Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Tina Smith Helps Introduce Legislation to Restore National Park and Forest Service Staffing, Protect Public Lands
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) helped introduce two bills to address the consequences of recent federal staff cuts at the National Park Service (NPS) and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). The Protect Our Parks Act of 2025 and the Save Our Forests Act of 2025 will fully restore staffing levels at both agencies, ensuring that America’s national parks and forests remain accessible, safe, and well-maintained. This comes on the heels of Senator Smith bringing a fired Park Ranger from Voyageurs National Park to President Trump’s Joint Address to Congress last week. The Trump administration’s mass firings have led to significant staffing reductions at national parks, including Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota, negatively impacting visitor experiences, safety and park maintenance efforts. They’ve also fired Forest Service workers charged with protecting like Chippewa National Forest and Superior National Forest, which is the largest forest in the country east of the Mississippi River, including workers charged with helping loggers sell timber in ways that protect the future health of our forests. “National Park Service workers like Park Rangers keep us safe in some of our country’s most wild and extreme areas, including places like Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota. U.S. Forest Service workers keep our forest areas healthy and productive, including the largest forest east of the Mississippi River, the Superior National Forest. I’ve met these fired workers, I’ve heard their stories and losing them makes our most cherished wild areas less safe and less cared for,” said Senator Smith. “Elon Musk indiscriminately
U.S. SENATOR TINA SMITH REINTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO REPEAL THE COMSTOCK ACT
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) reintroduced her landmark legislation to repeal an arcane 1873 law, the Comstock Act, that anti-choice extremists have repeatedly invoked as a backdoor means to effectively ban abortion nationwide without a single act of Congress. The Comstock Act is a centerpiece of Project 2025, the blueprint that Donald Trump and his Administration are following, and if misused, this ancient law would effectively end access to medication abortion nationwide without a single act of Congress. Donald Trump has installed an anti-abortion extremist as head of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) who declined to acknowledge the settled science proving mifepristone’s safety and efficacy, signaling that access to medication abortion will continue to face threats under this Administration. “We just witnessed a barrage of Trump nominees who evaded giving a straight answer on abortion pill access every time they were pressed during hearings. We’re seeing states pursuing criminal charges against doctors who prescribe medication abortion to women suffering under total abortion bans. We know that this fight is not over, that they are methodically moving through the plans laid out in Project 2025, and we need to be ready with every tool available when the Trump Administration inevitably turns its focus to the Comstock Act and tries to misuse a law passed 50 years before women had the right to vote to ban abortion nationwide. With Donald Trump in the White House, the threat to women’s reproductive health and freedom is more urgent
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith Announce Federal Grant to Replace Roof of Public Safety Building Aitkin
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced a $50,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development grant to replace the roof on Aitkin’s Public Safety Building. Aitkin’s Public Safety Building houses the local law enforcement department. “The City of Aitkin’s Public Safety Building needs a new roof so emergency service providers have the facilities they need to continue serving the community,” said Klobuchar. “The federal grant will advance this project.” “Federal investment is quite literally helping our small towns build a roof overhead for essential community services like public safety,” said Smith. “Our local law enforcement officers deserve to
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar Celebrate $92 Million for Minnesota Water Infrastructure Upgrades
Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced more than $92 million from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for Minnesota drinking water and clean water infrastructure upgrades. The funding is part of the more than $50 billion investment in water infrastructure upgrades from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – the largest such investment in American history. Today’s announcement will support essential water infrastructure that protects public health and treasured water bodies across the state. Almost half of this funding will be available as grants or principal forgiveness loans, ensuring funds reach underserved communities most in need of investments in
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith Announce Significant Federal Infrastructure Funding for Bemidji Regional Airport
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced they secured significant federal funding for the expansion of Bemidji Regional Airport’s Passenger Terminal. The grant provides $261,250 to expand the passenger terminal, which will address current concerns regarding security checkpoints and congestion throughout the terminal. The grant is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. “Bemidji Regional Airport needs to expand its passenger terminal to operate safely and efficiently,” said Klobuchar. “This funding builds on the other federal grants we secured to improve the security checkpoint and extend the life of the runway so that the airport can continue to
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith Announce Significant Federal Infrastructure Funding for Two Harbors Helgeson Municipal Airport
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced they secured significant federal funding for Two Harbors Helgeson Municipal Airport, which will contribute to the construction of a general aviation terminal. The grant provides $1,140,000 to fund the construction of their new terminal, replacing the existing 640 square foot terminal built in 1976. The grant is funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which Klobuchar and Smith supported. “This major grant is going to be a gamechanger for the airport,” said Klobuchar. “This new terminal will upgrade the travel experience at Two Harbors Helgeson Municipal Airport for passengers and
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