{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=6FCE8700-D66D-4488-9DC4-C3F6F5B03E89", "Klobuchar and Smith Announce Significant Federal Infrastructure Funding for Duluth International Airport", "2025-11-17", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "Senate", "MN", "Amy Klobuchar", "K000367", "www.klobuchar.senate.gov", "klobuchar", "https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2013 U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) announced they have secured significant federal funding for Duluth International Airport\u2019s air traffic control tower replacement project. The grant provides $20 million to fund the relocation of the Duluth air traffic control tower, a non-standard tower commissioned more than 70 years ago.\n\n\u201cDuluth International Airport\u2019s air traffic control tower is one of the oldest in the country and urgently needs an upgrade, which is why I have worked across the aisle to secure this funding,\u201d said Senator Klobuchar. \u201cThe Duluth Airport is a gateway for visitors from around the country and the world to visit Duluth, and is critical to the Northland\u2019s economy. With this major federal investment, Duluth International Airport will be able to continue the vital work of relocating this tower, which will boost efficiency to help travelers arrive and depart on time.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Duluth International Airport provides critical service to northern Minnesota, from commercial service to cargo, military and medical flights. Yet it\u2019s operating with a 70-year-old tower \u2013 the third oldest in the nation. It\u2019s out of date, doesn\u2019t meet national standards, and has needed replacing for a long time,\u201d said Senator Smith. \u201cAir traffic controllers have been doing a tremendous job making the outdated tower work and keeping our skies safe, but funding a new tower will make air travel in the Northland safer and more efficient. I\u2019m glad to see this announcement, and I\u2019ll keep pushing for the rest of the funding necessary to get the new tower built.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith the continued growth of air travel and growing aviation cluster at DLH, investing in infrastructure that supports aviation in our region is more important than ever,\u201d said Tom Werner, Executive Director of the Duluth Airport Authority. \u201cWe are thankful to the Federal Aviation Administration and our Congressional Delegation for their steadfast commitment to securing this essential funding for this shovel ready project.\u201d\n\nThis grant brings total federal investment secured by Klobuchar and Smith for this project to $37 million, including nearly $6 million secured earlier this year and $10 million secured in 2024. This funding comes from the Airport Terminal Program, one of three aviation programs created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.\n\nThe Duluth air traffic control tower replacement project includes design, formulation, site preparation, line of sight obstruction removal, and other related actions. Klobuchar emphasized the need for further federal support for the project to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Administrator Bryan Bedford during their nomination hearings before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.\n\nIn 2023, Klobuchar and Smith, and Stauber led the entire Minnesota delegation in sending a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requesting that they expedite reviews and approvals required for Duluth International Airport to apply for grant funding to build a new air traffic control tower.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=6FCE8700-D66D-4488-9DC4-C3F6F5B03E89"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.5336100477725267, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}