Latest Releases
Senators Klobuchar, Smith Announce Significant Federal Funding to Combat Homelessness in Greater Minnesota
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-MN) announced over $1.6 million in federal funding aimed at helping communities in Greater Minnesota address homelessness. The first of its kind package is targeted at addressing unsheltered homelessness and homelessness in rural communities. The package of grants and vouchers will help provide people experiencing homelessness affordable, safe and decent housing in Greater Minnesota. “All Minnesotans deserve to have a stable roof over their heads, especially in the middle of a Minnesota winter,” said Senator Klobuchar. “This federal funding will help those experiencing homelessness access safe, dignified shelter and the support services they need.” “Without access to housing nothing else in your life works. Not your job, your health, your education or your family,” said Senator Smith, Chair of the Senate Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation and Community Development. “We know that housing issues have touched people in nearly every community across the country, with many families struggling to find a safe, decent and affordable place to live. These grants and vouchers will help give communities in Greater Minnesota the resources they need to improve living conditions for homeless Minnesotans. I applaud HUD for its innovative approach in directing resources specifically to Greater Minnesota and tackling unsheltered homelessness head on. ” These grants and vouchers, which are distributed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), are a first-of-its-kind package of resources specifically to help rural communities with homelessness and people in unsheltered settings. A nationwide total
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Announces Head of Second Harvest Heartland as State of the Union Guest
WASHINGTON [2.3.23] – Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) announced that Second Harvest Heartland CEO, Allison O’Toole, will be her guest at the President’s State of the Union Address on Tuesday, February 7th in Washington, D.C. Second Harvest was one of many food banks that benefitted from Democrats’ American Rescue Plan and helped provide crucial support for families during the pandemic. Thanks in part to federal funding that they received from the legislation, Second Harvest Heartland was able to provide more than 107 million meals to families across Minnesota and Western Wisconsin in 2022. In addition, they administered $3 million in American Rescue Plan funding to support a prepared meal distribution program throughout 2022. “In the wealthiest country on earth, it is inexcusable that so many Americans face hunger,” said Sen. Smith. “I am proud to have Alison O’Toole, head of Second Harvest Heartland, join me at the State of the Union. As one of the largest hunger-relief organization in the country, Second Harvest has been a tireless advocate for policies and programs that work to end hunger. I’ve seen their operation firsthand and admire their work to provide healthy food where it’s needed most. I look forward to our continued work together as we look to meet President Biden’s goal of eliminating hunger in America by 2030.” “I am honored to represent Second Harvest Heartland at the State of the Union this week as Senator Smith’s guest,” said Allison O’Toole, CEO of Second Harvest Heartland. “President Biden has taken a
Sen. Tina Smith Introduces Legislative Roadmap for Next Farm Bill Energy Section
U.S. Senator Tina Smith, a member of the Senate Ag Committee, has laid out a legislative roadmap for the energy section of next federal Farm Bill, which is being written in Congress this year. Sen. Smith’s Agricultural Energy Programs Reauthorization Act is a strong marker for the future of our federal ag energy policies. It would significantly strengthen energy programs that have seen success in the current Farm Bill, including the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), the biorefinery loan guarantee program, and the Biomass Crop Assistance Program. Notably, REAP is the program that helps ag producers and local businesses
Sen. Tina Smith’s Statement on Trump Administration’s Decision to End Program Protecting Liberian-Americans from Deportation
Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith released the following statement about the Trump Administration’s announcement that it will be ending the Deferred Enforced Departure program for Liberian immigrants: “Minnesota is now home to one of the largest Liberian-American communities in the country, some 30,000 people strong. It’s their home. And today’s news that President Trump decided, effective March 31, 2019, to terminate Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for Liberia—the program that allowed survivors of Liberia’s bloody civil war to stay in the U.S.— is shameful. “For the overwhelming majority of people this decision affects, there is nothing to go back to in
Sen. Tina Smith on Scandal-Ridden EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt: “It’s Time for Him to Resign”
Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith—a member of the Senate Energy Committee—called on Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt to resign. Over the past several weeks, reports have come to light that raise serious questions about Mr. Pruitt’s ethical judgment during his time as head of the EPA. “In a tenure mired in scandal, Scott Pruitt has done little to nothing to demonstrate that he has the judgement to serve as EPA Administrator, and I believe it’s time for him to resign. “Many Minnesotans are disturbed by reports that Mr. Pruitt abused his position as a member of the President’s
Strong standards projected to save consumers more than $1 trillion and nearly 2.5 million barrels of oil a day by 2030, reduce global warming pollution by six billion metric tons
Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Tina Smith (D-Minn.) today introduced the Greener Air Standards Mean Our National Security, Environment, and Youth (GAS MONEY) Saved Act, legislation that would block Trump administration efforts to roll back the historic 54.5 fuel economy emissions standards. The legislation reaffirms the Final Determination made by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in January 2017 that stated that the 2012 fuel economy emissions standards are appropriate. The GAS MONEY Saved Act also would block EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt from issuing rules to weaken the emissions standards
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