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Klobuchar, Smith Secure Significant Federal Funding for Local Projects Benefiting Iron Range

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that they have secured significant federal funding for local projects benefiting communities on the Iron Range. These projects will help strengthen emergency services infrastructure, expand access to affordable child care, and enable key infrastructure improvements.  “This federal funding will have a real impact for communities across the Iron Range. From investing in emergency response services and improving water infrastructure to increasing access to affordable child care, these projects will address key issues impacting Minnesotans on a daily basis. I am proud to have worked with leaders from across the Iron Range to secure the resources for these projects, and I look forward to seeing all the good they will do,” said Klobuchar. “The Iron Range deserves strong federal partners and I’m proud of the work we did with local leaders to bring these investments here,” said Smith. “From making important water infrastructure improvements, supporting emergency response services, increasing access to child care, and expanding housing and shelter resources, these projects are going to have a real, positive impact on people’s lives.”  Klobuchar and Smith have secured federal investments to further the following priorities: Improving water infrastructure  $4 million for the East Mesabi Water Project, which will strengthen water infrastructure in Aurora and other Range communities.  Strengthening emergency response services $1.3 million for the Ely Area Ambulance Service Joint Powers Board to build a centralized emergency response facility.  Increasing access to affordable child care $1.2 million to help United Way of Northeastern

Klobuchar, Smith Secure Significant Federal Funding For Projects Benefiting Moorhead and Surrounding Areas

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that they have secured significant federal funding in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2023 federal budget to support local projects benefiting Moorhead and surrounding areas. These projects will help boost entrepreneurship, mitigate flooding in the Red River, increase access to affordable child care and expand economic opportunities for veterans, servicemembers and their families.  “From support for small businesses and flood prevention infrastructure in the Red River Valley to increasing affordable child care access and providing career pathways for veterans and service members, these projects will help address key issues impacting Minnesotans on a daily basis. I am proud to have worked with local leaders to push for this funding, and I know that these resources will make a real difference for so many communities across Moorhead and the surrounding areas,” said Klobuchar.  Fargo-Moorhead is an economic and educational hub in Minnesota and these projects are going to make a real, positive impact for the people who call this area home,” said Smith. “From supporting our littlest learners at the Detroit Lakes Boys & Girls Club, to connecting servicemembers and veterans to higher education and workforce opportunities, boosting community entrepreneurship, and making important flood mitigation improvements, these investments are going to be transformational for the Fargo-Moorhead community. I’m proud of the work we did to secure this funding.” Klobuchar and Smith have secured federal resources to further the following priorities: Boosting entrepreneurship: $1 million to establish a City of Moorhead Community Center for

U.S. Sens. Tina Smith, Amy Klobuchar Honor the Storied Life of Minnesota’s First Female Member of Congress, Coya Knutson, with Senate Resolution

MINNESOTA [08/22/18]—  Today, Minnesota’s U.S. Sens. Tina Smith and Amy Klobuchar honored the storied life of Minnesota’s first female member Congress, Coya Knutson, with a Senate Resolution heralding her life as a trailblazer who, despite great obstacles when she served in the 1950s, succeeded in making a difference for the families and communities in her state.  You can read a copy of the Resolution here. The resolution, offered Wednesday on what would have been Knutson’s 106th birthday, notes that after arriving in Washington, D.C in 1954, she convinced Speaker Sam Rayburn to appoint her to be the first woman ever to serve on the House

Klobuchar, Smith, Reed Call on Administration to Protect U.S. Troops and Families from Financial Fraud

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith joined Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) and 46 other senators in calling on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to maintain financial protections for servicemembers and their families under the Military Lending Act (MLA). Recent reports have indicated that the Administration is planning to stop examining lenders for violations of the MLA. In their letter, the senators urged CFPB Acting Director Mick Mulvaney not to end its examinations of payday lenders and other financial institutions for MLA compliance, and to not undertake measures that risk leaving U.S. troops and their families vulnerable to exploitation.

U.S. Sen. Tina Smith Presses Swiss Pharmaceutical Giant Novartis to Ensure Improper Company Actions Aren’t Pushing Up U.S. Prescription Drug Prices

WASHINGTON D.C. [08/23/18]— Today, U.S. Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) pushed for answers from Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis on improper financial and lobbying efforts – including a $1.2 million dollar payment to President Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen – that could be contributing to high prescription drug prices for people in Minnesota and across the country. In May, Novartis confirmed that it erred when it paid Cohen through a shell company to help influence Trump Administration health care policy. Those payments came after Novartis had already agreed in 2016 to comply with a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) order to establish

Sen. Smith Presses to Enhance Nation’s Energy Storage Capabilities

WASHINGTON D.C. [08/24/18]— U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said legislation she is introducing would significantly increase America’s energy storage capabilities and help expand the role that renewable energies like wind and solar play in the nation’s energy portfolio. “Expanding the nation’s energy storage capabilities will not only help expand use of renewables like wind and solar energy but will contribute to our nation’s energy and economic security,” said Sen. Smith. “This bill will help to significantly improve our nation’s efforts to store energy, and jump start energy storage research and the deployment of energy storage technologies.” Sen. Smith’s “Advancing Grid Storage Act” would authorize $500 million over

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