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962 rows where party = "Democrat", state = "MN" and year = 2020 sorted by date descending

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  • Senate 27

year 1

  • 2020 · 962 ✖

state 1

  • MN · 962 ✖

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url title date ▲ year month party chamber state member_name bioguide_id domain scraper source date_source text has_text collected_at updated_at
https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-craig-statement-voting-override-president-trump-s-veto-2021 Representative Craig Statement on Voting to Override President Trump’s Veto of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act 2020-12-28 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Angie Craig C001119 craig.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig released the following statement on her vote to override the President's veto of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act: By vetoing the bipartisan NDAA last week, the President chose to prioritize his own political interests over our national security. In doing so, he denied our service members a hard-earned pay raise, blocked paid family leave for countless federal employees and prevented Minnesota veterans from getting the care they deserve. Today, I'm proud to cast my vote to override this senseless stunt and to give our armed forces the resources they need to keep us safe in the year to come. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/ilhan-omar-pardoning-monstrous-criminals-will-leave-dark-mark-history Ilhan Omar: Pardoning Monstrous Criminals Will Leave a Dark Mark on the History of Presidential Pardons 2020-12-22 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Ilhan Omar O000173 omar.house.gov omar https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper MINNEAPOLIS— Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) issued the following Donald Trump's pardon of four Blackwater contractors convicted of killing 14 civilians in Iraq in 2007. "This is a dark day for our country. Private Blackwater mercenaries Nicholas Slatten, Paul Alvin Slough, Evan Shawn Liberty, and Dustin Laurent Heard are war criminals. "They killed 14 civilians in broad daylight and showed no remorse. Pardoning war criminals who murdered innocents—including children— goes directly against every value we claim to hold as Americans and gives a green light to war criminals and human rights abusers around the world. "Of course, Blackwater was run by Trump supporter and war profiteer Erik Prince, also the brother of Trump Education Secretary Betsy DeVos. One set of rules for Trump and his cronies. Another one for everyone else. Pardoning monstrous criminals will leave a dark mark on the history of presidential pardons." 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/us-senator-tina-smith-presses-va-answers-after-hearing-minnesota-veterans-be-hit-bills-medical U.S. Senator Tina Smith Presses VA for Answers After Hearing From Minnesota Veterans to be Hit by Bills for Medical Expenses Incurred During Pandemic Billing Moratorium 2020-12-22 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy VA Took Step to Suspend Copay & Medical Billing Through December 31 in Response to Pandemic; Senator Calls to Extend Billing Moratorium as Financial Hardships Continue for Families & Veterans Across the Country WASHINGTON, D.C. [12/22/20]Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) is pressing the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for answers after hearing from veterans who are set to receive medical bills for accrued copay and medical costs incurred during a VA billing moratorium issued in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Earlier this year, the VA suspended copay and other medical billing through December 31 to help veterans weather the hardships of COVID-19. Now, Sen. Smith is hearing from veterans who say they have received word from the VA that come January, they will receive bills for costs during the billing moratorium. Sen. Smith is calling on the VA to extend this moratorium, and to provide answers on the VA's billing practices. At the beginning of April, 2020, VA took the laudable step of suspending copay and other medical billing through December 31st, 2020, which helped our veterans through the initial economic hardships of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, I recently learned that VA sent out letters to Veterans notifying them that they will receive a bill in January to collect the accrued copay and medical debts incurred during this time. While I recognize the financial and operational necessity of collecting these bills, the extraordinary conditions that necessitated the billing suspension have not ended, wrote Sen. Smith. The pandemic is ongoing, and for many American families and veterans, the accompanying economic distress is more acute than ever. We must keep our focus on ensuring the full health and wellbeing of our veterans and their families. Therefore, at a minimum, I urge you to extend the billing moratorium through at least the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency. In addition, Sen. Smith is asking for the VA to provide answers about whether veterans will b… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/us-senator-tina-smiths-bipartisan-bills-help-tribes-combat-homelessness-help-more-native-families U.S. Senator Tina Smith's Bipartisan Bills to Help Tribes Combat Homelessness & Help More Native Families Become Homeowners to be Signed Into Law 2020-12-22 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy Bipartisan Legislation Heads to President's Desk as Part of Congress' Year-End Appropriations Package WASHINGTON, D.C. [12/22/20]Two bipartisan bills led by U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) tohelp Tribes combat homelessness and tohelp Native families become homeownersare headed to the President's desk to be signed into law as part of Congress'year-end appropriations package. TheTribal Access to Homeless Assistance Actled by Sen. Smith and co-led by Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska)will make Tribes eligible to apply forthe Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)'s homeless assistance funds through the Continuum of Care program.While Tribal leaders in Minnesota and across the country have been working diligently to address housing insecurity in Tribal areas,Tribes andTribally designated housing entities have been unable to access these HUD resources to combat homelessness. TheNative American Housing Affordability Actco-led by Sen. Smith and Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.)will reform the HUD Section 184 Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program to make it easier to secure a mortgage on Tribal trust land. The passage of these two bipartisan laws will make improvements along the continuum of housing on Tribal lands in Minnesota and across the country,said Sen. Smith, a member of both the Senate Indian Affairs and Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committees. The bipartisanNative American Housing Affordability Actwill remove red tape that slows down loan processing time to promote homeownership and create opportunity for Native communities. And theTribal Access to Homeless Assistance Actwill helpIndigenous leaders combat housing insecurity in their communities by making Tribes eligible to apply forfederal assistance. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-craig-statement-passage-government-funding-and-covid-19-relief Representative Craig Statement on Passage of Government Funding and COVID-19 Relief Package 2020-12-21 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Angie Craig C001119 craig.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig released the following statement on the House passage of an omnibus government funding bill as well as a COVID relief bill. The bill now awaits approval in the Senate, before it heads to the President's desk to be signed into law. The legislation took too long and is far from perfect but I'm glad that we were finally able to come together to fund the government and pass a crucial relief package that will provide support to Minnesota families, struggling small businesses, out-of-work Americans and our health care professionals. There is still much work to be done to keep one another safe while the vaccines are distributed but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/chair-mccollum-statement-passage-36107-billion-fy-21-interior-environment-bill Chair McCollum Statement on Passage of $36.107 Billion FY 21 Interior-Environment Bill, Appropriations Omnibus 2020-12-21 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Betty McCollum M001143 mccollum.house.gov mccollum https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.), Chair of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, released the following statement after the passage of the conference agreement for the $36.107 billion FY 21 Interior-Environment funding bill as part of the 12-bill appropriations omnibus package, H.R. 133: "The final $36.107 billion FY 21 Interior-Environment Appropriations bill represents a year of hard work, a complete rejection of the extreme cuts proposed by the Trump administration, and the largest investment in our environment and our communities in a decade," Chair McCollum said. "These investments move us forward – by allocating resources in ways that keep our communities safe and healthy, protect and preserve our landscapes and biodiversity, and fund the arts and humanities. The bill also moves us in the right direction to meet the federal government's trust and treaty responsibilities to our Native American brothers and sisters, increasing funding for Indian health care, education, and more. This bill reflects the priorities of the American people." This legislation makes significant investments in protecting and preserving public lands, building resilience to climate change, strengthening America's environmental workforce, and ensuring access to safe drinking water. Highlights include: Environmental Protection: $9.24 billion for the EPA, increasing funding by $180 million, with $3.49 billion for EPA's core science and environmental program work and $12.5 million for Environmental Justice activities. Strengthening Federal Commitments to our Native American Brothers and Sisters: $6.2 billion for the Indian Health Service, a $189 million increase; and $3.5 billion for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, Bureau of Indian Education, and Office of the Special Trustee, a $171 million increase. Public Lands: $13.7 billion for the Department of the Interior, increasing funding by $186 million, with $1.27 billion for the Bureau of Land Management, $1.58 billion for U.S. Fish and… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-statement-passage-900-billion-covid-19-aid-package McCollum Statement on Passage of $900 Billion COVID-19 Aid Package 2020-12-21 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Betty McCollum M001143 mccollum.house.gov mccollum https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) issued the following statement today after a $900 billion COVID-19 federal aid deal passed the House of Representatives as part of H.R. 133, the federal appropriations omnibus: "Our nation has lost more than 318,000 lives, including over 4,800 Minnesotans, to the COVID-19 pandemic. As our health care system strains under the weight of increasing caseloads, and American families are struggling with food insecurity, housing instability, job loss, and the emotional toll of isolation, Republicans failed for months to come to the table and negotiate in good faith with Democrats. The passage of this aid deal, though incomplete, provides a glimmer of hope in a time of great darkness for our nation. These funds will help accelerate vaccine distribution, and they will provide a measure of stability to working families and our struggling economy as we face this historic crisis. Small businesses and important cultural institutions will be able to stay afloat because of this legislation. It will also help ensure that our schools and universities can operate safely." "It is important that we provide this stability over the next few weeks until the Biden-Harris administration can put together a plan to work with Congress on additional federal assistance for state, local, and tribal governments that is so urgently needed." Highlights of the COVID-19 deal include: $600 direct payments to most individuals, including children; $13 billion in increased SNAP and child nutrition benefits to help relieve the historic hunger crisis that has left up to 17 million children food insecure; $25 billion in rental assistance and an extended eviction moratorium to help ensure people can stay in their homes for the duration of this crisis; $284 billion for a second round of Paycheck Protection Program loans for businesses, with dedicated funding for small and underserved businesses through Community Development Financial Institutions; $300 per week in federal unemployment benefits for 11 weeks; … 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/ilhan-omar-statement-coronavirus-relief-package Ilhan Omar Statement on Coronavirus Relief Package 2020-12-21 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Ilhan Omar O000173 omar.house.gov omar https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON— Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) issued the following statement on the agreement on a coronavirus relief package and end of year spending bill, which she plans to support. "My priority remains getting Minnesota families direct financial relief. Two weeks ago, survival checks for the American people were not even on the table. Along with Senator Bernie Sanders and the Congressional Progressive Caucus, I organized to get as much direct relief as possible for the American people. I led a letter with nearly 60 House Members from all wings of the Democratic Party calling for survival checks, and the Congressional Progressive Caucus later took on that position as a caucus. Since the beginning of the pandemic, I have also pushed for relief for mixed status families, who pay taxes and should be eligible for relief just like every American family. As a result, the bill contains survival checks, including for mixed status families. It also provides critical unemployment insurance to those who have lost their jobs due to this pandemic and extends the deadline for states and localities to use CARES Act funds, something our Mayors and Governors have been pleading for. As a Member of the Education & Labor Committee, I am also proud that we included billions in school funding and broadband investment in this emergency relief. "But that doesn't mean this package is anything close to enough. Hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans remain out of work, and millions more have had their hours cut or lost a steady income stream due to the pandemic. Six hundred dollars is not close to sufficient to cover eight months of lost wages, food or rent expenses. State and local governments in Minnesota are bleeding resources, while shouldering the burden of education, public safety, and public healthcare workers in the face of massive revenue shortfalls. Mitch McConnell and his Republican colleagues have stonewalled state and local aid, along with survival checks that meets the scale of the crisis. This is a collective failure in helping Amer… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://phillips.house.gov/media/press-releases/covid-19-app-created-eden-prairie-student-wins-congressional-challenge COVID-19 App Created By Eden Prairie Student Wins Congressional Challenge 2020-12-21 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Dean Phillips P000616 phillips.house.gov     legacy MINNETONKA, MN - Today, Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) announced that Eden Prairie High School Senior Connor Holm won the 2020 Congressional App Challenge in Minnesota's Third District for his app, the COVID-19 Information Provider. The app connects users with detailed local public health data, allowing Minnesotans to assess the risk of contracting COVID-19 in their community and arming them with information that can save lives. I was inspired to create this COVID-19 Information Provider after seeing the devastating effects of COVID-19,said Connor Holm. The best type of programming is when the results are beneficial to society. People should not have to live without knowing if the risk of COVID-19 in their area is high or low. I knew that my passion for programming and learning could solve this problem by showing the current risk and informing the user on the correct safety procedures when going into public areas. Knowing how to stay safe is vital and my project is a small step for society to take in stopping COVID-19 forever. I am always so impressed by the passion, energy, and talent of our students, said Rep. Phillips. Now more than ever, we need thoughtful young people like Connor who care about our country and want to make a difference. It's going to take all of us, working together, to get through this pandemic as healthy, economically sound, and prepared for the future as possible. The Congressional App Challenge was launched by the House of Representatives in 2014 to highlight the value of computer science and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education. All middle and high school students living or attending school in Minnesota's Third District were invited to participate. Submissions were scored based on originality, user experience, and demonstrated programming skills by a panel of local experts including: Casey Helbling, CEO of Software for Good, a nonprofit based in Minnesota focused on developing web and mobile applications for organizations working toward positive environm… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://phillips.house.gov/media/press-releases/phillips-problem-solvers-lead-break-through-compromise-deliver-needed-aid Phillips, Problem Solvers Lead Break-Through Compromise To Deliver Needed Aid To American Families And Small Businesses 2020-12-21 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Dean Phillips P000616 phillips.house.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. Today, Rep. Dean Phillips (D-MN) praised the passage of a bipartisan emergency relief package to help American families and small businesses struggling during the most devastating public health emergency in modern American history. Last week, Phillips and Problem Solvers Caucus (PSC) members from the House of Representatives joined a bipartisan group of Senators including Mitt Romney (R-UT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Susan Collins (R-ME) and Joe Manchin (D-WV) to release a framework for the compromise passed today. This is the culmination of months of work, led by the PSC Co-Chairs, Reps. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) and Tom Reed (R-NY), along with Reps. Dean Phillips and Dusty Johnson (R-SD), who released a March to Common Ground framework in September and have pushed leaders from both parties to cast partisan politics aside and come together for the American people. After making it my personal mission for over four months, I'm pleased that emergency relief is finally on its way to American workers, families and small businesses, Rep. Phillips said. I'm particularly proud of the bipartisan Tiger Team' working group of the PSC, which worked together to inspire a breakthrough in stalled negotiations and played an integral role in delivering much needed aid to Americans at the precipice. Restoring Americans' trust in government requires members of Congress to place the needs of people above personal priorities, and we need more to take that pledge and fulfill the promise. America is great because we've always found the common ground necessary to serve our nation's best interests. As our country emerges from the worst health and economic crisis of our lifetimes, I'm committed to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure we can meet the moment. The package, while far from perfect, includes important provisions that will be a lifeline to many in need over the holidays: COVID-19 testing, tracing, and vaccine distribution Nutrition assistance Earned Income Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/us-senator-tina-smith-covid-19-relief-will-bring-support-minnesotans-more-must-be-done U.S. Senator Tina Smith: COVID-19 Relief Will Bring Support to Minnesotans, But More Must be Done 2020-12-21 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. [12/21/20]Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) released the following statement on the coronavirus (COVID-19) relief and government funding agreement: This bipartisan COVID-19 emergency relief bill will provide much-needed and long-overdue relief to Minnesotans. In the midst of the dark days of this pandemic, this legislation is an economic and health bridge for Minnesota and all Americans, and it is desperately needed. During the course of 2020, my priorities have been Minnesota's prioritiesgetting direct help to families, small businesses, and our health care system. This relief package supports all three of these priorities, and I'm very glad it includes many of the provisions I led and co-sponsored like extending Liberian American humanitarian protections, and including my Tribal housing bills, my wind energy legislation, and substantial support for my Loggers' Relief Act to help Northern Minnesota. And for families, this legislative package provides direct relief for families fighting hunger, extended and expanded unemployment insurance, and rental assistance. This legislation also provides relief for small businesses and nonprofits, childcare providers, restaurants, music and entertainment venues, and resources to support minority-owned businesses. And for stronger, better health care to help Minnesota families, this legislation directs resources to help states distribute vaccines and improve testing to suppress COVID-19, and it finally takes action to protect Minnesotans from surprise medical bills. It supports mental health, telehealth and rural health. But the bill is far from perfect. I'm very disappointed that this legislation does not provide desperately needed help to local, state and Tribal governments, which face deep budget challenges through no fault of their own because of the historic economic downturn caused by COVID. Collectively, over 1 million Americans working in the public sector have lost their jobs due to budget challenges. This must be a priority when we return in … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/us-senators-tina-smith-and-james-lankfords-bipartisan-bill-expand-health-care-resources-urban U.S. Senators Tina Smith and James Lankfords Bipartisan Bill to Expand Health Care Resources for Urban Indian Health Organizations Clears Senate and House 2020-12-21 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. [12/21/20]Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and James Lankford (R-Okla.) to strengthen health resources for urban Indian health organizations amid the pandemicpassed the Senate yesterday and the House earlier last week.The legislation will amend theIndian Health Care Improvement Actto create parity within the Indian HealthServicesystem(ITU system).Itnext heads to the President to be signed into law. The ITU system is made up of the Indian Health Service, Tribal health programs, and urban Indian organizations (UIOs). UIOs provide culturally competent care for the over 70 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives who live in urban centers, but right now providers at UIOs are not offered the same malpractice liability protection as otherproviderswithin the ITU system.Sens. Smith and Lankford'sCoverage for Urban Indian Health Providers Actwould expand Federal Torts Claim Act coverage (FTCA) to UIOs, which are currently required to divert already-limited resources away from patient care to cover liability costs. This bipartisan legislation will create parity within the Indian HealthService systemso urban Indian health organizations can spend their money on efforts to provide care rather than onlegal fees,said Sen. Smith, a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee.Thislegislationis especially important during the pandemic, which has hit Minnesota's urban Indigenous communities hard and has forced some urban Indian health organizations to experience financial hardship or even close operations. I'm glad to have worked in a bipartisan way to bring some relief to urban Indian health organizations. Urban Indian health providers should not have to pay more for their liability insurance simply because they are in an urban area. This bill will ensure Tribal health providers can focus funds on care, not court costs,said Sen. Lankford.This bill helps clear up disparities in the law that unfairly limit Urban Indian Health Organizations because they cannot currently ac… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-rep-craig-s-bipartisan-legislation-reduce-costs-and-risks-natural House Passes Rep. Craig’s Bipartisan Legislation to Reduce the Costs and Risks of Natural Disasters 2020-12-18 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Angie Craig C001119 craig.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, DC Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a bipartisan disaster mitigation bill introduced by U.S. Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN) and Rodney Davis (R-IL) to help communities across the country prepare for and rebuild from extreme weather events. The Safeguarding Tomorrow through Ongoing Risk Mitigation (STORM) Act the Senate counterpart to Craig and Davis' Resilience Revolving Loan Fund Act introduced in July of 2019 would create a low-interest loan program for Minnesota and other states to fund mitigation projects that reduce the risks and costs of natural disasters. The bill is now headed to the President's desk to be signed into law. This will be Craig's third bill signed into law in her first term in Congress the most of any member of the Minnesota delegation Republican or Democrat. Loans would be available for projects that minimize the costs and risks associated with wildfires, earthquakes, floods, storm surges and other events deemed catastrophic by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The program will not only reduce the financial burden of recovery on local governments but allow communities to invest in resilient infrastructure that can withstand severe weather events and natural disasters. U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Ron Johnson (R-WI), Ranking Member and Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, introduced the Senate counterpart legislation which passed the Senate on December 9th by unanimous consent. The bill has received strong support from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Mississippi Rivers Cities and Towns Initiative and several other groups. In recent years, cities and towns in the Second District have experienced some of the most devastating flood seasons in recent memory threatening Minnesotans' homes, doing severe damage to public property and costing our local communities millions of dollars in recovery efforts,said Rep. Angie Craig.I am incredibly proud that our bill whic… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/ilhan-omar-releases-end-term-progress-report-op-ed Ilhan Omar Releases End of Term Progress Report, Op-ed 2020-12-18 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Ilhan Omar O000173 omar.house.gov omar https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper MINNEAPOLIS— Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) released an report of her accomplishments in her first term, along with an end-of-year op-ed in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. "Before being sworn in, I was elected as Whip of the Progressive Caucus and Vice Chair of the Medicare for All Caucus," Rep. Omar said. "We worked with you to enact community-centered legislation to abolish student debt, provide universal school meals, combat systemic racism, provide housing for all, reorient our foreign policy, and end the waste crisis that is fueling climate change. In the face of threats, we have passed over two dozen bills and amendments, more than 94% of the freshman class." "The enormity of the crises we faced required us to think differently, to do things in a different way, to abandon the status quo and to expand the role of what it means to be a legislator in times of crisis. But I believe it has made me a stronger representative for Minnesotans. This is just the beginning; I will continue fighting for the 5th District with co-governance and justice at the center—every day. To build a more equitable Minnesota and America that uplifts one another so we collectively benefit. That's the type of leadership I will continue to bring to the People's House. Let's get to work." The achievements include: 664 bills cosponsored 60 bills and amendments introduced 28 bills and amendments passed in the House 7 bills and amendments passed into law 42 town halls and roundtables $1,750,000,000 in federal grant money secured Over 300 constituent cases worked on Over 2,500 meetings with constituents You can view the full progress report here. You can view the op-ed hereand below. U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar: A look back — and forward — at the end of a first term By Ilhan Omar As our first term comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on everything we have accomplished together—and the enormity of the threats we faced. We live in truly unprecedented times. I was sworn into office during the longest running government shutdown i… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-angie-craig-nominated-serve-house-committee-energy-and-commerce Representative Angie Craig Nominated to Serve on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce in the 117th Congress 2020-12-17 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Angie Craig C001119 craig.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, DC Tonight, U.S. Representative Angie Craig was nominated to serve on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, one of Congress's most significant and influential committees. Among other priorities, the Energy and Commerce Committee is responsible for strengthening the economy, improving the nation's health care system, combating climate change and helping to guide the nation's energy policy. Craig was selected by a group of her peers serving on the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, which oversees committee assignments in the Caucus. Her nomination now goes to the full Democratic Caucus for approval. If approved, Craig will be seated on the Committee alongside Representatives Lori Trahan (D-MA), Kathleen Rice (D-NY), Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX) and Kim Schrier (D-WA). It is an enormous privilege to have been nominated to serve on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce in the 117thCongress. I am grateful to my colleagues for entrusting me with a key role on such an influential committee, where I look forward to enacting critical legislation that will improve the lives of hardworking Minnesotans in the Second District,said Rep. Craig.With more than two decades of experience working in health care, I am particularly thrilled to have the opportunity to help lead efforts to strengthen the Affordable Care Act and reduce the cost of prescription drugs while also working to advance key legislation on a broad range of issues, from combatting the effects of climate change and creating millions of good-paying jobs to protecting and strengthening our domestic biofuels markets for Minnesota family farmers. The Committee on Energy and Commerce is the oldest continuous standing committee in the U.S. House of Representatives, originally established in 1795 to regulate interstate and foreign commerce. The Committee has the broadest jurisdiction of any authorizing committee in Congress legislating on a wide variety of issues including health care, environmental protection, national energy policy, interstate … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/pressley-omar-waters-adams-introduce-bold-resolution-calling-president-elect Pressley, Omar, Waters, Adams Introduce Bold Resolution Calling on President-Elect Biden to Cancel $50,000 in Federal Student Loan Debt 2020-12-17 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Ilhan Omar O000173 omar.house.gov omar https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswomen Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Maxine Waters (CA-43),Chair of the House Financial Services Committee, and Alma Adams (NC-12) introduced a resolution outlining a bold plan for President-elect Joe Biden to cancel up to $50,000 in Federal student loan debt for student loan borrowers using existing legal authority under the Higher Education Act. The resolution, which outlines a pathway for the President-elect to use executive authority to cancel student loan debt while ensuring cancellation does not result in any tax liability for Federal student loan borrowers, is the House companion to Senate Resolution 711, introduced by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) earlier this year. Original co-sponsors of the House resolution include Congresswomen Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Jahana Hayes (CT-05). "The student debt crisis is a racial and economic justice issue and we must finally begin to address it as such. Broad-based student debt cancellation is precisely the kind of bold, high-impact policy that the broad and diverse coalition that elected Joe Biden and Kamala Harris expect them to deliver," said Congresswoman Pressley. "As we work to fight for meaningful economic relief for workers and families that meets the scale and scope of the crisis we face, canceling student debt is one of the most effective ways to provide direct relief to millions, help reduce the racial wealth gap, stimulate our economy, and begin to deliver an equitable and just recovery. On day one of his Administration, President-elect Biden will have the executive authority to cancel billions in student debt with the stroke of a pen. This resolution lays out a plan for him to do exactly that." "Over 90 percent of student debt is held by the federal government, which President-elect Joe Biden can cancel with the stroke of a pen," said Congresswoman Omar. "Young people have been devastated by this economic crisis, wit… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/us-senators-smith-menendez-lead-push-make-sure-covid-19-vaccine-clinical-trials-continue-enroll U.S. Senators Smith & Menendez Lead Push to Make Sure COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Trials Continue to Enroll Diverse Participants 2020-12-17 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy Senators Call on Nation's Top Health Agencies to Make Sure Clinical Trials Continue to Represent and Reflect Health Outcomes Across Communities WASHINGTON, D.C. [12/17/20]Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) led a group of their Senate colleagues in calling on the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Operation Warp Speed and the U.S. Army Material Command (AMC) to make sure COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials continue to enroll a diverse group of participants. In addition to underscoring this priority, Sens. Smith, Menendez and their colleagues are urging HHS Secretary Alex Azar, FDA Commissioner Stephen Hahn, Operation Warp Speed Chief Advisor Moncef Slaoui and General Gustave Perna to provide information on the demographics of current and future Phase III COVID-19 vaccine trial participants. COVID-19 has disproportionately harmed communities of color. Compared to white Americans, Black Americans are one and a half times more likely to contract COVID-19, over three and a half times more likely to be hospitalized, and nearly three times as likely to die from the disease, wrote the lawmakers. Americans of color are also more likely to develop severe COVID-19, requiring hospitalization. Hispanic and Latino Americans are hospitalized at a rate over four times higher than non-Hispanic white Americans, and American Indian and Alaska Native people who contract COVID-19 are four times more likely to be hospitalized than white Americans. The senators continued: Given this disparate impact, FDA and public health officials have stressed the need for clinical trials to enroll diverse populations. Clinical trials should enroll diverse participants to confirm that COVID-19 vaccine candidates are safe and effective for Americans of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. Diverse clinical trial participation also builds vaccine confidence, which is critical in light of the United States' history of medical research exploitation and discrimination aga… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/ilhan-omar-republicans-are-gaslighting-public-and-it-s-costing-millions Ilhan Omar: Republicans are Gaslighting the Public and it’s Costing Millions of Americans their Livelihoods and Lives 2020-12-16 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Ilhan Omar O000173 omar.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTONRep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) issued the following statement on the ongoing coronavirus relief talks. We are now nine months into a pandemic that has taken hundreds of thousands of lives and millions of livelihoods. And instead of getting direct relief to struggling American families and the frontline workers helping to save lives, Republicans are fighting to defund the government and protect corporations from liability for their employees'COVID-related injuries. Let's remember how we got here: in the CARES Act, we got immediate relief to Americans weeks after the pandemic hit. This was supposed to be a start. In May, the House passed the HEROES Act to get Americans and local governments additional relief. Kevin McCarthy, Steve Scalise and Mitch McConnell all opposed it. For months, Mitch McConnell stonewalled the bill, insisting that his only priority was protecting corporations from putting their workers' lives at risk during the pandemic. He literally laughed when confronted by his inaction on the stimulus. Americans have now gone 8 months without any relief, and the position of the Republican Party is that we should defund our firefighters, defund our frontline workers, not fund the distribution of the vaccine and provide no direct relief for American families. Then they have the gall to blame Democrats for the lack of action? This is the truest form of gaslighting. They always say they want money in people's pockets. But they are literally trying to stop us fromputting money in the pockets of millions of Americans. They talk about helping businessesbut they are literally blocking relief for small business owners and their workers. We know the outlines of a deal because we already passed one this year: survival checks for the American people, increased unemployment for people out of work, and funding for state and local services like firefighters and healthcare workers. This shouldn't be hard. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/ilhan-omar-republicans-are-gaslighting-public-and-its-costing-millions Ilhan Omar: Republicans are Gaslighting the Public and it’s Costing Millions of Americans their Livelihoods and Lives 2020-12-16 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Ilhan Omar O000173 omar.house.gov omar https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON— Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) issued the following statement on the ongoing coronavirus relief talks. "We are now nine months into a pandemic that has taken hundreds of thousands of lives and millions of livelihoods. And instead of getting direct relief to struggling American families and the frontline workers helping to save lives, Republicans are fighting to defund the government and protect corporations from liability for their employees' COVID-related injuries. "Let's remember how we got here: in the CARES Act, we got immediate relief to Americans weeks after the pandemic hit. This was supposed to be a start. "In May, the House passed the HEROES Act to get Americans and local governments additional relief. Kevin McCarthy, Steve Scalise and Mitch McConnell all opposed it. For months, Mitch McConnell stonewalled the bill, insisting that his only priority was protecting corporations from putting their workers' lives at risk during the pandemic. He literally laughed when confronted by his inaction on the stimulus. "Americans have now gone 8 months without any relief, and the position of the Republican Party is that we should defund our firefighters, defund our frontline workers, not fund the distribution of the vaccine and provide no direct relief for American families. Then they have the gall to blame Democrats for the lack of action? This is the truest form of gaslighting. "They always say they want money in people's pockets. But they are literally trying to stop us from putting money in the pockets of millions of Americans. They talk about helping businesses—but they are literally blocking relief for small business owners and their workers. "We know the outlines of a deal because we already passed one this year: survival checks for the American people, increased unemployment for people out of work, and funding for state and local services like firefighters and healthcare workers. "This shouldn't be hard." 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/us-senator-tina-smith-says-upcoming-government-funding-package-should-include-additional-long-term U.S. Senator Tina Smith Says Upcoming Government Funding Package Should Include Additional, Long-term Funding for Community Health Centers 2020-12-15 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy Senator Urges Congressional Leadership to Provide Sustainability for the Almost 30 Million Low- and Lower-Income Americans Served by Community Health Centers WASHINGTON, D.C. [12/15/20]Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) joined a group of her colleagues in calling on Congressional leadership to include funding for community health centers (CHCs) in the upcoming government funding package to ensure that millions of Americans can continue to receive the care both during and after the pandemic. The pandemic has had a dramatic economic impact on our health centers, many of which have been forced to implement safeguarding measures to ensure the long-term financial stability of their organization, wrote Sen. Smith and her colleagues. This includes some having made difficult personnel decisions, including temporary reductions in staffing and closures of important healthcare delivery sites during this crisis, in fact 651 health centers across the nation are currently closed due to this pandemic. The senators continued: Given health centers' 50-plus years of dedicated service and vital role in protecting our nation's most vulnerable populations, both in rural and urban areas, more must be done to ensure their long-term financial viability. Ensuring long-term, robust health center funding is essential to health centers' ability to recruit and hire providers, expand capacity and plan for dramatic increases in demand for services, particularly as this crisis evolves. Sen. Smith and her colleagues want to ensure that CHCs have stability and can continue treating the almost 30 million low- and lower-income patients relying on these centers for care, which is why the lawmakers are pushing for reauthorizing CHCs for four years. In addition to Sens. Smith and Hassan, the letter was signed by Sens. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.). You can read text of the letter below: December 15, 2020 The Honorable Mitch McConnell The Honorable Charles Schumer Majority Le… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-craig-presses-fema-clarify-reimbursement-rules-local-governments-investing Rep. Craig Presses FEMA to Clarify Reimbursement Rules for Local Governments Investing in COVID-19 Related Expenses 2020-12-14 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Angie Craig C001119 craig.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, DC In a letter to local elected officials throughout Minnesota's Second Congressional District, U.S. Representative Angie Craig informed leaders that she had signed onto a letter urging the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to clarify guidance on the process by which COVID-19 related expenses are deemed eligible for reimbursement. Under current guidelines, state and local governments are unable to be reimbursed for the purchase of many necessary protective products such as masks, gloves and plexiglass partitions. In her letter, Rep. Craig described that guidance as careless, and assured local leaders that one of her top priorities in Congress is ensuring that cities and counties have access to the resources necessary to mitigate the costs of the COVID-19 public health and economic crisis. During these difficult times, it is the responsibility of the federal government to ensure that our city and county governments have the funds necessary to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, said Representative Craig. Unfortunately, the careless guidance provided by FEMA has left local governments across Minnesota with an unnecessary financial burden simply for investing in resources to keep their constituents safe. I am proud to stand up for our cities and counties in the Second District and will continue to do everything in my power to ensure that our elected officials can continue providing essential services in their communities without stretching their budgets thin. In addition to pressing FEMA to clarify their reimbursement rules, Rep. Craig has also cosponsored legislation requiring FEMA to provide full federal funding for virus-related emergency aid to state and local governments. That bill, which passed the House in November, would allow local governments constrained by balanced budget requirements, to invest in the programs and resources necessary to protect their communities throughout the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. Text of the letter is copied below and available here. Dear Local Leader, As w… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://phillips.house.gov/media/press-releases/phillips-statement-decisive-biden-electoral-college-victory Phillips Statement on Decisive Biden Electoral College Victory 2020-12-14 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Dean Phillips P000616 phillips.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) made the following statement after the Electoral College certified results of the 2020 Presidential Election: "Inspiring a new era of collaboration in Congress and restoring Americans' faith in our government requires thoughtful compromise, but when it comes to protecting the foundations of American democracy there is no middle ground. Joe Biden is President-elect. Our democratic republic, if we can keep it, depends on elected leaders who demonstrate political courage when we need it most. Every Republican who has shared this truth, pushed back on dangerous conspiracy theories, and protected America from communism and fascism is a patriot and history will remember them as such. Now is the time for unity, for truth, and for optimism. Our best days are still ahead." ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/us-senator-tina-smith-us-representative-karen-bass-press-attorney-general-barr-information-use U.S. Senator Tina Smith & U.S. Representative Karen Bass Press Attorney General Barr for Information on Use of Ketamine During Arrests 2020-12-14 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy Lawmakers' Probe Follows Incidents Highlighting Dangers of Ketamine, Including Death of Elijah McClain in CO & Medical Emergency of Max Johnson in MN WASHINGTON, D.C. [12/14/2020]Inaneffort to protect the health, safety and civil rights of Americans, today U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and U.S. Representative Karen Bass (D-Calif.)led 7 lawmakers in pressingU.S.Attorney General William Barrfor information about the use of ketamine and other sedatives or chemical restraints on individuals during their arrest or detention by law enforcement.Recent incidents highlight thedangers of administering sedatives during an arrestin particular the death of Elijah McClain in Colorado and the medical emergency of Max Johnson in Minnesota. In their letter toBarr, Sen. Smith and Rep. Bassnoted that law enforcement medics or paramedics typically administer ketamine to incapacitate individuals who are demonstrating excited delirium" a term that isn'tfound in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders and iswithout a widely accepted medical definition. "We are concerned that ketamine and other sedatives are being used to help effectuate arrests without a full appreciation of the health risks and potential liability involved,"wrote Sen. Smith and Rep. Bass."For instance, in a 2018 report conducted by the City of Minneapolis, investigators described a situation in which an Emergency Medical Services (EMS) provider was not aware that people with asthma can suffer fatal consequences from ketamine, but administered it to an asthmatic individual who then stopped breathing.In Mr. Johnson's case, EMS first treated him for low blood sugar to address diabetic shock, but then law enforcement treated Mr. Johnson as if he exhibited drug-induced behavior. The 500 milligrams of ketamine administered to Mr. Johnson during this event sent him into the Intensive Care Unit for two days.Federal standards for EMS only mention sedatives as a potential cause of delirium, not as a treatment for it.However, an EMS trade publication i… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-craig-announces-apple-valley-students-winners-congressional-app-challenge Rep. Craig Announces Apple Valley Students as Winners of the Congressional App Challenge 2020-12-11 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Angie Craig C001119 craig.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig announced Nathan Labiosa and Akansha Kamineni as the winners of the Congressional App Challenge in Minnesota's Second Congressional District. The Congressional App Challenge is an annual nationwide competition for middle school and high school students interested in computer science. Labiosa and Kamineni received the distinction after designing a mobile application called Rethink Recycling which is designed to encourage young people to get excited about recycling and to help people understand which household items can be recycled by taking a short quiz. Nathan and Akansha who are Seniors at Eastview High School in Apple Valley chose to design their application because of their firm belief in social responsibility and protecting the environment. The designers also thought their application was especially important at a time when millions of Americans are staying home due to the COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis. I'm incredibly proud to announce Nathan Labiosa and Akansha Kamineni as the winners of the Congressional App Challenge in Minnesota's Second Congressional District,said Rep. Craig.Now more than ever, it is crucial for Americans to act as responsible stewards of the world around us and Nathan and Akansha's innovative and commonsense app could help us all to do exactly that. I'm incredibly impressed by this accomplishment and optimistic about the future of our state with young folks like Nathan and Akansha leading the way. The Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide effort by Members of Congress to encourage middle school and high school students to learn code and pursue careers in computer science. Each member of Congress is encouraged to nominate one submission to be put on display in the U.S. Capitol Building for one year. In the first four years of the challenge, the CAC has inspired more than 14,000 students in 48 states to get involved in application design by participating in the annual competition. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-craig-dairy-industry-applaud-ustr-efforts-address-canadian-tariff-rate Rep. Craig, Dairy Industry Applaud USTR Efforts to Address Canadian Tariff Rate Quota Violations 2020-12-11 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Angie Craig C001119 craig.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. This week, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative announced that they will begin consultations on the enforcement of Canada's tariff rate quota (TRQ) allocations for imported dairy products. U.S. Representative Angie Craig joined the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) in applauding this news. Dairy farmers in Minnesota and across the country have faced unprecedented challenges in recent years,said Representative Craig.I supported the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement to help make it possible for our family farmers to compete on a level playing field. I'm proud to see USMCA working for our dairy industry to bring market fairness and stability. Representative Craig helped deliver USMCA for Minnesota's dairy farmers and farmer-owned cooperatives and now is working hard to hold Canada accountable to its trade promises. USMCA is designed to bring tangible benefits home to America's dairy industry, yet Canada has manipulated its market access commitments, threatening these hard-fought wins. We applaud Congresswoman Craig for her leadership on this critical issue. Jim Mulhern, President & CEO, National Milk Producers Federation Representative Craig sits on the House Agriculture Committee where she has stood with the National Milk Producers Federation and colleagues from both parties in efforts to ensure the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement is fully enforced. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-angie-craig-statement-protect-womens-sports-act Representative Angie Craig Statement on the Protect Women's Sports Act 2020-12-11 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Angie Craig C001119 craig.house.gov     legacy Washington, DC Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig released the following statement on the Protect Women's Sports Act, which was introduced by Representatives Tulsi Gabbard and Markwayne Mullin: As a lesbian woman, I am no stranger to prejudice and intolerance but this legislation is beyond the pale. Plain and simple, the Protect Women's Sports Act is transphobic and this type of discrimination has no place in the halls of Congress. Especially at a time when the transgender community is suffering from a tragic rise in suicide rates and experiencing a surge of transphobic violence, such a bigoted and appalling effort is simply unacceptable. Queer and transgender women must stand together in the face of intolerance and I am proud to do so today by emphatically denouncing this narrow-minded and hateful legislation, which is harmful not only to transgender women but to the LGBTQ Community at-large. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://phillips.house.gov/media/press-releases/phillips-measure-support-gold-star-families-included-defense-bill-headed Phillips Measure to Support Gold Star Families Included in Defense Bill, Headed to President’s Desk 2020-12-11 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Dean Phillips P000616 phillips.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, the U.S. Senate passed theNational Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY2021, including the bipartisan Cheryl Lankford Memorial to Improve Assistance for Gold Star Spouses and Other Dependents amendment by Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03). The amendment will help keep bereaved military families from slipping through the cracks andensure Gold Star dependent children can easily access the benefits they are owed. As a Gold Star Son, my gratitude to our servicemembers and their families is immeasurable, said Phillips. Gold Star Families have made unimaginable sacrifices, and we must do everything we can to deliver all benefits they are owed. Gold Star Families deserve our respect and support, and I am glad this amendment will soon be signed into law. Phillips voted for final passage of NDAA on December 8, 2020, which included eight of his amendments aimed at modernizing our national security, stabilizing international relationships, and preparing for the next global crisis, and supporting our veterans and their families: Supporting Gold Star Families: When a military member dies, the surviving family is visited by a Casualty Assistance Officer who advocates for the family and assists with processing benefits. However, if a Gold Star Spouse dies and leaves behind dependent children, the military does not provide any help. Phillips's amendment would provide, at the request of the family, a Casualty Assistance Officer to support eligible dependents if the spouse of a deceased servicemember passes away. Finding Best Practices in Local Veterans Services: Demobilization centers assist returning soldiers as they readjust to civilian life. Minnesota has an excellent demobilization program, which is known for its use of County Veterans Service Officers (CVSOs). Through discussions with a CVSO in Carver County, Phillips learned that the use of CVSOs is not common in other states. Navigating bureaucratic red tape can be difficult for anyone, but especially for returning troops. Having an advocate help… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/following-bipartisan-call-action-led-us-sen-tina-smith-us-trade-representative-launches-challenge Following Bipartisan Call for Action Led by U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, U.S. Trade Representative Launches Challenge to Unfair Canadian Trade Practices that Harm U.S. Dairy Producers 2020-12-10 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy Senator Says Canada's Unfair Treatment of U.S. Dairy Exports Violates Provisions of New U.S.-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement WASHINGTON, D.C. [12/09/20] U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said today that she was pleased U.S. Trade Ambassador Robert Lighthizer has taken the first step in challenging unfair Canadian trade practices that are harming dairy producers in Minnesota and across the country. In August, Sen. Smith led a bipartisan group of 25 Senators in pressing Ambassador Lighthizer and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to take action to ensure Canada abides by the dairy provisions of the USMCA. Sen. Smith helped secure stronger dairy trade provisions in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement (USMCA). The agreement took effect in July, and Lighthizer's action was needed because of the trade barriers Canada has put up to block U.S. dairy exports to that country in violation of the agreement. I fought hard for provision in the USMCA to open up markets for our dairy producers and crack down on Canada's unfair treatment of U.S. dairy exports, said Senator Smith, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. Unfortunately, Canada has failed to meet their obligations under the agreement, and I'm pleased that Ambassador Lighthizer has heeded my call to challenge Canada's actions. In this difficult time for American agriculture, it's a much-needed and welcome effort that will help dairy producers in Minnesota and across the country. This week, Ambassador Lighthizer signaled that he will begin dispute settlement proceedings aimed at removing Canadian dairy import barriers. It would be the first enforcement action under the new USMCA. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressional-progressive-caucus-announces-leadership-team-117th-congress Congressional Progressive Caucus Announces Leadership Team for the 117th Congress 2020-12-09 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Ilhan Omar O000173 omar.house.gov omar https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper Washington, D.C. – Today, the Congressional Progressive Caucus announced its senior leadership, known as the CPC Executive Board, for the 117th Congress. The incoming Executive Board is made up of twenty-seven members – one Chair, one Deputy Chair, one Whip, three Chair Emeriti, two Special Order Hour Conveners, ten Vice Chairs, one Executive Board Member At-Large, and eight Deputy Whips. The CPC Executive Board is representative of the diversity within the caucus – more than half of Executive Board members are people of color and more than half are women. "As a lifelong organizer, I am honored that my colleagues have elected me to lead the Congressional Progressive Caucus at this pivotal moment. We have massive crises knocking at our nation's door, and the work of the Progressive Caucus has never been more important. The American people need Congress to lead with vision, conviction, empathy, and dedication to people and families in every community who are struggling right now," said CPC Chair Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal. "It's time for Congress to act boldly, restoring power to where it belongs — with the people. I am confident that with this talented leadership team and the expertise and passion of our entire caucus, we can deliver progressive policies that bring real relief to families, advance racial justice, tackle poverty and inequality of any kind, strengthen worker power, advance climate justice, break up monopolies, bring humanity to our immigration system, and help transform this country so working people finally get ahead." "I'm deeply honored to have the opportunity to serve in the new role of Deputy Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus," said incoming CPC Deputy Chair Congresswoman Katie Porter. "In 2018, many of my Democratic colleagues and I successfully ran campaigns rooted in progressive values. Rather than shying away from our core principles, we embraced them—making it clear that a progressive agenda is not only the right policy for America, but also a winning political message. I'… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/after-push-us-sen-tina-smith-usda-increasing-incentive-payments-some-conservation-reserve-program After Push From U.S. Sen. Tina Smith, USDA Increasing Incentive Payments For Some Conservation Reserve Program Practices from 5 to 20 Percent 2020-12-09 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy Senator Urges Interested Producers to Contact Local Farm Service Agency Office to Enroll WASHINGTON, D.C. [12/09/20] U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said today that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has responded to her push to increase Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) incentive payments for certain CRP practices from 5 percent to 20 percent. In October, Sen. Smith pressed U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to increase incentive payments to stop the enrollment decline in the CRP, which plays a key role in protecting environmentally-sensitive farm land, stopping soil erosion, improving water quality and preserving wildlife habitat. In an October letter to Perdue, Sen. Smith, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, pushed him to significantly increase Practice Incentive Payments (PIP) and to begin making rental rate incentive payments, both tools that past Administrations have used to maintain strong enrollment in CRP. She was joined on the letter by Sens. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Cory Booker (D-NJ). For 35 years, CRP has provided producers in Minnesota and across the with many economic and conservation benefits, said Senator Smith. Now that USDA has agreed to increase CRP incentive payments, I urge interested farmers to contact their local FSA office for information on enrolling and receiving the increased payments. Sen. Smith said the Farm Service Agency (FSA), which administers CRP, is upping the Practice Incentive Payment for installing practices, from 5 percent to 20 percent. Additionally, producers will receive a 10 percent incentive payment for water quality practices on land enrolled in CRP's continuous signup. Under continuous CRP, producers can enroll environmentally sensitive land devoted to certain conservation practices and can sign up at any time. FSA automatically accepts offers provided the land and producer meet certain eligibility requirements and the enrollment levels do not exceed the number of acres FSA is allowed to enroll in … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/amid-covid-surge-us-sens-smith-warren-share-findings-investigation-national-testing-capacity Amid COVID Surge, U.S. Sens. Smith & Warren Share Findings From Investigation into National Testing Capacity & Pediatric Testing Availability 2020-12-09 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy Senators Share Summary of Their Investigation, Urge U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to Improve National Testing Infrastructure WASHINGTON, D.C. [12/09/20]Today, U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) shared a summary of the findings from their investigation into our nation's testing capacity and the availability of pediatric testing. Sens. Smith and Warrenboth members of the Senate Health Committeesent their findings to Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Alex Azar and made recommendations to improve the nation's testing infrastructure. Together, our findings reveal significant gaps in COVID-19 testing capacity, exacerbating the ongoing public health threat. Addressing these problems will require aggressive federal government action, wrote Sens. Smith and Warren in their letter to Sec. Azar. We have previously called for dedicated federal funding and a national testing plan to ensure that everyone who needs a COVID-19 test can access one quickly and easily. You can access text of the letter here. Sens. Smith and Warren also shared the following recommendations with Sec. Azar: Invoke the Defense Production Act to make sure testing labs and providers have access to the supplies needed to conduct tests and that supplies are reaching the communities that need them; Clarify testing payment rules so that patients and providers can more clearly understand when third-party payers, the government, or other responsible parties should provide reimbursement for various types of COVID-19; Provide guidance on appropriate procedures for testing children, including education and outreach so retail providers can offer pediatric testing services more widely; and Work with independent pharmacies to address supply chain issues and provide greater access to tests so that they are able to participate in the HHS Community-Based Testing Sites program. In August of this year, Sens. Smith and Warren wrote to five of the largest COVID-19 testing labs about each co… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressional-leaders-introduce-bill-rename-wayzata-post-office-honor-former Congressional Leaders Introduce Bill to Rename Wayzata Post Office in Honor of Former Representative Jim Ramstad 2020-12-08 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Ilhan Omar O000173 omar.house.gov omar https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper MINNEAPOLIS – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and Representative Dean Phillips introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives to rename the Wayzata post office in honor of former Minnesota Representative Jim Ramstad who passed away last month. Senator Tina Smith and Representatives Tom Emmer (MN-06), Jim Hagedorn (MN-01), Angie Craig (MN-02), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Collin Peterson (MN-07), and Pete Stauber (MN-08) have also sponsored the legislation. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and John Hoeven (R-ND) joined as original cosponsors as Ramstad was born in North Dakota. Representative Phillips holds the seat Ramstad once held. "Minnesota has lost a friend and hero - former Representative Jim Ramstad. He was a faithful public servant whose personal struggle with addiction guided his life's work to help those struggling with substance abuse and mental health," Klobuchar said. "He was a true mentor to me on how to work with both Democrats and Republicans to get things done. Renaming the Wayzata post office in Jim's name will allow Minnesotans to remember Jim for generations to come." "Jim Ramstad served the people of Minnesota's Third District – first as a citizen, then as a state Senator, then as a U.S. Congressman – for three decades," Phillips said. "I am humbled to serve the very same community as he once did, and continue to look to his example for inspiration. His work leading the passage of the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Act was a powerful display of bipartisan leadership that has helped millions of families access the health care they need. Renaming the Wayzata Post Office in his name is a small gesture, but one I hope will add to the growing symphony of affection for the man who left a remarkable legacy in our community, our state, and our country." Representative Jim Ramstad served in Congress from 1991 until 2009. He was a Member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Health and Trade Subcommittees and Chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee. Ramstad also serv… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-leads-letter-calling-additional-relief-checks-next-covid-19-package Rep. Omar Leads Letter Calling for Additional Relief Checks in Next COVID-19 Package 2020-12-08 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Ilhan Omar O000173 omar.house.gov omar https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON—Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) led a letter to House and Senate leadership calling for the inclusion of relief checks in the next COVID-19 stimulus package. The letter also reinforces the calls made by countless Americans to provide direct cash assistance in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. "Millions across this country are without a job, without a paycheck, and without an ounce of compassion from the President of the United States," Rep. Omar said. "Children are going to bed with an empty stomach because of this economic crisis. Families are worried about whether they will be on the streets when the eviction moratorium expires just weeks from now. Eight million additional people are in poverty now as a result of this government's failure to meet their basic human needs. The American people are suffering, and their leaders continue to ignore their plight. The American people are crying out for direct relief in the form of stimulus checks." The cash assistance included in the CARES Act proved to be an effective way to provide direct support to the American people and shielded families from financial ruin. The previous relief checks also increased consumer spending, which helped boost economic activity. Economists project similar outcomes for subsequent relief checks. "The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major shocks to the U.S. economy and public health system in our modern history," the members wrote. "This pandemic has only worsened existing systemic inequities in our society, with low-wage earners, women, and Black and Latino communities disproportionately suffering from the human and economic toll of the virus. Almost half of all households in the United States reported experiencing serious financial concerns such as running out of savings and not having enough money for basic necessities. Direct cash assistance has become a lifeline for the American people." The letter was signed by Rashida Tlaib, Jamie Raskin, Ayanna Pressley, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Donald S. Beyer Jr., Earl Blumenauer, Lisa Blun… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-ndaa-power-military-industrial-complex-firmly-entrenched Rep. Omar on NDAA: Power of the Military-Industrial Complex ‘Firmly Entrenched’ 2020-12-08 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Ilhan Omar O000173 omar.house.gov omar https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON–Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) issued the following statement after voting against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): "It is unconscionable to pass a Pentagon budget that continues to fund unnecessary projects and endless wars during a time of widespread suffering across our country. Thousands of Minnesotans are struggling to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads. We should be investing our resources here at home—not increasing our already exorbitant Pentagon budget. "This bill further commits our servicemembers to escalations abroad—including a now-two-decade old unpopular war in Afghanistan. Every dollar we spend on endless wars is another missed opportunity to invest in our communities. Shamefully, this bill does nothing to stop arms sales to some of the most corrupt and brutal regimes in the world, such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. "Congress should focus on responding to the urgent needs of the American people such as prioritizing healthcare, housing assistance, and food access—not passing a $740.5 billion bill to appease defense contractors and special interests. "In 1961, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a Republican President and former esteemed World War II general, warned that ‘We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.' "Nearly sixty years later to the day, this misplaced power is firmly entrenched." 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://phillips.house.gov/media/press-releases/senator-klobuchar-representative-phillips-and-minnesota-and-north-dakota Senator Klobuchar, Representative Phillips, and Minnesota and North Dakota Congressional Leaders Introduce Bill to Rename Wayzata Post Office in Honor of Former Representative Jim Ramstad 2020-12-08 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Dean Phillips P000616 phillips.house.gov     legacy MINNEAPOLIS U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and Representative Dean Phillips introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives to rename the Wayzata post office in honor of former Minnesota Representative Jim Ramstad who passed away last month. Senator Tina Smith and Representatives Tom Emmer (MN-06), Jim Hagedorn (MN-01), Angie Craig (MN-02), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Collin Peterson (MN-07), and Pete Stauber (MN-08) have also sponsored the legislation. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and John Hoeven (R-ND) joined as original cosponsors as Ramstad was born in North Dakota. Representative Phillips holds the seat Ramstad once held. Minnesota has lost a friend and hero - former Representative Jim Ramstad. He was a faithful public servant whose personal struggle with addiction guided his life's work to help those struggling with substance abuse and mental health, Klobuchar said. He was a true mentor to me on how to work with both Democrats and Republicans to get things done. Renaming the Wayzata post office in Jim's name will allow Minnesotans to remember Jim for generations to come. Jim Ramstad served the people of Minnesota's Third District first as a citizen, then as a state Senator, then as a U.S. Congressman for three decades, Phillips said. I am humbled to serve the very same community as he once did, and continue to look to his example for inspiration. His work leading the passage of the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Act was a powerful display of bipartisan leadership that has helped millions of families access the health care they need. Renaming the Wayzata Post Office in his name is a small gesture, but one I hope will add to the growing symphony of affection for the man who left a remarkable legacy in our community, our state, and our country. Representative Jim Ramstad served in Congress from 1991 until 2009. He was a Member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Health and Trade Subcommittees and Chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee. Ramstad also served on the Ho… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/klobuchar-smith-announce-funding-job-training-and-services-combat-opioid-crisis Klobuchar, Smith Announce Funding for Job Training and Services To Combat Opioid Crisis 2020-12-08 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy U.S. Department of Labor awarded the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development up to $1,368,421 to train at least 200 displaced workers WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith announced that the U.S. Department of Labor awarded an opioid-crisis National Health Emergency Dislocated Worker grant to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development for up to $1,368,421 to train at least 200 displaced workers. The opioid epidemic is hurting communities across Minnesotanone have been immune from its devastating effects, Klobuchar said. This crucial funding will provide job training across the state and support those who are in recovery and preparing to rejoin the workforce. This grant willcreate economic opportunity for Minnesotans whose careers have beenimpacted by the opioid crisis,Smith said.The grant will help individuals re-enter the workforce by providing them with employment and training services. It will alsooffer recovery support through peer-support counseling. I look forward to following the progress made by the200workers, and I'll keep pushing for workforce development that reflectsthe needs ofMinnesotans." An initial award of $800,000 will support disaster-relief jobs and provide employment services to eligible people in Minnesota communities affected by the health and economic effects of widespread opioid use, addiction, and overdose. The project will focus on the creation of peer-support counseling positions that will address the unique recovery needs of people affected by opioid use and on the brink of homelessness. The grant will also provide employment and training services to help workers affected by the opioid crisis rejoin the workforce. The State will provide these services to eligible individuals across 46 counties throughout central and southeast Minnesota. Dislocated Worker Grants temporarily expand the service capacity of dislocated worker programs at the state and local levels by providing funding assistance in response to large, unexpected eco… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/senator-klobuchar-representative-phillips-and-minnesota-and-north-dakota-congressional-leaders Senator Klobuchar, Representative Phillips, and Minnesota and North Dakota Congressional Leaders Introduce Bill to Rename Wayzata Post Office in Honor of Former Representative Jim Ramstad 2020-12-08 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy Legislation to rename the Wayzata Post Office was introduced in both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives MINNEAPOLIS U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and Representative Dean Phillips introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives to rename the Wayzata post office in honor of former Minnesota Representative Jim Ramstad who passed away last month. Senator Tina Smith and Representatives Tom Emmer (MN-06), Jim Hagedorn (MN-01), Angie Craig (MN-02), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Collin Peterson (MN-07), and Pete Stauber (MN-08) have also sponsored the legislation. Senators Kevin Cramer (R-ND) and John Hoeven (R-ND) joined as original cosponsors as Ramstad was born in North Dakota. Representative Phillips holds the seat Ramstad once held. Minnesota has lost a friend and hero - former Representative Jim Ramstad. He was a faithful public servant whose personal struggle with addiction guided his life's work to help those struggling with substance abuse and mental health, Klobuchar said. He was a true mentor to me on how to work with both Democrats and Republicans to get things done. Renaming the Wayzata post office in Jim's name will allow Minnesotans to remember Jim for generations to come. Jim Ramstad served the people of Minnesota's Third District first as a citizen, then as a state Senator, then as a U.S. Congressman for three decades, Phillips said. I am humbled to serve the very same community as he once did, and continue to look to his example for inspiration. His work leading the passage of the Paul Wellstone Mental Health Act was a powerful display of bipartisan leadership that has helped millions of families access the health care they need. Renaming the Wayzata Post Office in his name is a small gesture, but one I hope will add to the growing symphony of affection for the man who left a remarkable legacy in our community, our state, and our country. Representative Jim Ramstad served in Congress from 1991 until 2009. He was a Member of the House Ways and… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/us-senator-tina-smith-leads-bipartisan-senate-effort-reduce-greenhouse-emissions U.S. Senator Tina Smith Leads Bipartisan Senate Effort to Reduce Greenhouse Emissions 2020-12-08 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy Bipartisan Group of Senators Offer Tax Credit Changes Designed to Cut Amount of Carbon Sent into Atmosphere WASHINGTON, D.C. [12/08/20]U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and a bipartisan group of senators have introduced legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by making tax credits that encourage carbon capture projects more available and easier to use. The measure, the 45Q Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage Tax Credit Amendments Act of 2020, was introduced recently by Sen. Smith and Sens. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). It would reduce barriers to full utilization of the credit. The bill would extend the tax credit to encourage more carbon capture projects and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It also includes other modifications to make the credit more useful. Sen. Smith will push to bundle the legislation with other clean energy credits. By passing a comprehensive clean energy tax credit package, we can help our economy recover from the current economic crisis while also moving us towards our climate goals, she said. We need to do everything we can to reduce greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, said Sen. Smith. Our bipartisan legislation, when coupled with extensions of other clean energy tax credits, will provide a win-win: good for our environment and good for our economy. In the time since our bipartisan group of Senators came together to create the FUTURE Actone of the most significant climate policies in U.S. history and certainly that with the most job creation and preservation potentialthe economic situation in our country has completely changed, said Sen. Capito. Since that time, we have not rested on our laurels. Instead, we have continued to engage with our industry, environmental, and labor stakeholders to ensure that the regulatory guidance implemented congressional intent and to look at next steps on how to maximize the return… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/us-sens-tina-smith-john-thunes-bipartisan-bill-maintain-funding-federally-impacted-schools-during U.S. Sens. Tina Smith & John Thunes Bipartisan Bill to Maintain Funding for Federally Impacted Schools During COVID-19 is Now Law 2020-12-08 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy New Law Will Maintain Funding to School Districts with Significant Federal Property Within Their Boundaries WASHINGTON, D.C. [12/08/20]Bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and John Thune (R-S.D.) to help schoolsretain federalfunding during the coronavirus (COVID-19)pandemic is now law.Their Impact Aid Coronavirus Relief Actwas signed by President Trump last week. Sen. Thune and I set out on a bipartisan effort to make sure federally impacted schools across the country were able to get the investments they need to continue operating and serving students during this pandemic, said Sen. Smith. I'm glad we could deliver on this and ensure that Impact Aid applications and funding will not be disrupted. It's more important than ever that participating school districts have the funding stability and certainty they need,said Sen. Thune. That's why I'm pleased the president signed this critical legislation into law to help ensure that Impact Aid schools can continue to educate their students now and into the future. Thanks to Senator Smith for helping to get this bill past the finish line. The Impact Aid Programprovides funding toschool districtswith significantfederal propertywithin their boundaries or with federally connected students.The program helps school districts make up for local property tax revenue lost due to the presence of this federal property. Under normal circumstances, schools mustconduct a student counteachyearas part of their application for Impact Aid, but such a count is likely to be difficult for many districts this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Thanks to the work of Sens. Smith and Thune, schoolsreceiving federal funding throughthe Impact Aid Program will not need to recount their students during the pandemic. This will help prevent further spread of the virus. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://collinpeterson.house.gov/media/newletter-archive/rep-petersons-newsletter-and-questionnaire-11252020 Rep. Peterson's Newsletter and Questionnaire 11/25/2020 2020-12-04 2020 2020-12 Democrat Senate MN Collin Peterson P000258 collinpeterson.house.gov     legacy Turkey Mount from Rep. Peterson's Washington, D.C. office being prepared for shipment back to Minnesota Dear Friends, This week, I would like to simply send you my wishes for a happy Thanksgiving Day. I am grateful to the constituents of Minnesota's Seventh District for entrusting me to hold this office for the last 30 years. It has been an honor to serve as your Representative in Washington, D.C. and I am thankful to all those I've met, worked with, and assisted. This year's celebrations will be different as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, but we can still reflect on all that we have to be grateful for and do what we can to stay safe and end this pandemic together. My hope is that your list of things to be thankful for is a long and happy one. From my family and office staff, happy Thanksgiving and have a safe holiday season. Sincerely, Congressman Collin C. Peterson Minnesota 7th District Serving the 7th The bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp in order to create economic opportunities for farmers. Minnesota farmers appreciate the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) efforts in implementing the Interim Rule on Establishment of a Domestic Hemp Production Program. However, there are still hurdles in place for Minnesota farmers to fully realize the economic benefits of growing hemp. I joined Minnesota Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN-2), Betty McCollum (D-MN-4) and Senator Tina Smith in sending a letter to USDA Secretary Perdue, Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Vought, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Hahn, and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Administrator Shea, urging them to provide clarity on hemp rules. In order to create a more stable market for hemp farmers and ease the concerns of investors, the USDA, the DEA, the FDA, and the OMB need to work together and issue federal guidelines that will benefit rather than punish farmers for factors that are out of their control. Read the full letter here. COVID-19 Updates & Resources Photo court… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-statement-house-passage-bill-decriminalize-marijuana-and-expunge Rep. Omar Statement on House Passage of Bill to Decriminalize Marijuana and Expunge Records Nationwide 2020-12-04 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Ilhan Omar O000173 omar.house.gov omar https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON—Today, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) released this statement after the passage of the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act in the House. This bill federally decriminalizes marijuana and expunges nonviolent federal marijuana convictions. She voted "yes" on the bill. "This is a long overdue step to provide restorative justice to those devastated by the war on drugs," said Rep. Omar. "My community has been crying out for justice and real reform for decades. Tragically, for far too long cannabis criminalization has disproportionally impacted communities of color and ruined countless lives. Today this victory was possible because of organizers in my district and across the country who demanded meaningful reform and the end of selective enforcement of the law." 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/us-senator-tina-smith-encourages-minnesota-producers-affected-covid-19-apply-usda-assistance U.S. Senator Tina Smith Encourages Minnesota Producers Affected by COVID-19 to Apply for USDA Assistance by December 11 2020-12-04 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy Direct Payments Available for Many Commodities Grown or Raised by Minnesota Producers WASHINGTON, D.C. [12/4/2020] U.S.SenatorTina Smith (D-Minn.) is urging Minnesota producerswho have been affected by the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and the resulting economic crisistosubmit applications for assistance through the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program 2 (CFAP 2) by Dec. 11, 2020. This USDA program provides direct relief to producers for eligible commodities. Sen. Smith said that many commodities grown or raised by Minnesota producers are eligible. This includes corn, soybeans, wheat, sugar beets, wild rice, apples, dairy, turkey, beef, hogs and pigs, and more. 2020 has been a deeply challenging yearas we navigate the public health and economic crisis of COVID,said Sen. Smith. A Minnesota farmer said to me a few months back that with COVID, we are all in the same storm, but not all in the same boat. This gets at how we are all affected by COVID, and everyone's been affected by it in different ways.I feel a lot of urgency to help provide somecertainty and predictability for Minnesota producers. I hope that they consider applying for this program, and I want them toknow thatI'll keep fighting to get them additional relief. Producers can find eligible commodities, payment rates, calculations and options to apply onfarmers.gov/cfap.Producers can also call 877-508-8364 to speak directly with a USDA employee ready to offer general assistance. This is a recommended first step before a producer engages the team at the FSA county office. The call center can provide service to non-English speaking customers.CFAP 2 is a separate program from the first iteration of CFAP, now referred to as CFAP 1. Participating in CFAP 1 is not a prerequisite for participating in CFAP 2. Additionally, producers who applied for CFAP 1 will not be automatically enrolled in CFAP 2 and must complete a new application to be eligible for assistance. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/us-senators-amy-klobuchar-and-tina-smith-push-extend-pandemic-unemployment-programs-set-expire U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith Push to Extend Pandemic Unemployment Programs Set to Expire December 26 2020-12-04 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. [12/4/2020] U.S.SenatorsAmyKlobucharand Tina Smith (D-Minn.) are urging Senate leaders to extend two coronavirus (COVID-19) unemployment programs that are set to expire December 26in the next relief package. In a letter to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, Sens. Klobuchar, Smith and 30 of their colleagues calledfor these programs to be extended with additional weeks of eligibility for workers. They noted that approximately 4.4 million workers will have already run out of benefits by the end of the year, with millions more exhausting their benefits next year. The senators also stressed the importance of significantlyreforming the nation's unemployment system in the near future so that every American can count on a social safety net during times of need. As the virus surges going into the winter months, the loss of benefits at this time is particularly cruel. A recent report from The Century Foundation suggests that nearly 12 million workers could lose coverage once these programs expire over the holiday. In other words, roughly 12 million American workers will lose benefits this season for a job they lost through no fault of their own,wrote Sens. Klobuchar, Smith and their colleagues.For many, the knowledge of this benefits cliff will hang over them while they celebrate Christmas morning, share a meal for Christmasdinner, orobserveotherholidays with their families in the middle of what has already been a difficult and tragic year. Those who are socially distancing from their families for their safety as well as the nation's overall public health will likely experience this loss of federal financial assistance entirely alone. What's more, the loss of emergency benefits compounds the hardships many families are already facing in this economy. Since May, researchers have found that roughly 8 million Americans have slipped into poverty. That is the equivalent of the entire population of Virginia or Washington (as well as the combined populations of Kentucky and Oregon)… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://collinpeterson.house.gov/media/press-releases/peterson-unveils-legislation-expand-crp-50-million-acres Peterson Unveils Legislation to Expand CRP to 50 Million Acres 2020-12-03 2020 2020-12 Democrat Senate MN Collin Peterson P000258 collinpeterson.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, DC In a press conference Thursday, Representative Collin Peterson, Chair of the House Ag Committee,announced the introduction of H.R. 8843, which makes an additional 25 million acres available over the next five years for general signup under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). Instead of a cap, the bill establishes a minimum floor of 50 million CRP acres nationwide. CRP incentivizes farmers to remove sensitive land from agricultural production and plant cover to enhance wildlife habitat and provide other natural resource benefits, Peterson told reporters. CRP has a decades-long track record of engaging farmers in the effort to improve water quality, prevent soil erosion, and create wildlife habitat. In addition to the increase in acreage, the bill will help CRP prioritize those applications that promote soil health and carbon sequestration, Peterson added. Applications for the enrollment of land on which deep-rooted perennials will be planted will also be prioritized. Peterson pointed to the importance of CRP in helping farmers and landowners meet environmental quality goals. Land enrolled in the program has helped to keep billion of tons of soil from eroding and sequestered millions of tons of carbon, he said. It has improved wildlife and pollinator habitat, and it has provided benefits to farmers through rental payments and drawing hunters and other recreationists, which in turn makes its way through rural economies. This is a good bill that uses a successful, existing program to pay farmers to store carbon we don't need a whole new regime we have CRP. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-congratulates-rep-david-scott-agriculture-committee-chairmanship McCollum Congratulates Rep. David Scott on Agriculture Committee Chairmanship 2020-12-03 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Betty McCollum M001143 mccollum.house.gov mccollum https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) issued the following statement today after Rep. David Scott was affirmed as the next Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee: "I want to congratulate Congressman David Scott (D-GA) on his election by the Democratic Caucus as Chair of the House Agriculture Committee for the 117th Congress. I was honored to speak in support of Congressman Scott during the Democratic House Steering and Policy Committee earlier this week. Mr. Scott grew up living and working on his grandparents' farm, and represents a diverse district that includes suburban and rural areas southwest of Atlanta, and part of Atlanta itself. Because of his 18 years on the Agriculture Committee, Congressman Scott has a deep understanding and knowledge of the issues facing our farmers and families experiencing food insecurity today. "Congressman Scott's Chairmanship is historic, as the first African American to lead the committee. Farmers, students, and workers of color are historically underrepresented in the agriculture industry, and his committee work on providing meaningful scholarship and advancement opportunities for these communities is critical to ensuring equity and a skilled and diverse workforce in the future. 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mccollum-and-sen-smith-bill-restore-11000-acres-land-leech-lake-band-ojibwe Rep. McCollum and Sen. Smith Bill to Restore 11,000 Acres of Land to Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe to be Signed Into Law 2020-12-03 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Betty McCollum M001143 mccollum.house.gov mccollum https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper After passing the U.S. House of Representatives today, legislation authored by U.S. Representative Betty McCollum (MN-04) and U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) to restore over eleven thousand acres of wrongly seized land to the Leech Lake Reservation is headed to the President's desk to be signed into law. "The tribal leaders of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe entrusted Senator Smith and I with advancing this legislation that builds on their diligent work, open dialogue, and collaboration with the Chippewa National Forest and local communities," said Rep. McCollum. "With its passage, our federal government is taking a significant step toward addressing the historic injustices that robbed the Band of much of their reservation land." "My colleague Representative McCollum and I worked to right this wrong and get this effort over the finish line, but above all I want to recognize the decades of work that Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe put into making this possible," said Sen. Smith. "This historic win belongs to them and future generations who will benefit." "The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Tribal Council and our entire community say "chi-miigwech" to Senator Smith, Rep. McCollum, and everyone who helped in this longstanding effort to pass the Leech Lake Reservation Restoration Act," said Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Chairman Faron Jackson, Sr. "Our Reservation was established through a series of treaties and executive orders from 1855 to 1874, which promised that it would serve as our permanent homeland. The United States violated these solemn promises repeatedly, reducing our trust lands to 5 percent of our initial Reservation. Additional lands were illegally transferred out of trust in the 1940s and 50s. The Leech Lake Restoration Act focuses on these illegal transfers by restoring 11,760 acres of our homelands to tribal trust status. "Restoring this small portion of our homelands will enable us to combat the lack of housing and related problems that have been highlighted as urgent needs by the ongoing pandemic. "We look… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-06-28T00:42:23Z
https://phillips.house.gov/media/press-releases/phillips-problem-solvers-caucus-push-bicameral-bipartisan-emergency-covid-19 Phillips, Problem Solvers Caucus Push Bicameral, Bipartisan Emergency COVID-19 Relief Package 2020-12-03 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Dean Phillips P000616 phillips.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, DC Today, Thursday, December 3, 2020, Dean Phillips (D-MN) and other members of the Problem Solvers Caucus stood together to fight for their common-sense bipartisan, bicameral COVID-19 emergency relief package. It is being supported by a rapidly growing group of Senators on both sides of the aisle, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and others to help American families, small businesses, workers, and health care providers during this crisis. Leaders in both parties have stated support for the Problem Solvers Caucus' framework as the basis for immediate bipartisan, bicameral legislation.On Wednesday night, President-Elect Joe Biden announced his support for the plan, calling it a needed down payment ahead of more proposed aid under his administration next year. A breakdown of the COVID-19 emergency relief framework can be found here. Vision without action is just a daydream, and we have had enough daydreaming in Congress. We need to show Americans and our allies across the world that the great experiment of America still works. The clock is ticking, but we can and must pass the Emergency COVID Relief Framework. Failure is not an option when Americans are suffering, said Rep. Dean Phillips. We won't leave town until we pass a bipartisan COVID-19 relief package, said Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Josh Gottheimer. Too many families, small businesses, and communities are suffering all across our country and that's why the momentum around our bipartisan, bicameral framework is continuing to grow by the hour. "The bipartisan, bicameral relief package we've put forward with our Senate partners is already generating significant support from leaders across Washington because it is right in the range of reason," said Problem Solvers Caucus Co-Chair Tom Reed. "Millions of Americans don't have time for Congress to continue playing games; let's pass this common-sense emergency relief measure to ensure our communities receive the federal support they deserve." The effects of this pandemic have been cruelly uneven. … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/sen-tina-smith-rep-betty-mccollums-bill-restore-11k-acres-land-leech-lake-band-ojibwe-be-signed-law Sen. Tina Smith & Rep. Betty McCollums Bill to Restore 11k Acres of Land to Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe to be Signed Into Law 2020-12-03 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. [12/03/20]After passing the U.S. House of Representatives today, legislation authored by U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and U.S. Representative Betty McCollum (MN-04) to restore over eleven-thousand acres of wrongly seized land to the Leech Lake Reservation is headed to the President's desk to be signed into law. My colleague Representative McCollum and I worked to right this wrong and get this effort over the finish line, but above all I want to recognize the decades of work that Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe put into making this possible, said Sen. Smith. This historic win belongs to them and future generations who will benefit. The tribal leaders of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe entrusted Senator Smith and I with advancing this legislation that builds on their diligent work, open dialogue, and collaboration with the Chippewa National Forest and local communities, said Rep. McCollum. With its passage, our federal government is taking a significant step toward addressing the historic injustices that robbed the Band of much of their reservation land. The Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Tribal Council and our entire community say chi-miigwech to Senator Smith, Rep. McCollum, and everyone who helped in this longstanding effort to pass the Leech Lake Reservation Restoration Act, said Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe Chairman Faron Jackson, Sr. Our Reservation was established through a series of treaties and executive orders from 1855 to 1874, which promised that it would serve as our permanent homeland. The United States violated these solemn promises repeatedly, reducing our trust lands to 5 percent of our initial Reservation. Additional lands were illegally transferred out of trust in the 1940s and 50s. The Leech Lake Restoration Act focuses on these illegal transfers by restoring 11,760 acres of our homelands to tribal trust status. Restoring this small portion of our homelands will enable us to combat the lack of housing and related problems that have been highlighted as urgent needs by the ongoing pandemic. … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/klobuchar-smith-commend-alexandria-technical-and-community-college-selection-us-naval-community Klobuchar, Smith Commend Alexandria Technical and Community College for Selection to U.S. Naval Community College Program 2020-12-02 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy Alexandria Tech is one of five institutions in the country to be selected for pilot-program WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith commended the Alexandria Technical and Community College in Alexandria, MN for their selection in the newly formed U.S. Naval Community College (USNCC) pilot program. The six-month pilot program is set to begin in January 2021 and will gather data and information to help develop the USNCC's program as it prepares to welcome its first students. The foundation of our future prosperity can be found in education. As we continue to confront the coronavirus pandemic, new and innovative programs are critical to develop and educate our communities, and the Navy and Alexandria Tech are part of that, Klobuchar said. I am pleased to see Alexandria Tech partner with the US Naval Community College as they continue to deliver quality education to our servicemembers. Programs like this ensure our brave men and women who serve can transition the skills they've learned into the workforce when they come home. "Congratulations to Alexandria Technical and Community College for being selected to participate in the U.S. Naval Community College pilot program," Smith said. "This honor is a testament to its record of delivering a quality education to students in Minnesota. It will play an important role in supporting the capabilities of the Navy and Marine Corps by teaching math courses to servicemembers that can be applied toward a degree in Nuclear Engineering Technology. I wish it a successful pilot program." More information is available here. In addition to Alexandria Technical and Community College in Minnesota, the other institutions selected include the State University of New York system; the University of Arizona; the University of Maryland Global Campus; and the Virginia Community College system. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/us-sen-tina-smith-tells-agriculture-committee-minnesota-farmers-feel-impact-climate-change U.S. Sen. Tina Smith Tells Agriculture Committee that Minnesota Farmers Feel Impact of Climate Change, Discusses Innovative State Efforts to Address it 2020-12-02 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy Earlier Wednesday Senator Discussed Importance of Nation's Sugar Program, And Efforts to Bolster Rural Health Care with Red River Valley Sugar Beet Growers WASHINGTON, D.C. [12/02/20]U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) said at a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing today that Minnesota farmers see the reality of climate change every year with the increasing impact of drought, heat, and floods, and she pointed to the innovative work of a new coalition of Minnesota businesses and researchers that is working to find solutions. Sen. Smith told the panel about MBOLD, a coalition of food and agriculture leaders who are working to deal with climate change, food insecurity and many other pressing problems for agriculture. The group includes the University of Minnesota, Minnesota Fortune 100 companies as well as researchers and advocacy groups and is a model for the nation's battle against climate change. You don't have to tell Minnesota farmers about the realities of climate change. They see it every year, Senator Smith told the Committee. When it comes to climate change solution, we can either lead or we can follow. If we lead we create more opportunity, more innovation, and with our focus on research, we can increase our competitive advantage. Dr. Steven Rosenzweig, a soil scientist Minnesota-based General Mills, told the Committee, which is part of MBOLD, told the committee about several of the initiatives that the coalition is undertaking to deal with climate change. Discussing Importance of U.S. Sugar Program, Quality Rural Health Care With MN Sugar Growers Prior to the hearing on Wednesday, Sen. Smith spoke to the Red River Valley Sugar Beet Growers Association annual meeting where she discussed the importance of a strong U.S. sugar program, which generates $3.4 billion in economic activity across the country. The sugar industry is critically important to Minnesota's economy, supporting tens of thousands of jobs in the Red River Valley, and more than 142,000 nationwide, Sen. Smith told the group. I fought to prot… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/us-senator-tina-smith-applauds-move-help-high-school-students-minnesota-who-lost-jobs-due-covid-19 U.S. Senator Tina Smith Applauds Move to Help High School Students in Minnesota Who Lost Jobs Due to COVID-19, Urges Eligible Students to Apply Soon 2020-12-02 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy Senator Fought to Make Unemployment Assistance Available to Eligible High School Students, Says Recent Court Ruling is Great News WASHINGTON, D.C. [12/02/20]U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) says a recent Minnesota Court of Appeals ruling allowing eligible high school students to receive coronavirus (COVID-19) unemployment assistance is welcome news,and she urges eligible students to apply before December 25. Earlier this year, Sens. Smith and Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) introduced bicameral legislation with U.S. Representatives Angie Craig (MN-2), Dean Phillips (MN-3), Ilhan Omar (MN-5) and Betty McCollum (MN-4) to help high school students in Minnesota who have lost jobs due to the pandemic. Minnesota high schoolers who lost jobs in the pandemic had been denied unemployment benefits they should have been eligible forbenefits I fought for,said Sen. Smith.The court ruling yesterday is great news because it fixes that.I commend the students and their advocates who have been persistent in working to get access to the relief Congress intended for them, even though their applications were initially denied.Now, it's important for eligible Minnesotans to applyfor unemployment reliefby the December 25 deadline. You can access more information about Minnesota youth unemployment resourceshere. Sen. Smith's bill,The High School Student Unemployment Eligibility Clarification Act, would clarify language in the next round of COVID-19 relief to overcome conflicts with state laws across the country and help make high school students eligible for unemployment compensation nationally if they meet the other unemployment rules applicable to adults. The High School Student Unemployment Eligibility Clarification Actis supported by Bridgemakers, Minneapolis Youth Coordinating Board, Center for School Change, Minnesota Alliance With Youth, Centro Tyrone Guzman, Minnesota Parent Union, Change Inc. Minnesota Youth Council, Children's Defense Fund, National Youth Leadership Council, Coalition of Asian American Leaders, Northfield Healthy Co… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://phillips.house.gov/media/press-releases/phillips-problem-solvers-caucus-announce-bipartisan-bicameral-covid-relief Phillips, Problem Solvers Caucus Announce Bipartisan, Bicameral COVID Relief Offer 2020-12-01 2020 2020-12 Democrat House MN Dean Phillips P000616 phillips.house.gov     legacy Washington, D.C. Today, House Problem Solvers Caucus members Dean Phillips (D-MN) and Dusty Johnson (R-SD) joined a bipartisan group of Senators in announcing a four-month, bicameral COVID-19 emergency relief framework that will help American students, families, small businesses, workers, and health care providers during this crisis. The Problem Solvers Caucus, 25 Democrats and 25 Republicans, helped develop the bicameral package. A breakdown of the COVID-19 emergency relief framework can be found here. This effort is the culmination of months of leadership from Phillips and the Problem Solvers Caucus, as members have worked to break through partisan gridlock on a COVID relief plan since they unveiled their March to Common Ground bipartisan framework in September. Reps. Dean Phillips (D-MN), Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Fred Upton (R-MI), Abigail Spanberger (D-VA), and Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH) joined Problem Solvers Co-Chairs Tom Reed (R-NY) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) as well as Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV), Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Warner (D-VA), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Jeanne Shaheen (R-NH), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Angus King (I-ME), Mitt Romney (R-UT), and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) to announce the COVID-19 emergency relief framework that will help American students, families, businesses, workers, and health care providers during this crisis. The Problem Solvers Caucus, made up of 25 Democrats and 25 Republicans, helped draft and endorsed the package. The framework allocates $908 billion in total aid, including both new funding and the reallocation of previously appropriated CARES Act funding. The framework targets resources to the following key categories: State, Local, and Tribal Governments - $160 billion, including $3 billion for the state of Minnesota Additional Unemployment Insurance (UI) - $180 billion Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) including restaurants, stages, and deductibility - $288 billion CDFI/MDI Community Lender Support - $12 billion Transportation (Airlines, Airports, Buses, Transit and Amtrak) - $45 bil… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://collinpeterson.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-peterson-thompson-and-comer-push-leadership-delay-ligado-application Reps. Peterson, Thompson and Comer Push Leadership to Delay Ligado Application 2020-11-24 2020 2020-11 Democrat Senate MN Collin Peterson P000258 collinpeterson.house.gov     legacy (Washington, DC) - Today, U.S.Representatives Collin Peterson (D-MN), Glenn GT' Thompson (R-PA), and James Comer (R-KY)sent aletterto House Leadership and the Appropriations Committeerequesting language delaying implementation of the April 2020 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Order granting Ligado's application to deploy a terrestrial nationwide network to provide 5G services. In July, the Congressmenexpressed serious concernssurrounding the FCC's decision, questioning the reliability of GPS for millions of Americans, especially the farmers and ranchers who rely on this technology each and every day for precision agriculture. There is no room for error when discussing safety and reliability of service for GPS signals. Aviation, agriculture, and other vital industries rely on consistent signal quality," saidRep. Peterson. "Safety and national security issues remain unresolved under the current order, which is why it is vital that we delay Ligado's 5G deployment. "Investments in 5G and GPS are critically important to the American economy, especially the agriculture industry," saidRep. Thompson. "However, the Ligado decision will have negative impacts on GPS and satellite communications, hindering reliability and slowing progress on current and future innovation of this technology. I urge my colleagues in Leadership and on the Appropriations Committee to delay this harmful implementation." Our farmers are vitally important to providing the food supply for America and the world, and a reliable GPS network is critical to precision agriculture, saidRep. Comer. I understand the importance of improving telecommunications operations, especially for advancing rural economies. But critical tools like GPS technology must not be disrupted, as our farmers are essential workers who must have the tools they need to do their jobs. It is our responsibility as policymakers to fight to ensure that federal agency decisions do not negatively impact Americans' livelihoods. It is my hope that this language to delay implementatio… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-introduces-resolution-condemning-police-violence-worldwide-0 Rep. Omar Introduces Resolution Condemning Police Violence Worldwide 2020-11-24 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Ilhan Omar O000173 omar.house.gov omar https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON– Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) introduced a resolution today to condemn police violence worldwide. The resolution calls on Congress to stand with peaceful protesters around the world in their calls for justice and accountability for police brutality. The introduction comes after continued police violence in the United States including the horrific murder of George Floyd in Rep. Omar's district in Minneapolis. Highly militarized police forces have also been used to disproportionately harm vulnerable communities around the world including in Nigeria, Cameroon, Honduras, Chile, Hong Kong, Belarus, Poland, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. "This year, much of our attention has been focused on the problem of police violence," said Rep. Omar. "In my home district, we felt this pain acutely with the murder of George Floyd. We have also seen the horrifying images of police armed with military equipment responding to peaceful protests. And we have rightly begun painful conversations around the use of force, the use of military weapons by police, and the targeting of minorities by law enforcement. Police brutality has transcended geography and local context. It has shown its face in democracies and dictatorships, which is why we must not only condemn police brutality domestically, but worldwide. Our movements are inextricably linked, and the sources of the violence are often the same. Freedom of expression and peaceful assembly are among our most foundational, cherished values. We must stand up to protect them." She also wrote a Medium piece about the resolution, which can be read here. Over the summer, Rep. Omar co-introduced a resolution to condemn police brutality, and sponsored legislation to criminalize violence against protesters. Last week, she wrote an op-ed calling on the Biden Administration to reorient U.S. foreign policy toward justice and human rights. You can read the full resolution here and below. Whereas, in 2020, there have been significant peaceful assemblies protesting against police brutality througho… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-06-28T00:39:51Z
https://collinpeterson.house.gov/media/newletter-archive/rep-petersons-newsletter-and-questionnaire-11162020 Rep. Peterson's Newsletter and Questionnaire 11/16/2020 2020-11-20 2020 2020-11 Democrat Senate MN Collin Peterson P000258 collinpeterson.house.gov     legacy First day of deer hunting in CARIBOU Dear Friends, Veterans Day is a day to thank and honor the brave men and women who have served our country in uniform. As of 2018, there are nearly 18 million veterans in the United States who have served in various wars to protect and defend our freedom. Thank you, veterans, for your commitment and service to the United States. The Enbridge Line 3 Replacement Project is one step closer to construction. Minnesota's Department of Natural Resources recently approved the remaining permits and licenses for the project and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency also gave its approval on the 401 Water Quality Certification. The Line 3 replacement will have a significant economic impact for Western Minnesota, and I am happy to see the project moving forward. Sincerely, Congressman Collin C. Peterson Minnesota 7th District Thank You Veterans Wednesday, November 11, was Veterans Day, a day to thank and honor all those who have served in the United States armed forces to protect and defend our democracy. I hope you were able to take a moment to acknowledge military veterans in your community for their dedication to protecting our national security and values. As a former National Guardsman, I know the risks and sacrifices our men and women in uniform make. Thank you for your service! Click here to watch my Veterans Day video. Line 3 Replacement Project Update The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) approved the remaining 8 of 10 permits and licenses for the Line 3 Replacement Project last week. This is a good sign that moves the project closer to construction. The proposal has met or exceeded all requirements of the DNR, and I am confident Enbridge will meet the requirements to secure the remaining state and federal approvals. In addition to the action by the DNR, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency announced its approval of the 401 Water Quality Certification, which clears the way for a determination from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding federal p… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-promote-middle-east-peace-and-security-democrats-congress-must-reject McCollum: To Promote Middle East Peace and Security, Democrats in Congress Must Reject Illegal Israeli-Trump Annexation of Palestinian Lands 2020-11-20 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Betty McCollum M001143 mccollum.house.gov mccollum https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) issued the following statement today after Sec. Mike Pompeo became the first U.S. Secretary of State to visit an Israeli settlement, signaling a symbolic U.S. stamp of approval of Israel's military occupation: "Yesterday, Secretary of State Michael Pompeo issued official U.S. ‘country of origin' labeling guidelines that grant legitimacy to Israel's illegal settlements by requiring all products produced in Area ‘C' of the occupied West Bank to be marked as ‘Product of Israel' or ‘Made in Israel' when exported to the United States. "Secretary Pompeo is once again flagrantly advancing the Israeli government's effort to unlawfully annex Palestinian lands. This act effectively erases the longstanding bipartisan U.S. policy differentiating between Israel and the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip, territory occupied by Israel in 1967. "This official State Department action means that the U.S. has provided tacit recognition of de facto Israeli annexation of occupied Palestinian lands in violation of international law. This further entrenches an undemocratic system in which Israel would permanently rule over a Palestinian people who are denied basic civil rights and human rights. "Secretary Pompeo claims his actions are consistent with a ‘reality-based foreign policy approach.' This right-wing ‘reality' is nothing more than overt Trump administration support for Israel to maintain an unjust political system that denies Palestinians the right to self-determination and an independent Palestinian state. "The Trump administration has acted with complete disregard for international law and decades of bipartisan U.S. foreign policy consensus to aggressively support and legitimize permanent occupation and a de facto system of apartheid. I reject Israeli annexation and will work to ensure the U.S. does not support, defend, or legitimize any plan to illegally annex occupied Palestinian lands. This is exactly why I introduced H.R. 8050, The Israeli Annexation Non-R… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-06-28T00:39:51Z
https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-introduces-resolutions-banning-trumps-arms-sales-uae Rep. Omar Introduces Resolutions Banning Trump’s Arms Sales to UAE 2020-11-19 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Ilhan Omar O000173 omar.house.gov omar https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON—Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) today introduced a package of resolutions to ban the Trump Administration's proposed sale of weapons to the United Arab Emirates. Earlier this month, the Trump Administration announced a $23 billion package of weapons sales to the UAE, despite consistent human rights violations by the regime. "Since he took office, Donald Trump has empowered some of the worst human rights abusers in the world—and the UAE is no exception," Rep. Omar said. "Besides their very well-documented war crimes in Yemen, the UAE has also been credibly accused of committing war crimes in Libya. They're also reportedly paying for child soldiers from the same militia that committed the Darfur genocide, badly undercutting the transition to democracy in Sudan. Amidst a deadly pandemic, we should be investing in our own communities here at home, not selling weapons to help dictators commit human rights abuses." The four resolutions target each component of the Trump Administration's proposal, including F-35 fighter jets and armed drones ― major advanced systems that the U.A.E. does not presently have. The transfer would be the first time the United States has ever sold combat drones to any Arab nation, and the UAE would become the first Gulf country to get F-35 stealth jets, the most advanced fighter aircraft on the market. The UAE is implicated in war crimes in Yemen, fomenting chaos and civil war in Libya, and an atrocious domestic human rights record. They are also close partners with Russia and China, and have been credibly accused of transferring weapons to Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. Any transfers of arms to the UAE puts our interests and values at enormous risk. 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-06-28T00:39:51Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/u-s-senators-tina-smith-susan-collins-secure-passage-resolution-recognizing-importance-school U. S. Senators Tina Smith & Susan Collins Secure Passage of Resolution Recognizing the Importance of School Principals to Students Success 2020-11-19 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy Bipartisan Resolution Establishes October as National Principals Month and Honors Contributions of Principals Across the Country WASHINGTON, D.C. [11/19/20]U.S. Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) recently secured passage of their bipartisan resolution honoring principals and recognizing the contributions they make to helping students succeed. Principals work with educators to create school communities where students can learn and thrive, said Sen. Smith, a member of the Senate Education Committee. I'm glad we can honor them in this way, and recognize how principals are so critical to the success of students and schools in Minnesota and across the country. Principals in Maine and across the country have gone above and beyond during the COVID-19 pandemic, working to keep school communities safe as they continue to prepare students for the future, said Sen. Collins. This resolution recognizes the countless contributions and tireless devotion of our nation's principals to ensure that every child has access to a high-quality education. Sens. Smith and Collins' resolution is cosponsored by Sens. Angus King (I-Maine), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), John Boozman (R-Ark.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.). You can access text of the resolution below: Recognizing October 2020 as National Principals Month. Whereas the National Association of Secondary School Principals, the National Association of Elementary School Principals, and the American Federation of School Administrators have declared October 2020 to be National Principals Month; Whereas principals are educational visionaries, instructional and assessment leaders, disciplinarians, community builders, budget analysts, facilities managers, and administrators of legal and contractual obligations; Whereas principals work collaboratively with teachers and parents to develop and implement clear missions, high curriculum standards, and performance goals; Whereas principals create school environme… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://collinpeterson.house.gov/media/press-releases/peterson-joins-smith-craig-and-mccollum-urge-federal-agencies-provide-clarity Peterson joins Smith, Craig and McCollum to Urge Federal Agencies to Provide Clarity on Hemp Rules 2020-11-18 2020 2020-11 Democrat Senate MN Collin Peterson P000258 collinpeterson.house.gov     legacy (Washington, D.C.) -Representative Collin Peterson today jointed U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and U.S. Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN 2), and Betty McCollum (D-MN 4) incalling on the leaders of four federal agencies to streamline hemp rules. Currently, contradictory federal guidelines are leading to uncertainty in the market and preventing Minnesota farmers and Tribes from fully reaping the economic benefits of growing hemp. The bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp in order to create economic opportunities for farmers. Minnesota farmers appreciate the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) efforts in implementing the Interim Rule on Establishment of a Domestic Hemp Production Program. However, despite the Interim Rule there are still hurdles in place for Minnesota farmers to fully realize the economic benefits of growing hemp, wrote the lawmakers in their letter to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Sen. Smith and Reps. Craig, McCollum and Peterson go on to identify some of the inconsistencies that need to be addressed: The federal regulatory framework has proven to be inconsistent. For example, the USDA's rule stated that farmers will be held accountable facing possible revoking of their licenses if their crops test above a .5 percent THC level three times in a five year period. Despite this somewhat onerous and arbitrary level, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) instituted their own rule saying that exceeding .3 percent THC level deems the crop a controlled substance. The burdensome competing rules don't allow for remediation if the crop tests above the deemed inappropriate levels. Farmers should not be penalized for plants that they intended to grow as hemp, but for any number of reasons, the final THC numbers exceeded the arbitrary 0.3% THC level. At the same time, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance on CBD is still pending at the … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/us-senator-tina-smith-us-representatives-angie-craig-betty-mccollum-collin-peterson-urge-federal U.S. Senator Tina Smith, U.S. Representatives Angie Craig, Betty McCollum & Collin Peterson Urge Federal Agencies to Provide Clarity on Hemp Rules 2020-11-18 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy Minnesota Lawmakers Say We Must Address Contradictory Federal Efforts to Help Farmers and Tribes Reap Benefits of Growing Hemp WASHINGTON, D.C. [11/18/20]Today, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and U.S. Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN 2), Betty McCollum (D-MN 4) and Collin Peterson (D-MN 7) are calling on the leaders of four federal agencies to streamline hemp rules. Currently, contradictory federal guidelines are leading to uncertainty in the market and preventing Minnesota farmers and Tribes from fully reaping the economic benefits of growing hemp. The bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp in order to create economic opportunities for farmers. Minnesota farmers appreciate the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) efforts in implementing the Interim Rule on Establishment of a Domestic Hemp Production Program. However, despite the Interim Rule there are still hurdles in place for Minnesota farmers to fully realize the economic benefits of growing hemp, wrote the lawmakers in their letter to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Sen. Smith and Reps. Craig, McCollum and Peterson go on to identify some of the inconsistencies that need to be addressed: The federal regulatory framework has proven to be inconsistent. For example, the USDA's rule stated that farmers will be held accountable facing possible revoking of their licenses if their crops test above a .5 percent THC level three times in a five year period. Despite this somewhat onerous and arbitrary level, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) instituted their own rule saying that exceeding .3 percent THC level deems the crop a controlled substance. The burdensome competing rules don't allow for remediation if the crop tests above the deemed inappropriate levels. Farmers should not be penalized for plants that they intended to grow as hemp, but for any number of reasons, the final THC numbers exceeded th… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/us-senators-tina-smith-marco-rubio-introduce-bipartisan-resolution-recognize-november-national-lung U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Marco Rubio Introduce Bipartisan Resolution to Recognize November as National Lung Cancer Awareness Month 2020-11-18 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy Measure Promotes Research, Early Detection of Disease That Kills Tens of Thousands of Americans Each Year MINNESOTA [11/18/20] U.S. SenatorsTina Smith (D-Minn.) and Marco Rubio(R-Fla.) introduced a bipartisanresolutionto designate November 2020 as National Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Theirresolutionpromotes the importance of early detection of lung cancer to help save lives. It also recognizes the need for research toimprove early diagnosis, screening and treatment. Sens. Smith and Rubio said that lung cancer is unfortunatelythe leading cause of cancer-related death among men and women in the United Statesaccounting for more deaths than colon cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer combined. We need to take every possible step to fight this terriblediseasethatkills tens of thousands of people in Minnesota and across the country each year,said Sen. Smith.In July I introduced legislation to expand coverage for lung cancer screenings for individuals 40 or older to help detect the cancer earlier. Former Minnesota U.S. Representative Rick Nolan and his daughter Katherine inspired me to introduce the bill. Katherine, whocourageouslyfoughtstage 4 non-smoking, non-small cell lung cancerfor five years before succumbing to the disease, was a fierceadvocatefor early detectionandresearch.I'm glad to introduce this bipartisan resolution andcarry on Katherine's fight. Thank you Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Tina Smith (D-MN) for working with us to provide national attention to the needs of the lung cancer community through this Senate Resolution that honors November as Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Your leadership helps spotlight this devastating disease and brings opportunities for us to work together to save lives and improve the quality of life for the hundreds of thousands of people impacted. This Lung Cancer Awareness Month Resolution will add momentum to efforts to build national awareness, advance earlier detection and personalized treatments and help increase research funding to discover breakthroughs and cures.T… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-angie-craig-receives-medical-imaging-technology-alliance-innovation-award Rep. Angie Craig Receives Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance Innovation Award 2020-11-17 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Angie Craig C001119 craig.house.gov     legacy This month, U.S. Rep Angie Craig was announced as a recipient of the Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA) Innovation Award, which recognizes members of Congress who have demonstrated outstanding, ongoing efforts to promote innovation within the medical technology industry and improve patient care. Medical innovation saves lives, and I'm proud to be a strong advocate for technological advancements that improve health outcomes for patients,said Rep. Craig.I'm honored to receive this recognition from the Medical Imaging and Technology Alliance and I look forward to continuing to advocate for improvements to health care. Throughout the 116th Congress, Representative Craig has demonstrated a strong commitment to medical innovation and the delivery of life-saving healthcare technologies to patients in need,said Patrick Hope, Executive Director of MITA.Recognizing this commitment, we are pleased to honor her as a recipient of MITA's Innovation Award. Congratulations, Congresswoman! 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-sent-letter-condemning-facebook-s-role-ongoing-violence-ethiopia Rep. Omar Sent Letter Condemning Facebook’s Role in Ongoing Violence in Ethiopia & Around the World 2020-11-17 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Ilhan Omar O000173 omar.house.gov     legacy WASHINGTONAhead of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) sent a letter to Zuckerberg opposing Facebook's role in the violence around the world, most recently in Ethiopia. The letter also raises serious concerns related to the online hate speech that contributed to the violence against Sri Lankan Muslims and the genocide against Rohingya people in Burma. I am writing to express my deep alarm at the role Facebook is playing in the catastrophic violence that has encompassed Ethiopia,Rep. Omar wrote.Sometimes genocidal hate speech that is being propagated in many languages by many actors, both inside Ethiopia and abroad, has found a viral audience on your platform, and has almost certainly contributed directly to the massacres of civilians based on their ethnicities. You and Facebook should have learned from past experience. The role Facebook played in the 2018 violence against Sri Lankan Muslims prompted a public apology earlier this year. In that crisis, people were killed and beaten, and mosques and Muslim-owned homes and businesses burnt because of hate speech that disseminated on your platform. Ethiopia is on the verge of collapsing into one of the worst human rights and humanitarian crises in modern history. Experts believe the region could experience a massive refugee crisis, continued interethnic violence, and genocide. Many state and non-state actors have propagated genocidal hate speech on Facebook that has likely contributed to the massacres of civilians. The letter addresses the need for Facebook to prevent and monitor the fomentation of hate speech and violence. A PDF of the letter can be foundhere, and the full text of the letter is below. Mark Zuckerberg CEO Facebook, Inc. 1 Hacker Way Menlo Park, CA 94025 November 17, 2020 Dear Mr. Zuckerberg, I am writing to express my deep alarm at the role Facebook is playing in the catastrophic violence that has encompassed Ethiopia. Sometimes genocidal hate speech that is being propagat… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-sent-letter-condemning-facebooks-role-ongoing-violence-ethiopia Rep. Omar Sent Letter Condemning Facebook’s Role in Ongoing Violence in Ethiopia & Around the World 2020-11-17 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Ilhan Omar O000173 omar.house.gov omar https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper WASHINGTON—Ahead of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) sent a letter to Zuckerberg opposing Facebook's role in the violence around the world, most recently in Ethiopia. The letter also raises serious concerns related to the online hate speech that contributed to the violence against Sri Lankan Muslims and the genocide against Rohingya people in Burma. "I am writing to express my deep alarm at the role Facebook is playing in the catastrophic violence that has encompassed Ethiopia," Rep. Omar wrote. "Sometimes genocidal hate speech that is being propagated in many languages by many actors, both inside Ethiopia and abroad, has found a viral audience on your platform, and has almost certainly contributed directly to the massacres of civilians based on their ethnicities." "You and Facebook should have learned from past experience. The role Facebook played in the 2018 violence against Sri Lankan Muslims prompted a public apology earlier this year. In that crisis, people were killed and beaten, and mosques and Muslim-owned homes and businesses burnt because of hate speech that disseminated on your platform." Ethiopia is on the verge of collapsing into one of the worst human rights and humanitarian crises in modern history. Experts believe the region could experience a massive refugee crisis, continued interethnic violence, and genocide. Many state and non-state actors have propagated genocidal hate speech on Facebook that has likely contributed to the massacres of civilians. The letter addresses the need for Facebook to prevent and monitor the fomentation of hate speech and violence. A PDF of the letter can be found here, and the full text of the letter is below. Mark Zuckerberg CEO Facebook, Inc. 1 Hacker Way Menlo Park, CA 94025 November 17, 2020 Dear Mr. Zuckerberg, I am writing to express my deep alarm at the role Facebook is playing in the catastrophic violence that has encompassed Ethiopia. Sometimes genocidal hate speech that is being… 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-06-28T00:39:51Z
https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=013DF5CF-9822-45FC-AA43-93875A451454 Klobuchar Questions CEO of Facebook About Competition, Antitrust Investigation, And Political Advertising 2020-11-17 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Amy Klobuchar K000367 www.klobuchar.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON Today, at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with the CEOs of Facebook and Twitter, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights, raised serious concerns about potential anticompetitive conduct and acquisitions by Facebook and highlighted the urgent need to increase transparency in political advertising. What I want to focus on is what I think we're seeing all over this country, not just in tech. We're seeing a startup slump. We're seeing more and more consolidation, and throughout history, we've seen that is not good for small businesses. It's not good for consumers, and it's not good for capitalism in the end, Klobuchar said. In a series of exchanges with the CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, Klobuchar focused on Facebook's actions to limit smaller companies that it considered competitors from accessing parts of Facebook's platform, crippling the growth potential of those rivals. So, I want to start with exclusionary conduct, regarding excluding smaller competitors by limiting interoperability with the Facebook platform. The investigation that we saw in the House recently gave us a number of examples of excluded companies including Vine, Stackla, Message Me, and Ark. My view is that this exclusionary conduct not only damaged the ability of these smaller businesses to compete, but it deprived customers of convenient access. You're one of the most successful companies, biggest companies in the world, Mr. Zuckerberg. Facebook. Do you think that this is fair competition or not? With regard to the interoperability and how you've conducted yourself with these other companies? Klobuchar asked. She also questioned Zuckerberg on Facebook's motivations for acquiring emerging rivals Instagram and WhatsApp, which prevented either company from challenging Facebook's social media dominance. And when we look at your emails, it kind of leads us down this road as well with Whatsapp, that part of the purchase of these nascent competi… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=1B841C94-D093-4BFE-8266-62529A67004F Klobuchar Calls For Passage of Legislation Establishing Smithsonian Museums Recognizing Accomplishments of Both Women and Latinos 2020-11-17 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Amy Klobuchar K000367 www.klobuchar.senate.gov     legacy At Rules Committee Hearing, Klobuchar and witness Eva Longoriapush to pass legislation establishing aSmithsonian American Women's History Museum and aNational Museum of the American Latino WASHINGTON - At a Rules Committee Hearing on the Smithsonian American Women's History Museum Act, and the National Museum of the American Latino Act, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), the lead Democrat on the Rules Committee, pushed for the advancement of the two pieces of legislation before the end of the year. The two pieces of bi-partisan legislation are critical to expanding our understanding of the remarkable contributions that women and Latino Americans have made throughout the history of our country, and would more fully live up to the Smithsonian's goal to increase and spread knowledge. When families come to Washington and they visit the Smithsonian museums they think that they're seeing the complete representation of the history of our nation. Unfortunately, that is not always the case, Klobuchar said. Establishing a women's history museum and a Latino American museum are opportunities for the Smithsonian Institution to be a leader in telling our nation's history, and more fully live up to the Smithsonian's goal to increase and spread knowledge. As a woman, a Latina, and a proud, ninth-generation American, I come before you as a citizen who lives at the intersection of the opportunities that we've gathered to discuss: the establishment of the National Museum of the American Latino, and the National Women's History Museum, Longoria said. I believe that creating these museums both the National Women's History Museum and the National Museum of the American Latino would help address one of the greatest challenges of our time: the division of American society. Because by offering each and every American the opportunity to fully understand and appreciate women's and Latinos' contributions, we can collectively work towards the highest ideal of our nation: e pluribus unum. Out of many, one. Both the National Museum of the … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=4C3043C9-FCF9-4EF8-B0B3-616D7688F31C Klobuchar Statement on the Firing of CISA Director Christopher Krebs 2020-11-17 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Amy Klobuchar K000367 www.klobuchar.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, the Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee with oversight over federal elections, released the following statement on news that Christopher Krebs, the Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency (CISA), was fired by President Trump: President Trump's firing of Chistopher Krebs is a gut punch to our democracy. Director Krebs has been praised by both Republicans and Democrats at the state and national level for protecting our nation's critical infrastructure, including our election systems. As the lead Democrat on the Rules Committee with jurisdiction over elections, I have worked closely with Director Krebs to protect our elections. He has been truthful and straightforward with the American people about the threats to our democracy, and following the election he has done important work to stop the spread of misinformation that undermines the American government. We need more people like Director Krebs working in government, and it is wrong that he was fired. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=643E78B6-68BD-4291-8847-D64D76F6A595 Klobuchar, Smith Announce Sign Up for Conservation Reserve Program in 2021 2020-11-17 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Amy Klobuchar K000367 www.klobuchar.senate.gov     legacy Klobuchar worked to include provisions - backed by Smith - to expand the Conservation Reserve Program in the 2018 Farm Bill, which includes benefits for soil health, wildlife habitat, and water quality WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will conduct open sign up periods for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and CRP Grasslands in early 2021. Sign up for general CRP runs from January 4 to February 12, 2021, and signup for CRP Grasslands runs from March 15 to April 23, 2021. Both are competitive programs that provide annual rental payments for land used for conservation purposes. The coronavirus pandemic has placed incredible stress on our farming communities, Klobuchar said. As the backbone of our economy, farmers throughout Minnesota and across the country deserve our support during periods of uncertainty. I worked to increase the amount of land covered by the Conservation Reserve Program in the 2018 Farm Bill because of the program's many benefits for soil health, wildlife habitat, and water quality. I encourage interested producers to sign up. For decades, the Conservation Reserve Program has provided income to Minnesota farmers and ranchers who have taken actions to improve water quality, soil health, wildlife habitat and more, Smith said. In October I pressed USDA to increase incentive payments to help more producers to participate. I encourage interested Minnesota farmers and ranchers interested in CRP to contact their local USDA offices during the sign-up periods." The 2018 Farm Bill includes several of Klobuchar's priorities, including provisions to increase acreage in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to 27 million acres and further expand and incentivize land transitions to beginning farmers, based on Klobuchar and Senator John Thune's (R-SD) Conservation Program Improvement Act. The 2018 Farm Bill also includes conservation efforts led by Smith, including a provision from Smith's SOIL Stewardship Act to expand ef… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/klobuchar-smith-announce-sign-conservation-reserve-program-2021 Klobuchar, Smith Announce Sign Up for Conservation Reserve Program in 2021 2020-11-17 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy Klobuchar worked to include provisions - backed by Smith - to expand the Conservation Reserve Program in the 2018 Farm Bill, which includes benefits for soil health, wildlife habitat, and water quality WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will conduct open sign up periods for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) and CRP Grasslands in early 2021. Sign up for general CRP runs from January 4 to February 12, 2021, and signup for CRP Grasslands runs from March 15 to April 23, 2021. Both are competitive programs that provide annual rental payments for land used for conservation purposes. The coronavirus pandemic has placed incredible stress on our farming communities, Klobuchar said. As the backbone of our economy, farmers throughout Minnesota and across the country deserve our support during periods of uncertainty. I worked to increase the amount of land covered by the Conservation Reserve Program in the 2018 Farm Bill because of the program's many benefits for soil health, wildlife habitat, and water quality. I encourage interested producers to sign up. For decades, the Conservation Reserve Program has provided income to Minnesota farmers and ranchers who have taken actions to improve water quality, soil health, wildlife habitat and more, Smith said. In October I pressed USDA to increase incentive payments to help more producers to participate. I encourage interested Minnesota farmers and ranchers interested in CRP to contact their local USDA offices during the sign-up periods." The 2018 Farm Bill includes several of Klobuchar's priorities, including provisions to increase acreage in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to 27 million acres and further expand and incentivize land transitions to beginning farmers, based on Klobuchar and Senator John Thune's (R-SD) Conservation Program Improvement Act. The 2018 Farm Bill also includes conservation efforts led by Smith, including a provision from Smith's SOIL Stewardship Act to expand efforts… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://collinpeterson.house.gov/media/newletter-archive/rep-petersons-newsletter-and-questionnaire-11102020 Rep. Peterson's Newsletter and Questionnaire 11/10/2020 2020-11-16 2020 2020-11 Democrat Senate MN Collin Peterson P000258 collinpeterson.house.gov     legacy Fall afternoon in HALLOCK Dear Friends, While the election is over, the 116th Congress has unfinished work to be done. We need to pass a government funding bill and hopefully secure assistance for Coronavirus relief. I've received calls from constituents throughout the Seventh District asking for my support on Line 3 and I contacted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for an update on the project. I encouraged them to review the findings of Minnesota's state agencies and issue the permits needed to continue with the replacement. The Enbridge Line 3 replacement will have a significant economic impact in Western Minnesota. It is worth noting that even as passions ran high throughout the country, millions of Americans were able to peacefully choose their political leaders. I have been honored to be a part of this great system of self-governance and to have been entrusted with the great responsibility of representing the people of Western Minnesota for all these years. Sincerely, Congressman Collin C. Peterson Minnesota 7th District Serving the 7th Line 3 Replacement Permitting I called Colonel Karl Jansen of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to get an update on the permitting process and emphasize my support for the Line 3 Replacement Project. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is expected to sign off on their review of the project in the coming weeks that will be used by the Army Corps for their consideration of permits. I encouraged Colonel Jansen to quickly review MPCA's findings and issue the relevant permits so the project may move forward. The Line 3 Replacement will provide an economic boost for western Minnesota and I look forward to seeing the project move forward in Minnesota. Questionnaire Results In last week's questionnaire, I asked if you think the United States has done enough to deter foreign adversaries from interfering in our elections, this is what you said. I also asked which recent Administration would be the strongest in deterring foreign interference in our elections, this … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=86CD1555-0F62-4C16-9422-681F1644CEC5 Following Call from Senator Klobuchar, HHS Implements New Expedited Review Process for Laboratory Developed Coronavirus Tests, Including Tests Developed at the University of Minnesota 2020-11-16 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Amy Klobuchar K000367 www.klobuchar.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) agreed to implement a streamlined process by which the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) will collaborate to conduct reviews of Emergency Use Authorizations (EUA) submitted by laboratories working to develop and administer tests for the coronavirus. This will allow laboratories, including those at academic institutions, to continue rapid development of safe, accurate coronavirus tests. The HHS decision follows calls by U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) for the agencies to take action to expand our testing capacity with tests produced at academic laboratories - such as the University of Minnesota's Genomic Center, which is developing a process to produce approximately 60,000 tests per day. Since the start of this pandemic, I have been pushing for increased testing capacity so we can save lives. Lab-based testing efforts that can offer rapid, accurate, and inexpensive testing, like the one at the University of Minnesota, are essential to helping us control the spread of the coronavirus, Klobuchar said. That is why I am relieved that the Department of Health and Human Services agreed to streamline the review process for laboratories working to develop and administer these tests. With cases spiking across the country, these efforts are more critical than ever. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=D6AD70C5-4BC8-45B8-BCD1-02783B14D340 Klobuchar Urges CDC to Ensure the Flu Vaccine is Readily Accessible to All Americans Amid Coronavirus Surge 2020-11-15 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Amy Klobuchar K000367 www.klobuchar.senate.gov     legacy Recent reports indicate that some regions of the country have experienced shortages of flu vaccine doses, including some towns in Minnesota WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) sent a letter to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), urging Director Robert Redfield to promote further awareness of the CDC's efforts to address flu vaccine shortages and ensure that all communities across the country have access to the flu vaccine. Recent reports indicate that some regions of the country have experienced shortages of flu vaccine doses, including some towns in Minnesota, where pharmacists have run out of the higher-dose flu vaccine recommended for people over age 65. Public health experts have warned for months that this year's flu season may be unusually severe if large numbers of people are unable to safely access a flu vaccine. It is especially important that we minimize transmission of the flu this year because a severe flu season would have a devastating impact on the lives of Americans and public health systems that are already coping with surging coronavirus cases, Klobuchar wrote. For this reason, we must ensure that this year's flu vaccine is safely and readily available to all Americans. Full text of letter can be found HERE and below: Dear Director Redfield: I write to express my concern regarding reports of influenza (flu) vaccine shortages in certain regions of the country and to request information regarding the steps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is taking to prepare for the upcoming flu season and ensure that all communities and populations have access to the flu vaccine this year. Public health experts have warned for months that this year's flu season may be unusually severe if large numbers of people are unable to safely access a flu vaccine. It is especially important that we minimize transmission of the flu this year because a severe flu season would have a devastating impact on the lives of Americans and public health systems that are already … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=77F9864D-3B3F-49D4-AF83-0109FF76054C Following Request from Klobuchar, Smith, and Colleagues, Administration Releases Funding for Home Energy Assistance Program 2020-11-13 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Amy Klobuchar K000367 www.klobuchar.senate.gov     legacy In October, Klobuchar, Smith, and a group of 40 U.S. Senators urged the Administration to make Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds available to states WASHINGTON Following their letter last month, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that the Administration has released $3.36 billion for federal heating assistance funds to help low-income families and seniors on fixed incomes afford to heat their homes this winter. With colder weather approaching and energy costs projected to increase this winter, the senators said that quick action is especially important as the coronavirus pandemic has added financial hardships for millions of households. In the October letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, who oversees the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the senators pushed him to release the assistance as swiftly and at the highest level possible. The senators say federal LIHEAP funds are a crucial lifeline that helps low-income households and seniors on fixed incomes pay their energy bills and stay safe during the winter. As the main federal program that helps low-income households and seniors with their energy bills, LIHEAP provides critical assistance during the cold winter and hot summer months, the senators wrote. As state agencies work to prepare their LIHEAP programs for the coming winter, it is crucial that they have the resources they need to assist low-income households and seniors as soon as possible, especially in light of the current health crisis. As such, we request that you quickly release LIHEAP funds at the highest level possible to allow states to prepare for the upcoming season, so that low-income households do not have to choose between paying for heat and affording other necessities like food or medicine. The average cost of home heating is unaffordable for millions of low-income households, costing an average of $911 per year nationally. The timely release of these funds will provide critical assistance to families … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=F1B051AC-A87A-4C3E-8B6F-E788360C3564 Klobuchar, Hirono, Cortez Masto, Colleagues Urge DHS to Increase Air Travel Safety and Support Tourism Industry and Workforce During Coronavirus Pandemic 2020-11-13 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Amy Klobuchar K000367 www.klobuchar.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON U.S Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and seven of their Senate colleagues urged the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Chad Wolf to increase the safety of air travel and support the recovery of our nation's travel and tourism industry during the coronavirus pandemic. In the letter, the senators detailed the dramatic job losses across the travel and tourism industry, including jobs related to air travel and tourism, airlines, airports, aerospace companies, and companies that sell goods and services to the air transport chain. The letter urges Acting Secretary Wolf to focus on providing clear COVID-19 protections and standards, addressing bottlenecks at Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints, boosting the processing of applications to TSA PreCheck and Global Entry, and expanding Preclearance operations that allow some international passengers to swiftly bypass additional screenings after they reach their destination. In addition to Senators Klobuchar, Hirono, and Cortez Masto, the letter was also signed by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ed Markey (D-MA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). There needs to be a multi-layered approach to combat COVID-19 and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS or Department) is on the frontlines when it comes to putting together safeguards for air travel. This makes DHS uniquely positioned to support and advance the recovery of our nation's travel and tourism industry, along with the restaurant and hospitality businesses that rely on it, the lawmakers wrote. The lawmakers continued, As long as air travel remains depressed, the hospitality and affiliated industries will not be able to recover economically and will affect big and small businesses, workers, and state and local governments who critically need additional tax revenue. Your actions regarding air travel will have tangible impacts fo… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/following-request-klobuchar-smith-and-colleagues-administration-releases-funding-home-energy Following Request from Klobuchar, Smith, and Colleagues, Administration Releases Funding for Home Energy Assistance Program 2020-11-13 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy In October, Klobuchar, Smith, and a group of 40 U.S. Senators urged the Administration to make Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds available to states WASHINGTON Following their letter last month, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that the Administration has released $3.36 billion for federal heating assistance funds to help low-income families and seniors on fixed incomes afford to heat their homes this winter. With colder weather approaching and energy costs projected to increase this winter, the senators said that quick action is especially important as the coronavirus pandemic has added financial hardships for millions of households. In the October letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, who oversees the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the senators pushed him to release the assistance as swiftly and at the highest level possible. The senators say federal LIHEAP funds are a crucial lifeline that helps low-income households and seniors on fixed incomes pay their energy bills and stay safe during the winter. As the main federal program that helps low-income households and seniors with their energy bills, LIHEAP provides critical assistance during the cold winter and hot summer months, the senators wrote. As state agencies work to prepare their LIHEAP programs for the coming winter, it is crucial that they have the resources they need to assist low-income households and seniors as soon as possible, especially in light of the current health crisis. As such, we request that you quickly release LIHEAP funds at the highest level possible to allow states to prepare for the upcoming season, so that low-income households do not have to choose between paying for heat and affording other necessities like food or medicine. The average cost of home heating is unaffordable for millions of low-income households, costing an average of $911 per year nationally. The timely release of these funds will provide critical assistance to families unempl… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://collinpeterson.house.gov/media/press-releases/peterson-applauds-permit-progress-line-3 Peterson Applauds Permit Progress on Line 3 2020-11-12 2020 2020-11 Democrat Senate MN Collin Peterson P000258 collinpeterson.house.gov     legacy (Detroit Lakes, Minn.) - Today, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources granted the remaining eight of 10 required permits, licenses and approvals for the proposed Enbridge Line 3 pipeline replacement project. The DNR made decisions granting two prior approvals on Oct. 19.The need for the project and the pipeline construction route were decided by the PUC in 2018 and reaffirmed as recently as June of this year. Line 3 is a 1,097-mile crude oil pipeline constructed in the 1960s that extends from Edmonton, Alberta to Superior, Wisconsin. Enbridge has replaced sections of Line 3 in Wisconsin and Canada and has been pursuing permits to replace sections in Minnesota since 2014. DNR's approval of the remaining permits a good sign for the Line 3 replacement project, Peterson said. The project has met or exceeded all requirements of the DNR and I am confident Enbridge will meet the requirements to secure the remaining state and federal approvals. Replacing the existing Line 3 will ensure the integrity of the pipeline and generate significant economic activity across northern Minnesota. In addition to the action by the DNR, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency announced approvals the 401 Water Quality Certification, which clears the way for a determination from the US Army Corps of Engineers regarding federal permits. Peterson noted the project will add an additional $35 million in property tax revenue for rural communities in Northern Minnesota. Additionally, it brings $2 billion in private infrastructure investment to Minnesota and more than 6,500 jobs the state over two-years. These are good paying jobs, and 4,000 will be union jobs. Pipelines are among the safest and most efficient methods of transporting fuel. A replacement will significantly improve Line 3's environmental footprint and integrity with the installation of state-of-the-art technologies. The existing pipeline needs to be replaced, and a modern replacement also significantly lowers the risk of a spill, and it means fewer heavy oil trucks and rai… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=2E375901-41FF-4683-B4FE-9A9BC9EB6DD5 Klobuchar, Colleagues Urge Administration to Send Medical Staff to Support States with Rise in Coronavirus Infections 2020-11-12 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Amy Klobuchar K000367 www.klobuchar.senate.gov     legacy This week, hospitalizations due to coronavirus infection peaked in at least 22 states, and 23 states currently have over 1,000 patients hospitalized with coronavirus (COVID-19) infections WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), and a group ofcolleagues sent a letter to U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Peter Gaynor and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, urging the Administration to address the unprecedented rise in coronavirus infections and hospitalizations by swiftly responding to state requests for additional medical staff. This week, hospitalizations due to coronavirus infection peaked in at least 22 states, and 23 states currently have over 1,000 patients hospitalized with coronavirus infections. Klobuchar, Sanders, and Smith were joined by Senators Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV). As cases surge across the country, states require significantly more support to address pressing medical staffing shortages. If infection rates continue to rise as we enter the holiday season and people spend more time indoors, this pressing need for additional medical staff will become even more acute. We respectfully request that you take action to proactively extend the current federal support that FEMA and HHS are providing to states and swiftly send additional medical professionals to states that are experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases and deaths. Full text of letter can be found HERE and below: Dear Administrator Gaynor and Secretary Azar, We write to express our concern about the rising rate of coronavirus infections in states across the nation and to respectfully request that you send additional health care professionals to states experiencing a surge in cases and a shortage of medical staff available to treat infected patients. Many states are experiencing an unprecedented rise in coro… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/klobuchar-sanders-smith-colleagues-urge-administration-send-medical-staff-support-states-rise Klobuchar, Sanders, Smith, Colleagues Urge Administration to Send Medical Staff to Support States with Rise in Coronavirus Infections 2020-11-12 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy This week, hospitalizations due to coronavirus infection peaked in at least 22 states, and 23 states currently have over 1,000 patients hospitalized with coronavirus (COVID-19) infections WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tina Smith (D-MN), and a group ofcolleagues sent a letter to U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Peter Gaynor and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, urging the Administration to address the unprecedented rise in coronavirus infections and hospitalizations by swiftly responding to state requests for additional medical staff. This week, hospitalizations due to coronavirus infection peaked in at least 22 states, and 23 states currently have over 1,000 patients hospitalized with coronavirus infections. Klobuchar, Sanders, and Smith were joined by Senators Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV). As cases surge across the country, states require significantly more support to address pressing medical staffing shortages. If infection rates continue to rise as we enter the holiday season and people spend more time indoors, this pressing need for additional medical staff will become even more acute. We respectfully request that you take action to proactively extend the current federal support that FEMA and HHS are providing to states and swiftly send additional medical professionals to states that are experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases and deaths. Full text of letter can be found HERE and below: Dear Administrator Gaynor and Secretary Azar, We write to express our concern about the rising rate of coronavirus infections in states across the nation and to respectfully request that you send additional health care professionals to states experiencing a surge in cases and a shortage of medical staff available to treat infected patients. Many states are experiencing an unprecedented rise in coronaviru… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/us-senator-tina-smith-leads-bipartisan-push-protect-minnesota-air-national-guard-aircraft U.S. Senator Tina Smith Leads Bipartisan Push to Protect Minnesota Air National Guard Aircraft from Elimination 2020-11-12 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy Senator Says it is Vital to Maintain Adequate Aircraft Inventory of C-130 Flying Wings in Minnesota, Across Country to Ensure Guard Can Continue Responding to Active Duty Missions, Disasters & Other Emergencies WASHINGTON, D.C. [11/12/20]This week, U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) led a bipartisan Senate coalition advocating for a large enough C-130 aircraft fleet in Minnesota and across the country to support active duty missions as well as respond to disasters and emergencies at home. After news that the Air Force was considering reductions in the size of the C-130 fleet, last month Sen. Smith and the Minnesota Congressional delegation called on the Secretary of the Air Force, Barbara Barrett, to maintain the size of the C-130 fleet while making the most efficient use of taxpayer dollars. The 133rd Airlift Wing, stationed at the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, serves the entire state and any potential reductions could affect critical C-130 missions, including supporting humanitarian and disaster relief and assisting in the coronavirus (COVID-19) response. And now, Sen. Smithalong with Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Steve Daines (D-Mont.), Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.V.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), and Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.)is urging Armed Services Committee conferees to make sure the final National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) bill adopts House language so that the nation maintains an adequate inventory of C-130 aircraft. Our Air National Guard C-130 flying wings provide nearly half of the Air Force's tactical airlift capability. For more than 50 years, we have brought Americans into combat, provided humanitarian relief around the globe, and supported domestic response throughout the … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-angie-craig-announces-veteran-employment-awards Rep. Angie Craig Announces Veteran Employment Awards 2020-11-11 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Angie Craig C001119 craig.house.gov     legacy Today, U.S. Rep. Angie Craig announced that two employers in Minnesota's Second Congressional District are receiving recognition from the U.S. Department of Labor. Boy's Electric and Huot Construction & Services have been selected as awardees as part of the HIRE Vets Medallion Program which encourages businesses large and small to hire our nation's veterans. Earlier this year, Rep. Craig voted for $500,000 in funds for the HIRE Vets Medallion Program in the FY 2021 appropriations package. You can learn more about the programhere. I'm so proud that two small businesses in our community have been recognized for their efforts to hire veterans,said Rep. Craig.We must ensure that everyone who serves our country has employment options when they return home. I'm thankful that businesses in Minnesota's Second District are leading the effort to support veterans with career opportunities.\ Boy's Electric located in West St. Paul was awarded the Platinum award for small employers. Among other criteria, the platinum award recognizes businesses with at least 10% employment of veterans. Additionally, Huot Construction & Services located in South St. Paul was awarded the Gold award, which recognizes businesses with at least 7% employment of veterans. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-angie-craig-statement-honoring-veterans-day Rep. Angie Craig Statement Honoring Veterans Day 2020-11-11 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Angie Craig C001119 craig.house.gov     legacy Today, U.S. Rep Angie Craig released the following statement in honor of Veteran's Day. I've been so fortunate to serve the constituents of Minnesota's Second District in Congress, and the most humbling part of my job is working with and advocating for the more than 33,000 veterans in our community. Today, I want to take a moment to recognize the brave folks who've served our country and their families. Veterans Day is about honoring the sacrifices made by our brave servicemembers and recommitting ourselves to supporting them and their families here at home. To all of our heroes, thank you for your service and happy Veterans Day. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=92AFE84B-7BC5-43C2-A278-11F93097EFFD Klobuchar Statement on Veterans Day 2020-11-11 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Amy Klobuchar K000367 www.klobuchar.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar issued the following statement in honor of Veterans Day on November 11, 2020. Every year on this daythe 11th day of the 11th monthwe pay special tribute to our veterans. We may be divided, but we are still one country. Our soldiers put our country first, our veterans put our country first, and that's what I believe we are called to do now. We must move forward together and give each other a chance as one America, because on the battlefield, it doesn't matter if the soldier next to you is a Democrat or a Republican. During these challenging times, facing conflicts around the world, and a pandemic right here at homeon this day, a day of peace and remembranceour veterans' bravery and courage give us hope and strength. This Veterans Day let's reaffirm that whatever the challenges we face, we will continue living up to our nation's mottoe pluribus unumfrom many one, and unite around the example our veterans have set. Year after year, our servicemembers and veterans have gone above and beyond their standard call, including so many members of the National Guard and Reserves who have been on the frontlines fighting this pandemic and keeping our communities safe. Their bravery and courage inspires us all. So thank you to all of those who foughtand are fightingfor this country and our freedom. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-statement-honor-veterans-day-0 McCollum Statement in Honor of Veterans Day 2020-11-10 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Betty McCollum M001143 mccollum.house.gov mccollum https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) issued the following statement today ahead of Wednesday's commemoration of Veterans Day: "On Veterans Day, we take time to honor those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, and to recognize their bravery, commitment, and sacrifices to protect the values and freedoms we hold dear as Americans. Whether they served in the Air Force, Army, Navy, Coast Guard, or Merchant Marines, our veterans deserve the support of a grateful nation. "In Congress, I'll continue to work for our veterans to make sure they have access to all the benefits they're entitled to, and I'll do so by working with community partners to ensure opportunities for good jobs, education, and housing for veterans and their families. During this COVID-19 pandemic and the added stress we face as a nation, it is even more important that our veterans are able to take advantage of the health care benefits they're entitled to, including our Blue Water Navy veterans. 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-06-28T00:39:51Z
https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=62E57F4A-BEC0-4C9F-9CE3-718A6BBA2B73 Klobuchar, Moran Introduce Legislation to Protect Consumers From Injuries and Deaths During Coronavirus Pandemic 2020-11-10 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Amy Klobuchar K000367 www.klobuchar.senate.gov     legacy The COVID-19 Home Safety Act requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to launch a comprehensive study on injuries and deaths caused by consumer products during the coronavirus pandemic WASHINGTON Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Jerry Moran (R-KS), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Manufacturing, Trade, and Consumer Protection, introduced legislation to protect consumers from injuries and deaths related to consumer products during the coronavirus pandemic. Recent reports indicate that pediatricians and emergency room doctors have seen an increase in patients seeking treatment for home injuries, such as broken bones on bikes and trampolines as well accidental hand sanitizer poisoning in children. The COVID-19 Home Safety Act requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to study injuries and deaths caused by consumer products during the coronavirus pandemic. The study will examine products and evaluate the impact of these injuries on members of vulnerable groupsincluding children, minorities, seniors, and people with disabilities. This bill also directs the CPSC to collaborate with the media to distribute information, such as the CPSC's Home Safe Checklists, to help improve home safety during the pandemic. Companion legislation led in the House by U.S. Representatives Tony Crdenas (D-CA), Vice Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce, and Rodney Davis (R-IL), passed the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce in September. The bill is endorsed by Consumer Reports, National Consumers League, the Consumer Federation of America, and Kids in Danger. "As we continue to confront the coronavirus pandemic, American families should not also have to worry about the safety of products in their own homes, Klobuchar said. This legislation will help protect our children, seniors and other vulnerable populations from injuries and deaths caused by consumer products during and after the pandemic. "The daily liv… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/us-senators-tina-smith-elizabeth-warren-question-fda-safety-inspections-foreign-pharmaceuticals U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Elizabeth Warren Question FDA On Safety Inspections for Foreign Pharmaceuticals Entering the United States 2020-11-10 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy Senators say Patients May be Facing Increased Risk of Drug Contamination or Other Quality, Purity, Potency Problems Due to COVID's Impact on Inspections WASHINGTON, D.C. [11/10/20] U.S. Senator Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inquiring about the agency's quality and safety inspections for pharmaceuticals and drug products entering the United States. Under normal operating procedures, the FDA inspects manufacturing facilities and is responsible for maintainingthe safety, effectiveness, quality, and security of drugs produced in the United States and abroad. However, due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the FDA postponed all inspections of domestic and foreign drug manufacturing facilities in March. As of today, the FDA is only performing a fraction of its full inspection schedule, with overall foreign inspectionsdeclining by over 60% in 2020. Sens. Smith and Warrensaythat thelack of foreign inspections is particularly concerninggiven the United States' over-reliance on foreign pharmaceutical products. Without adequate inspection of the large share of many drugs and drug products coming from abroad, there may be a high risk that unsafe drugs enter circulation in the country. Additionally, the senators say the FDA must takethenecessary precautions to protect the health and safety of its employees who conduct in-person inspections once they resume. "The continued postponement of inspections of foreign manufacturing facilities could pose a danger to the public health of the United States,wrote the senators.The failure of foreign manufacturing facilities to comply with regulatory requirements has allowed low-quality and unsafe products to enter circulation in the United States, resulting in a number of large-scale drug quality issues, including the2008 heparin contamination scandal, in which over 240 people died. Morerecently, the FDA found N-Nitrosodimethylamine, a known carcinogen, in the popular blood pressure medicine valsarta… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-statement-election-president-elect-joe-biden-and-vice-president-elect McCollum Statement on Election of President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice-President Elect Kamala Harris 2020-11-07 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Betty McCollum M001143 mccollum.house.gov mccollum https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases scraper Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) issued the following statement today after the 2020 Presidential Election was called for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris: "It has been declared that President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice-President-Elect Kamala Harris have been elected to lead the United States forward with the consent of nearly 75 million Americans – a record setting vote total. The yearning for mature, decent, and thoughtful leadership in the White House and across the federal government was on the ballot as our nation confronts an unprecedented public health and economic crisis. The fate of American democracy was also at stake in this election. President-Elect Biden has given us all every assurance in his words and with his lifetime of committed service to our country that he will defend our democratic values and strengthen them at home and around the world. "The challenges facing our country are enormous and daunting. It will take unity and common purpose to defeat the coronavirus, rebuild the economy, ensure racial justice, and avert a global climate crisis. I am hopeful that the coming months and years will allow us to meet the urgent immediate needs of the American people while fixing our focus on investing in a more just and equitable future for all. "But I am also cautious. During the past decade, and particularly during the last four years, division, disinformation, and indecency have been used as political weapons to empower Donald Trump with the full embrace of the Republican Party. These deep and destructive divisions can be healed only if Republican leaders decide to work with President-Elect Biden and Democrats in a spirit of unity and common purpose. There is no doubt that Mr. Biden will reach his hand across the aisle to find solutions to our nation's challenges. The burden will be on Republicans to put the needs of the nation ahead of the demagogic, anti-democratic division fomented by Donald Trump. 1 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z 2026-06-28T00:39:51Z
https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=0C2582A4-DEA7-40EB-8966-D8B3930EC22A Klobuchar Statement on the Passing of Congressman Jim Ramstad 2020-11-06 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Amy Klobuchar K000367 www.klobuchar.senate.gov     legacy MINNEAPOLIS U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar released the following statement after the passing of former Minnesota Congressman Jim Ramstad. Minnesota lost a friend and hero former Republican Congressman Jim Ramstad. He was a faithful public servant who worked across party lines to improve the lives of all Americans. He worked with Senator Paul Wellstone on mental health parity legislation and carried the torch to pass the bill after Paul died. I got to see Jim's effectiveness firsthand when I worked with him on domestic violence issues and drug courts and funding for addiction programs. He was a true mentor to me on how to get things done by working with Republicans and Democrats. By being honest about his own personal struggle with alcoholism, Jim gave so many people courage to take on their own addictions. I will miss him very much. CAPTION: Senator Klobuchar and Congressman Ramstad at a drug court event in Washington D.C. ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/us-senator-tina-smiths-statement-restarting-keetac-mine U.S. Senator Tina Smiths Statement on Restarting Keetac Mine 2020-11-05 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON, D.C. [11/5/20]Today, U.S. SenatorTina Smith (D-Minn.) released the followingstatementafter U.S. Steel announced plansto restart Keetac mine and pellet plant in Keewatin. The reopening of the Keetac mining facilityis great newsforthe economic well-being of the families and communities ofMinnesota's Iron Range,"said Sen. Smith.Itwill allow nearly 400 steelworkers to return to workand help get the Iron Range economy back on its feet.I've fought hardto stave offunfairsteel imports and will continue tosupporta strong U.S.ironand steelindustry because it provides good-payingjobsin Minnesotaand keepsour nation secure." 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://collinpeterson.house.gov/media/press-releases/peterson-statement-2020-election Peterson Statement on 2020 Election 2020-11-04 2020 2020-11 Democrat Senate MN Collin Peterson P000258 collinpeterson.house.gov     legacy Congressman Collin Peterson issued the following statement regarding the results of the 2020 election: "I'd like to thank the people of the Seventh District for their support over the years. Serving them in Washington DC has been a great honor, and I respect their decision to move in a different direction. We ran a strong and positive campaign, but with the President winning this district by 30 points again, and the millions in outside money that was spent to attack me, the partisan tilt of this district was just too much to overcome." ### 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-angie-craig-reacts-oral-arguments-supreme-court-adoption-case Rep. Angie Craig Reacts to Oral Arguments in Supreme Court Adoption Case 2020-11-04 2020 2020-11 Democrat House MN Angie Craig C001119 craig.house.gov     legacy Today, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments inFulton v. City of Philadelphia, a case which could determine whether faith-based child welfare organizations can reject LGBTQ families and others whom they consider to be in violation of their religious beliefs. U.S. Rep. Angie Craig and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand led anamicus briefearlier this fall urging the Supreme Court to uphold requirements that private agencies providing foster care services with federal and state funds comply with anti-discrimination laws and policies. For me and countless other LGBTQ parents, this case is personal,said Rep. Craig.When adopting our son Josh, a judge wrote that having two moms was not in the best interests of any child. Thankfully, he was overruled. No parent should face discrimination when adopting or fostering a child, or be denied the opportunity to build a family because of who they love or how they identify. I'm proud to have led this amicus brief with Sen. Gillibrand and 171 of our colleagues to reassert that every child in this country deserves a safe and loving family. "There are hundreds of thousands of children in foster care right now who should get the chance to be raised by loving and caring parents, regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, or religionsaid Sen. Gillibrand.It's deeply troubling that anti-LGBTQ discrimination in the foster care and adoption system continues to prevent LGBTQ parents from adopting and fostering vulnerable children and it must end now. I am proud to have led this amicus brief with Congresswoman Craig to put an end to this blatant bigotry. We need every willing, qualified family to provide a loving home to the over 400,000 children in America's foster care system. We cannot risk allowing even one agency to discriminate and prevent a child from receiving placement in a safe and stable home. In our amicus brief in this case, Family Equality told the stories of prospective foster parents who were turned away from fostering a child solely because they were same-sex couples, wh… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://collinpeterson.house.gov/media/newletter-archive/rep-petersons-newsletter-and-questionnaire-1122020 Rep. Peterson's Newsletter and Questionnaire 11/2/2020 2020-11-02 2020 2020-11 Democrat Senate MN Collin Peterson P000258 collinpeterson.house.gov     legacy Groundbreaking ceremony for the Ag Innovation Campus in CROOKSTON Dear Friends, I traveled to Thief River Falls to visit the Pennington County Justice Center. I spoke with County officials and presented the Board with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol for their new facility. On Thursday, I participated in a town hall meeting with members of the Association of Mature American Citizens on various issues facing western Minnesota. I shared some of my ideas for improving rural healthcare and my support for social security. After years of efforts and litigation, the Administration has a new rule that returns decisions about the management of the gray wolf population to the states. For years I advocated on behalf of livestock producers and sportsmen in the district who would directly benefit from the delisting of gray wolves and I am pleased with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's decision. COVID-19 is still a real danger and it is ripping through our region with record high daily numbers of new cases being reported. I was contacted about a crisis situation facing the McIntosh Senior Living facility and am doing what I can to see they get assistance, but I know more support is needed. We need the Senate to act on a COVID relief bill. They haven't done so since April, and a lot has happened since then. We've had more cases and we also know a lot more about the situation. These assisted living facilities shouldn't have to go through this alone, and they need the full support of the federal government. The CARES Act was a good step, but that was this past spring, and now we're headed into fall and winter, and we need to be ready for what's coming. Sincerely, Congressman Collin C. Peterson Minnesota 7th District Pennington County's New Justice Center Presenting American Flag flown over the United States Capitol to Board Chairman Tveitbakk I met with the Pennington County Board to present a new American Flag that was flown over the United States Capitol for their recently re-developed county justice center. Darryl … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=D6E90830-4494-40FB-95F4-5F9A9E5F3639 Klobuchar, Shaheen, Warner Introduce Legislation to Help Reduce Disability Claims Backlog & Veteran Homelessness through Veterans Legal Clinics 2020-10-30 2020 2020-10 Democrat House MN Amy Klobuchar K000367 www.klobuchar.senate.gov     legacy Services offered by legal clinics - such as expedited claims assistance and legal counsel - offer veterans an opportunity to address challenges before they deteriorate WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Mark Warner (D-VA) introduced legislation to increase cooperation between the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and veterans legal clinics. The Veterans Legal Support Act would allow the VA to provide funding to law school legal clinics that provide pro bono legal services to veterans. Some law schools and their student volunteers are making significant progress reducing disability claims backlogs and veterans homelessness in communities across the country. Under attorney supervision, students provide a range of pro bono legal services, including assistance with disability claims, foreclosures, bankruptcies, divorce, child custody, and some minor criminal cases. By assisting veterans with complicated benefits claims, legal clinics are turning the VA's most time consuming cases into organized applications that are significantly easier to process. In addition, preventative services like expedited claims assistance and legal counsel offer veterans an opportunity to address challenges before they deteriorate, often resulting in significant long-term savings to the government. When our servicemembers made a commitment to defend our nation, our country also made a commitment to make sure they have the resources and support they deserve when they come home, Klobuchar said. While we can never repay the debt we owe to our troops and veterans who have risked their lives for this country, this legislation will help ensure our veterans have access to the basic legal assistance they may need to get the benefits they've earned. Too many veterans are stuck in the VA's claims backlog, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and hindered their access to the benefits and services they've earned. We have an obligation to use every tool available to assist the brave men and w… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/us-senators-tina-smith-elizabeth-warren-call-agencies-provide-complete-transparent-and-timely U.S. Senators Tina Smith, Elizabeth Warren Call on Agencies to Provide "Complete, Transparent, and Timely National Reporting of COVID-19 Cases" in K-12 Schools 2020-10-30 2020 2020-10 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy Letter Follows DeVos' Comments that she Doesn't Believe Education Department is Responsible for Tracking School Reopening Plans or Positive Cases in Schools WASHINGTON, D.C. [10/30/2020]U.S Senators Tina Smith (D-Minn.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.),are pressing the nation's top health and education officialsto issue detailedguidanceso thatthenation'selementary and secondary schools can workwith state and local officials to ensure complete, transparent and timely reporting of COVID-19 cases. In their letter to U.S. Health and Human ServicesSecretary Alex Azar, U.S EducationSecretary Betsy DeVos, and Center for Disease Control and PreventionDirector Robert Redfield, the Senators also urged the agencies to study outbreaks in K-12 schools to understand the effectiveness of different mitigation strategies and toprovide further guidance on reporting COVID-19 cases. On October 20, Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos stated that she believes the Department of Education is not responsible for tracking school districts' reopening plans or positive COVID-19 cases in schools,the Senators wrote. This sentiment represents a complete abdication of national leadership, which has made it difficult for local education leaders, families, and policymakers to accurately evaluate the risk of physically reopening schools. Federal guidance beyond this is lacking, resulting in significant variation across schools, school districts, and states.This lack of clear guidance results in inconsistent information across localities, states, and the nation and is making it extremely challenging for schools and families to make informed decisions. You can read a copy of the letterhere. 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://collinpeterson.house.gov/media/press-releases/peterson-applauds-rule-delist-gray-wolves Peterson Applauds Rule to Delist Gray Wolves 2020-10-29 2020 2020-10 Democrat Senate MN Collin Peterson P000258 collinpeterson.house.gov     legacy (Washington, D.C.) - Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a final rule returning the management of gray wolf populations to the States. This final rule delists the gray wolf from federal protections under the Endangered Species Act, giving state governments the authority to manage gray wolf populations and prevent livestock losses in accordance with state law. I applaud the Fish and Wildlife Service for this final rule that delists the gray wolf in the lower 48 states, Rep. CollinPeterson said. Federal protections restored healthy gray wolf populations years ago, and this rule appropriately returns the management of gray wolves to the states. For years, I have called for this change on behalf of livestock owners and rural communities in Minnesota. This final rule allows Minnesota to set rules and protections for gray wolves that are more responsive to the needs of local communities. Mike Landuyt, President Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association - The Minnesota State Cattlemen's Association is excited for the announcement of the delisting of the Gray Wolf. Under the management of the Department of Natural Resources and continued support from Congressman Peterson, the Gray Wolf has successfully exceeded recovery population numbers. The management of the Gray Wolf is now in the hands of state officials who can best manage the population to benefit beef and livestock producers, as well as Gray Wolf habitat in our state. Thank you, Representative Peterson, for listening to our members' needs and leading this effort. Kevin Paap,Minnesota Farm Bureau President -Chairman Peterson has tirelessly advocated on behalf of farmers and ranchers to delist the gray wolf from the Endangered Species Act. Minnesota Farm Bureau appreciates the leadership of the Chairman to make sure that this issue stayed at the forefront and solutions are found to return the management of gray wolves back to the states. Today's announcement by the federal government is great news for farmers and ranchers in Minnesota. Gary Wertis… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=38A46098-8AC4-4C4D-97B6-254AC6FE9DFA Klobuchar, Smith Call on USDA to Reverse Decision to Decrease COVID-19 Relief for Dairy Farmers 2020-10-29 2020 2020-10 Democrat House MN Amy Klobuchar K000367 www.klobuchar.senate.gov     legacy Senators urge USDA to reverse course after changing pandemic relief program to exclude dairy losses related to meat production WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) joined Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and 11 other senators calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reverse its decision to unfairly exclude dairy farmers from receiving COVID-19 relief to cover losses related to meat production. While milk is the primary income for dairy farms, they often have diversified operations, including meat processing of retired milking cows. In the original Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), the USDA compensated dairy farmers and other livestock producers for losses related to meat produced from breeding animals. When USDA announced CFAP 2, the second version of the relief program, the Department made a significant change to exclude those losses. This change will hurt the livestock industry and will be particularly harmful to dairy farmers who often operate at extremely tight margins, the senators wrote. The decision is even more troubling considering that USDA clearly has sufficient resources to cover these losses. Additionally, it is less complicated for both USDA and farmers to cover all livestock and avoid confusion about what animals are covered or excluded. Considering the dairy industry's traditionally tight margins, USDA's decision to shift course and arbitrarily exclude dairy farm losses related to meat production is a significant blow, the senators continued. We urge USDA to reverse this arbitrary decision and make breeding animals eligible for CFAP 2 like they were under the original relief program. In addition to Senators Klobuchar, Smith, Stabenow and Leahy, the letter was signed by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Bob Casey (D-PA), Angus King (I-ME), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Gary Peters (D-MI). … 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.smith.senate.gov/klobuchar-smith-call-usda-reverse-decision-decrease-covid-19-relief-dairy-farmers Klobuchar, Smith Call on USDA to Reverse Decision to Decrease COVID-19 Relief for Dairy Farmers 2020-10-29 2020 2020-10 Democrat House MN Tina Smith S001203 www.smith.senate.gov     legacy Senators urge USDA to reverse course after changing pandemic relief program to exclude dairy losses related to meat production WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) joined Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and 11 other senators calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reverse its decision to unfairly exclude dairy farmers from receiving COVID-19 relief to cover losses related to meat production. While milk is the primary income for dairy farms, they often have diversified operations, including meat processing of retired milking cows. In the original Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP), the USDA compensated dairy farmers and other livestock producers for losses related to meat produced from breeding animals. When USDA announced CFAP 2, the second version of the relief program, the Department made a significant change to exclude those losses. This change will hurt the livestock industry and will be particularly harmful to dairy farmers who often operate at extremely tight margins, the senators wrote. The decision is even more troubling considering that USDA clearly has sufficient resources to cover these losses. Additionally, it is less complicated for both USDA and farmers to cover all livestock and avoid confusion about what animals are covered or excluded. Considering the dairy industry's traditionally tight margins, USDA's decision to shift course and arbitrarily exclude dairy farm losses related to meat production is a significant blow, the senators continued. We urge USDA to reverse this arbitrary decision and make breeding animals eligible for CFAP 2 like they were under the original relief program. In addition to Senators Klobuchar, Smith, Stabenow and Leahy, the letter was signed by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Bob Casey (D-PA), Angus King (I-ME), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Gary Peters (D-MI). Full… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=5CAB75E7-813C-4AE8-B493-82A3B846E098 Klobuchar Urges Confirmation of Shana Broussard to Federal Election Commission 2020-10-28 2020 2020-10 Democrat House MN Amy Klobuchar K000367 www.klobuchar.senate.gov     legacy Klobuchar has been pushing the White House to nominate Broussard, a highly qualified and experienced FEC attorney, to the Commission for more than a year. If confirmed, she will be the first person of color to serve on the Federal Elections Commission. WASHINGTON U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Rules Committee with oversight over federal elections, released the following statement after the White House announced its intent to nominate Shana Broussard to serve on the Federal Election Commission (FEC). Democrats advanced Ms. Broussard to the White House for consideration more than a year ago. Today's announcement from the White House that they will nominate Ms. Broussard is historic. The White House also announced its intention to nominate Republican Sean Cooksey to the Commission. Shana Broussard is an immensely qualified candidate who has worked at the FEC for more than a decade and I am glad to see that the White House intends to nominate her, Klobuchar said. The FEC needs to be fully functioning so it can enforce our nation's campaign finance laws. However, the timing of these nominations cannot be ignored. We need to stop treating the agency that's charged with keeping corruption out of our elections like a political pawn. We must restore trust in the FEC, and confirming Ms. Broussard, a well-respected and longtime FEC lawyer, will go a long way towards doing that. Ms. Broussard currently serves as the Counsel to FEC Commissioner Steven T. Walther. Before this, Ms. Broussard was an Attorney Advisor at the Internal Revenue Service and a Deputy Disciplinary Counsel at the Louisiana Attorney Disciplinary Board. She also served as a New Orleans Assistant District Attorney. While at the FEC, Ms. Broussard received the Outstanding Performance Award in 2011 and 2014. She earned her Bachelor of Arts from Dillard University and her Juris Doctor from Southern University Law Center. Klobuchar has been a leader in the fight to appointment candidates to the FEC from both parties. In Ja… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=82B61A78-88E0-4A90-AD38-757236F04A7C Klobuchar Presses CEOs of Facebook and Google on Need to Combat Misinformation and Promote Industry Competition 2020-10-28 2020 2020-10 Democrat House MN Amy Klobuchar K000367 www.klobuchar.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON Today, at a Senate Commerce Committee Hearing with CEOs from Google, Facebook, and Twitter, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) highlighted the urgent need to combat misinformation and improve the transparency of online political advertising and competition. I want to note first that this hearing comes six days before Election Day, and I believe we are politicizing and the Republican majority is politicizing what should actually not be a non-partisan topic, and I do want to thank the witnesses here for appearing, but also for the work that they are doing to try and encourage voting and to put out the correct information when the president and others are undermining vote by mail - something we are doing in every state of the country right now, Klobuchar said in her opening remarks. Second point, Republicans failed to pass my bipartisan Honest Ads Act and the White House blatantly blocked the bipartisan election security bill that I had with Senator Lankford, as well as several other Republicans, and it is one of the reasons I think we need a new president. Third, my Republican colleagues in the Senate, many of them I work with very well on this committee, but we have had four years to do something when it comes to antitrust, privacy, local news -- a subject that briefly came up -- and so many other things. I will use my time to focus on what I consider, in Justice Ginsburg's words, a blueprint for the future. In her exchange with Mark Zuckerberg, Klobuchar highlighted divisive content on Facebook: KLOBUCHAR: I know there has been a recent study that shows that part of your algorithm that push people towards more polarized content, left, right, whatever. In fact, one of your researchers warned senior executives that our algorithms exploit human brain's attraction to divisiveness. The way I look at it - more divisiveness, more time on the platform, the company makes more money Transcript of full remarks and questions below and video HERE. In her role as a senior Member of the Senate Commerce Committ… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=9042BADC-E3B4-412E-967E-16978A10684E Klobuchar, Sanders Issue Statement Correcting Misinformation from President Trump and Justice Kavanaugh on Voting Processes 2020-10-28 2020 2020-10 Democrat House MN Amy Klobuchar K000367 www.klobuchar.senate.gov     legacy WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) andBernie Sanders (I-VT)released the statement below following President Trump's recent false statement that it is inappropriate and illegal to count ballots after Election Day, and the Supreme Court's ruling in Democratic National Committee v. Wisconsin Legislature, where Justice Kavanaugh's concurring opinion contains incorrect information regarding voting. Absentee ballots counted after Election Day do not flip the results of an election,' as Justice Kavanaugh claimed. They are the results of the election. "In America, we count the votes to determine who wins an election. Despite the incorrect assertions from President Trump and Justice Kavanaugh, election officials across the country accept ballots well after Election Day every year, and results are not certified until the votes are counted and a canvas to confirm the results is conducted. More than twenty states, including states like Mississippi, Kansas, and Utah, require ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted even if they are received after Election Day. This is critical to ensuring that those who may face hardships in voting, including members of our military serving abroad and those affected by COVID-19, are not disenfranchised by things like mail delays. These are not new rules and they do not serve any political party. It is on all of us to reject misinformation and to tell the truth. Our election systems span 50 states, five territories, and thousands of jurisdictions. State and local election officials are working around the clock, and experts have concluded that the integrity of our election system is strong. The best defense against those trying to undermine our democracy is the resolve of the American people, who are voting by the millions as we speak. Keep voting. On October 18, Klobuchar and Sanders along with Senators Schumer (D-NY), Heinrich (D-NM), Murphy (D-CT), and Duckworth (D-IL) issued a report titled 2020 General Election: Counting Votes & What to Expect on Election Day, wh… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z
https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/news-releases?ID=F1DA3180-2640-42DE-B036-B7DB7C7FF09E Following Letter from Klobuchar and Smith, HHS Expands Relief For Rural Health Care Providers 2020-10-28 2020 2020-10 Democrat House MN Amy Klobuchar K000367 www.klobuchar.senate.gov     legacy Earlier this month, Klobuchar and Smith urged the Administration to preserve rural health care providers' access to pandemic relief funding WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Tina Smith (D-MN) announced that following their letter earlier this month to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, the Administration has expanded relief eligibility for rural health care providers and updated requirements to preserve providers' access to funding from the Provider Relief Fund (PRF) created as a response to the coronavirus pandemic. As we continue to face challenges from the pandemic, rural areas are in need of critical support, Klobuchar said. This announcement is welcome news and we must continue to work with rural hospitals and health systems in Minnesota and around the country to help ensure that they can continue to serve low-income, elderly, and severely ill patients through this difficult time. We need to help health care providers in small towns and rural areas stay afloat so they can continue their critical work during COVID-19, Smith said. Some health care providers are having to lay people off while anticipating surges in patients this winter. This puts them in an impossible position. The last thing we should do is change the requirements for the Provider Relief Fund, which may force some health care providers to return funds they have already received." HHS is allowing more flexibility for providers in using PRF proceeds so that they can continue to respond to all of the challenges posed by the coronavirus pandemic. This will help to protect patients' access to care and prevent providers especially rural hospitals and hospitals that serve high-numbers of low-income, elderly, and severely ill patients from being forced to return PRF funds that they have already received. HHS released initial reporting requirements in June for providers receiving PRF funds that directed these entities to define lost revenue as any revenue that you as a health care provider… 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z

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