Latest Releases
U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith Celebrate Grants to Repair Flood Damage Across Chippewa and Superior National Forests
ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (both D-MN) announced two grants to the U.S. Forest Service to repair the transportation infrastructure in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan that was damaged due to significant flooding and high temperature spikes in the region. “Minnesotans are still dealing with the aftermath of severe flooding and extreme heat, and the damage to our transportation infrastructure in the Chippewa National Forest and the Superior National Forest has been significant,” said Klobuchar. “That’s why I fought for this funding to help rebuild and make sure people who live, work, and enjoy spending time in and around our National Forests can continue to do so safely.” “Minnesotans are still struggling in the aftermath of flooding across our state, and every level of government is needed for our communities to recover,” said Senator Smith. “I have made it a priority to get funding for our damaged infrastructure to help rebuild after the flooding, and these resources for the Forest Service will make a big difference for the Minnesotans who live, work and recreate in and around our National Forests.” The first grant was awarded to the U.S. Forest Service because of significant flooding that resulted in damage to the transportation infrastructure in the Chippewa National Forest and the Superior National Forest in Minnesota, the Chequamegon Nicolet National Forest in Wisconsin, and the Ottawa National Forest in Michigan. The second grant was awarded because of high temperature spikes as much as 26 degrees above normal in portions of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan that resulted in flood damage to the transportation infrastructure in the National Forests. The grants
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar, Tina Smith Celebrate Grant to Repair Road Damage in Nicollet County
ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced a grant to repair damage done by a landslide in Nicollet County in June of 2020. The landslide occurred because of saturated soils in the riverbed combined with depleted water levels in the Minnesota River, causing damage to county road systems. The grant will reimburse the Minnesota Department of Transportation as they finish construction to stabilize the roads and the riverbanks to make the area safer and more accessible. “We’ve seen firsthand the disruptive impact of landslides and other natural disasters in Nicollet County, and how important it is for everyone to work together to rebuild,” said Klobuchar. “That’s why I fought for this funding—it means we can complete the critical work of stabilizing our roads and riverbanks, making sure they’re safe for everyone.” “Natural disasters can turn families’ worlds upside down, especially for the commuters, farmers, and students that travel across the state every day,” said Senator Smith. “When natural disasters strike, it’s important that we respond at every level of government. We’ve been fighting to secure federal funding to fix the road damage caused by the landslide, and this investment will go a long way to helping restore the roads to a stable and reliable condition for residents in Nicollet County.” The grant comes from the Federal Highway Administration’s Emergency Relief Program, which helps communities repair roads damaged by natural disasters. In December 2024, Senators Klobuchar and Smith supported emergency supplemental funding for this program to address the backlog of roads in
Klobuchar, Smith, Budd Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Volunteer Drivers
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Tedd Budd (R-NC) introduced the bipartisan Volunteer Driver Tax Appreciation Act to support volunteer drivers. Each year, volunteer drivers provide millions of rides for seniors and other non-drivers through churches, community organizations, and nonprofits, giving them access to health care, meals, and other essential services. This legislation would lower the financial burden that those volunteer drivers face by increasing the charitable mileage tax deduction rate for drivers from $0.14 to $0.655 per mile. “Volunteer drivers are vital to rural communities across our state, helping seniors, people with disabilities, veterans,
Senator Tina Smith Introduces Legislation to Ensure Accurate, Thorough Education About Native Peoples
WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) introduced significant legislation to improve public education and understanding about Native American peoples and their histories. Accurate, thorough education about Native peoples benefits all students, Native and non-Native alike. Unfortunately, the education most students receive regarding Native histories and cultures is woefully inadequate. For example, nearly half of Americans say that what they were taught in schools about Native Americans was inaccurate and in most K-12 classrooms, students are not taught about Native peoples at all post-1900. Furthermore, teachers rate “history of Native American peoples” and “pre-Columbian American history and culture” as
Ahead of Likely Shutdown, Sen. Smith, Rep. Pressley Introduce Bill to Provide Back Pay for Federal Contract Workers
WASHINGTON — Ahead of a possible Republican government shutdown, Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) and Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07)introduced legislation to secure back pay for the thousands of federal contract workers who face layoffs without back pay during a potential shutdown. Unlike federal government employees, the thousands of federal contract employees—many of whom serve in modestly paid jobs like custodians and cafeteria workers—have no assurances that they will receive back pay to make up for the wages they miss during a shutdown. The bill is cosponsored by Senators Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), and
Senators Smith, Lummis Seek Key Clarifications to Address Native American and Rural Homelessness, Overcrowding
U.S. SENATE – U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-MN) and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) sent a letter to Secretary Marcia Fudge urging the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to help address homelessness in Native and rural communities and to provide clarity on the federal definition of homelessness. The Senators are the Chair and Ranking Member, respectively, of the Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development. The letter follows a bipartisan hearing led by Smith and Lummis on the “State of Native American Housing” where witnesses described the severe homelessness and overcrowding issues facing rural and Native American communities. “The stories we
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