesses to install renewable, clean energy systems, or to make their operations more energy efficient. Example projects include installing energy efficient grain dryers, LED lighting and
Klobuchar, Smith, Grassley Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Rename Federal Building in Minneapolis After Senator Paul Wellstone
MINNEAPOLIS – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tina Smith (D-MN) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) introduced bipartisan legislation to rename the Federal Building in Minneapolis the “Paul D. Wellstone Federal Building,” in honor of the legacy of the late Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN). Today marks the 20th anniversary of the death of Senator Wellstone, his wife Sheila, his daughter Marcia, his staff members Tom Lapic, Mary McEvoy, and Will McLaughlin, and pilots Richard Conry and Michael Guess. “During his time as an educator, an activist, and a United States senator, Paul Wellstone touched the lives of people throughout Minnesota and across
U.S. Senators Klobuchar, Smith and Representative Craig Announce Minnesota Dairy Producers Can Sign Up for Improved Dairy Margin Coverage
WASHINGTON, D.C. [10/24/2022] – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith and U.S. Representative Angie Craig (all D-MN) announced that Minnesota dairy producers are eligible to sign up for the 2023 Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) program, an important safety net program that helps producers manage changes in milk and feed prices. The lawmakers encourage producers to sign up at their local Farm Service Agency (FSA) office by Dec. 7, 2022. “The Dairy Margin Coverage program helps provide Minnesota’s dairy farmers with important stability and risk management tools that benefit our rural communities,” said Sen. Klobuchar. “ I encourage all dairy farmers
Senators Klobuchar, Smith Announce New Rental Assistance Funding for Minnesota
WASHINGTON, D.C. [10/121/22] — U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (Both D-Minn.), announced over $8 million in funding for a key rental assistance program that will help Minnesotans struggling to pay rent. The additional funding is made possible by the American Rescue Plan, which both Klobuchar and Smith helped pass last year. “Far too many households across our state are struggling to afford the high costs of housing. Families should not have to choose between paying their rent and paying for other essential necessities,” said Klobuchar. “This critical rental assistance will enable more Minnesotans to remain in their homes
Klobuchar, Smith Push for Improved Veteran Emergency Care
Washington, D.C.— Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith (both D-MN) and the entire Minnesota delegation sent a bicameral, bipartisan letter to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough urging the agency to improve veterans’ ability to receive emergency care. Specifically, the letter asks VA Secretary McDonough to revise existing rules to treat all emergency transport reimbursements the same way, regardless of a veteran’s service-connected disability rating. “By processing emergency transportation services as beneficiary travel, the VA leaves a large group of veterans with unpaid emergency transportation bills,” wrote the lawmakers. “This places an unjust burden on a population already facing rising
English