url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at http://ellison.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ellison-mccollum-emmer-send-letter-to-secretary-of-state-kerry-regarding,"Ellison, McCollum, Emmer Send Letter to Secretary of State Kerry Regarding Protests in Ethiopia",2015-12-24,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Keith Ellison,E000288,ellison.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON DC Reps. Keith Ellison, Betty McCollum, and Tom Emmer sent the following letter to Secretary of State John Kerry regarding the student protests in the Oromia region of Ethiopia calling for stronger action against human rights violations: Full text of letter: December 23, 2015 The Honorable John F. Kerry Secretary of State United States Department of State Washington, D.C. 20520 Dear Secretary Kerry: We are writing in regards to the recent student protests in the Oromia region of Ethiopia that have erupted in response to the Ethiopian governments Master Plan to expand Addis Ababa into surrounding farmland. Minnesota is home to the largest Oromo population in the United States and we have been contacted by hundreds of constituents concerned about the violence and intimidation these protesters have faced from government security forces. We would like to commend youfor condemning the recent killings and violence against peaceful Oromo protesters.However, our constituents feel that stronger action is required to address the deteriorating human rights situation in the region. The United States and Ethiopia have shared a long, fruitful relationship and are partners on a number of issues important to the region. This ongoing relationship, coupled with the extensive foreign assistance that the United States provides Ethiopia each year, should be used to leverage the United States position that inclusive democracy be practiced in Ethiopia. Numerous reports from organizations such as Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and Committee on the Protection of Journalists have revealed the growing practice of government security forces using arbitrary arrests and prosecution to silence journalists and Ethiopian citizens who are simply exercising freedom of expressiona fundamental right and the cornerstone of a democratic society. These individuals are often charged under the draconian 2009 anti-terrorism proclamation. The continued mistreatment and displacement of the Oromo ethnic group in the Oromia region is especially troubling. Furthermore, the Charities and Societies Proclamation (CSO law), enacted in 2009, has made it nearly impossible for non-profits to operate in Ethiopia. Similar protests last year left dozens of Oromos dead and hundreds arrested. This year, there have already been five officially recorded deaths, although constituents close to the issue have informed us the true number of deaths is much higher with a death toll of at least 75. Recently, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said that authorities will take merciless legitimate action against any force bent on destabilizing the area. This aggressive approach to peaceful protesters is cause for major concern by the United States and we therefore urge you to engage the Ethiopian leadership in a serious dialogue in order to prevent further loss of life and to ensure that Ethiopia is adhering to democratic principles. The United States Congress has already sent a strong message regarding Ethiopias response to protests. The2015 Omnibus Appropriations Bill has provisions to ensure that the U.S. funding to Ethiopia cannot be used to support forced evictions in the country.Furthermore, the bill requires U.S. assistance to be used to support local community initiatives aimed at improving livelihoods and be subject to prior consultation with affected populations. The bill also opposes U.S. funding to international financial institutions such as the World Bank for programs that could lead to forced evictions in Ethiopia. We respectfully ask you to conduct a full, thorough review of this ongoing situation.We cannot look the other way when our allies are violating the human rights of their citizens. If during your investigation you find violations of the Leahy Law, we ask that you respond by taking appropriate action. Thank you for your attention to this important human rights matter. Sincerely, Keith Ellison Member of Congress Betty McCollum Member of Congress Tom Emmer Member of Congres Cc: Susan Rice, National Security Advisor, White House Samantha Power, United States Ambassador to United Nations Congressman Ed Royce, Chairman of Foreign Affairs Committee, United States House of Representatives Congressman Elliot Engel, Ranking member of Foreign Affairs Committee, United States House of Representatives",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://emmer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/minnesota-congressional-delegation-urges-va-secretary-visit-st-cloud-va,Minnesota Congressional Delegation Urges VA Secretary to Visit St. Cloud VA Hospital,2015-12-23,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,MN,Tom Emmer,E000294,emmer.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. On Monday, the Minnesota Congressional Delegation called upon U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald to visit the St. Cloud VA Health Care System (St. Cloud VA) as soon as possible to reassure the employees and the thousands of veterans they serve of the VAs commitment to providing a healthy and productive workplace to ensure delivery of the highest quality medical care. The bi-partisan group of lawmakers wrote to the VA Secretary after media reports revealed multiple complaints about the St. Cloud VA work environment.The letter was signed by Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Al Franken, Rep. Tom Emmer, Rep. Tim Walz, Rep. Rick Nolan, Rep. Collin Peterson, Rep. Keith Ellison, Rep. Betty McCollum, Rep. Erik Paulsen, and Rep. John Kline. We are writing to bring your personal attention to recent media reports about the St. Cloud VA Health Care System, the lawmakers wrote. Several local media outlets have reported concerns about patient access and care, workplace culture, facility operations and construction contracting. On October 2, Reps. Tom Emmer (R-MN) and Tim Walz (D-MN), who sits on the House Veterans Affairs Oversight and Investigation Sub-committee, visited the St Cloud VA to conduct oversight following the recent release of a 2014 report to the Office of the Inspector General conducted by the VA Midwest Health Network (VISN-23). The 2014 VISN 23 report substantiated five of the six allegations regarding St. Cloud VA facilities, services, staffing and managerial practices. After Reps. Emmer and Walz heard concerns about ongoing strained relationships, lack of trust, and unresolved grievances, the pair suggested to both management and labor to voluntarily and jointly request assistance and support from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. Were encouraged that management and labor at the facility recently agreed to voluntarily work together with facilitation and training conducted by the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to strengthen workplace relationships, the lawmakers wrote. The full text of the letter is below: Letter to Secretary Robert A. McDonald ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/mesabi-daily-news-lawmakers-especially-rep-nolan-great-job-on-getting-white,"Mesabi Daily News: Lawmakers, especially Rep. Nolan, great job on getting White House chief of staff here",2015-12-21,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Rick Nolan,N000127,nolan.house.gov,,,legacy,"We are extremely pleased that Minnesotas federal lawmakers especially 8th District U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan and the governor have worked to get the attention of the White House regarding the iron ore and steel crisis that is devastating the Iron Range. Gov. Mark Dayton and Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken all deserve credit, along with Rep. Nolan, for working hard to repeatedly deliver the message with a sense of urgency that the very foundation of the nation its ore and steel industries are being unfairly hammered by illegally subsidized steel imports. Nolans efforts have been relentless. He even went so far as to spend time with President Obamas Chief of Staff Denis McDonough at a White House Christmas party on Dec. 7 to personally impress upon the presidents top advisor just how dire is the situation. McDonough took what he heard that night from Nolan to the president and Obama directed him to travel to the Range and get some first-hand information on the situation. McDonough called the congressman the next day to tell him he would be visiting Minnesotas Iron Range. The chief of staffs journey to the Range was confirmed by those Minnesota elected officials this week, and McDonough will venture to the Range next Tuesday for a meeting at Mesabi Range College with all stakeholders in the areas distressed mining industry. This is a major development for the area. We need help from the Obama administration and we need it very soon. And it is imperative that message is impressed upon McDonough with respectful passion and the utmost urgency. The chief of staff needs to hear exactly what is at stake the very survival of the Iron Range, which is of vital importance to the future of the State of Minnesota and the overall United States. The cheaters are winning in global trade of steel and steel products. The aggressive infusion of illegally subsidized steel has been out of control. And it doesnt really matter how many rulings come down against these trade cheats, they just keep on winning because the International Trade Commission process is glacially slow in enforcing what is right and just. This has all got to stop and stop as soon as possible. President Obama, just like Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush before him, can take executive action to impose tariffs on the steel products of the cheaters. We believe it should have already been done. But what matters at this point is that it is now expeditiously implemented. The president has the tool to do so Section 201 of the 1974 Trade Act. And it is our hope that McDonough will gather insight from his Iron Range visit on just how troubling is the issue, how much hardship it is bringing to workers, families and communities, and how even the countrys national security is being threatened. It is way past time that a clear and unequivocal message is sent to the cheaters your days of winning are over.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://collinpeterson.house.gov/rep-petersons-newsletter-12182015,Rep. Peterson's Newsletter 12/18/2015,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Collin Peterson,P000258,collinpeterson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Christmas in Washington Dear Friends, We extend our sincere thanks to the men and women in uniform whose sacrifice allows us to celebrate tradition and family during the holidays. Some of our servicemen will be overseas during this holiday season so we extend special thanks to those who are away from their families and keeping us safe. This week Congress passed much-needed tax credit extensions to provide more certainty for Americans and an appropriations bill which will fund our government in 2016. Finally, as the New Year approaches, I would like to wish you the best this holiday season. Sincerely, Congressman Collin C. Peterson Minnesota 7th District Agri-Pulse Open Mic Last week, I joined Agri-Pulse host Jeff Nalley for an Open Mic interview about current farm law and risk management tools. I also offered my perspective on the recent Agriculture Committee review of the Farm Credit System, the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, Cuba policy and nutrition programs. Legislative Update This week Congress passed a comprehensive tax credit extension bill and an appropriations package which will fund our government next year. I supported both of these bills on the floor. The tax extenders bill provides much-needed certainty to the marketplace for businesses, farmers, and families. Small businesses will be able to better plan ahead as several tax extensions were made permanent or extended several years. The legislation permanently extends increased expensing limits under Section 179 of the tax code, a provision that is used by farmers and small businesses and is critical to keeping our rural economy strong. This bill also includes deductions for charitable giving, such as tax-free charitable distributions from individual retirement accounts, and makes permanent the option to claim an itemized deduction for state and local general sales taxes. Other extensions include enhanced versions of the child tax credit, American Opportunity Tax Credit, and Earned Income Tax Credit. The appropriations bill funds programs like the Department of Veterans Affairs, the National Institute of Health, and the Department of Agriculture. Although it was important that we passed this bill to fund our government, I was disappointed it left out policies I strongly support like delisting gray wolves from federal protection and addressing EPAs overly burdensome regulations that redefine waters of the United States. Next year I will continue to look for solutions to these problems and provide relief from federal policies like these that make no sense. Discovering the 7th The Olaf Swensson Farm Museum in Montevideo consists of a 17-acre farmstead complete with a timber-frame barn, grist mill, and hand-cut granite monuments. The 22-room brick farm house, included on the National Historic Register in 1972, rests on a foundation of local granite. Tours of both the house and the grounds are available to the public. This Week in American History Maria Sanford (1910) / Capitol Visitor Center Maria Louise Sanford was born in Saybrook, Connecticut on December 19, 1836. After a distinguished career as a teacher, principal, and superintendent, Sanford became one of the first women named to a college professorship at the University of Minnesota in 1880. During her tenure, Sanford was a professor of rhetoric and elocution and occasionally lectured on literature and art history. Sanford was also a champion of womens rights, advocating for womens suffrage and integrated education in her public speeches. Sanford Hall, a residential dormitory on the University of Minnesota campus, is named in her honor. A statue of Professor Sanford represents Minnesota in the Capitol Visitor Center in Washington, DC. 2015 Christmas Display U.S. Botanic Garden",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ellison.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-ellison-statement-on-republican-tax-extender-and-omnibus-legisation,Rep. Ellison Statement on Republican Tax-Extender and Omnibus legisation,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Keith Ellison,E000288,ellison.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON—Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) released the following statement today after the House of Representatives passed the “Tax Extender” bill and Omnibus funding bill. “Our nation faces crumbling infrastructure, a rental-housing crisis, and millions of people struggling with low wages. I voted against the Omnibus today, and the tax extender bill yesterday, because they didn’t go far enough in addressing these critical issues. “The tax extenders bill would double down on the Republican plan to shrink the size of government by “starving the beast.” By passing massive tax cuts for multi-national corporations, this bill will add more than $2 trillion to the national debt over the next two decades.  “This Omnibus funding bill does not provide anywhere near the funding levels we need to provide housing, health care, education and basic medical research for Americans. While this spending bill removes some of the harm from the partisan riders included in the original draft, it fails to ensure that no American lives in grinding poverty, that everyone has access to quality education and that our roads, bridges and subway systems are safe and reliable.  In addition, the spending bill repealed a forty-year ban on companies exporting crude oil. Lifting the ban will cost thousands of American refinery jobs and could lead to as many as 7,000 new oil wells every year. This repeal will give the oil industry an extra $20 billion a year while they ship jobs overseas, endanger our natural resources and wildlife, and add more carbon to the atmosphere.  While I support some of the investments that are proven to help working families to succeed – such as making the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Child Tax Credit permanent – the price demanded by Republicans for corporate tax giveaways was too high. When we slash federal funds that could be available for childcare, prenatal care and early childhood nutrition, we don’t just harm people, we reduce the benefits our society could reap from investing in working families. “When I’m asked to vote on a budget, I put the needs of working families first. Neither the tax bill nor the spending bill met that test for me and that’s why I opposed them both.”",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ellison.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/transcript-of-rep-ellison-floor-speech-in-opposition-to-omnibus-bill,Transcript of Rep. Ellison Floor Speech in Opposition to Omnibus Bill,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Keith Ellison,E000288,ellison.house.gov,,,legacy,"Let me thank the Gentlelady. I just want to say, you've done an awesome job holding down the Progressive Caucus special order hour. It's been to the benefit of everyone who listens. So, Bonnie Watson Coleman, thank you very much. Mr. speaker, it's important for all of us involved in this debate and for every American to understand a concept known as Starve the Beast. It's a conservative concept and what it really means, and I would like everybody just to be clear, what it means is that the conservative wing in our country wants to shrink the size of government where a big multinational oil company will never have to worry about an E.P.A. regulator because the government will have so little money, they won't have an E.P.A. regulator. The Starve the Beast concept means that a big bank won't ever have to worry about a bank regulator saying, hey, Mr. banker, you cannot do that with the American people's money, you have to be fair, you have to be proper and right with the people's money, because we'll shrink the government to be so small and so weak that there won't ever be that regulator who will say to the big banks, you cannot do that. Starve the Beast means that the largest private sector elements in our country can escape the accountability that the government provides through the people who inspect the water, the people who inspect the meat, the people who inspect the air quality. And when the public interest runs afoul of private gain, the private gain will prevail because the public won't have the wherewithal and resources to say, no, or you have to readjust this, or you have to operate at a higher standard of quality or anything like that. How do you get this Starve the Beast strategy in play? One thing you do is you have unpaid-for tax cuts and you get these tax cuts in place, they're all good you say, isn't this great, don't you want to stop paying taxes? Who likes paying taxes? Nobody. So people say, ok, good, we're going to get out of having to pay taxes, how nice. Then you don't pay for them. But then what happens to the budget? You've got a big hole in the budget because the revenue you were counting on is not there. Now, then, you use the public relations to say that raising taxes is just the worst thing anyone could ever do at any time in their life. They say this three letter word of tax, it's really a four letter word, I'll let your imagination go from there. Then, because they have been raising -- they made raising revenue utterly radioactive, all we can do is cut. So, what do we do? We cut education funding. We cut meals on wheels. We cut national institute of health. We cut, we cut, we cut. All this stuff that ordinary citizens rely on, until we get to the next round of tax cuts. By the way, when it comes to tax cuts and conservatives, if the economy is doing really well they need a tax cut. If it's doing really bad, of course the solution to that is what? And if we're just doing average, a tax cut. well, why not have a tax cut. almost always unpaid for. If you look at it over time, there's this pattern of irresponsible tax cuts, deficits, cuts to fix it, more tax cuts, deficits, more cuts to fix, never do we raise the revenue we need in order to meet the needs of our society. Who gets hurt? Not the country club set. People who need their government to function on their behalf. People who drink water every day. People who need some inspection of it. People who eat -- like to breathe clean air. People who might want to eat some meat that's been inspected. People who might be suffering from a serious disease like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's, who might need the national institute of health to put forth a grant which will help. And so what does that all have to do with this discussion? Today, we just passed a bill that gave $600 billion worth of unpaid for tax cuts and made them permanent. We created a structural deficit even worse. Now, are they going to -- now they're going to give it back a little bit, a little bit. We give away $600 billion. They give us $30 billion. Voila, we're supposed to be happy about that. Here's a concept also known as Stockholm syndrome. They cut -- your captor holds you in control and you -- and then they, after they've held you a little while they give you a few little chips. Then they make you think when they give you even a little drop of water, that they're so benevolent. I will never forget that we never should have had sequester in the first place. We never should have had sequester. We had a hostage-taking situation here where republicans were literally threatening to default and renege on the full faith and credit of the United States by not -- by busting the debt ceiling. If we did not give them back all kinds of cuts and concessions, they would bust the debt ceiling. So then we entered into this deal where we had some cuts in the beginning and then with they did is, they said, we're going to set up a special committee three republicans in the house, three republicans in the senate, three republicans in the -- three democrats in the house, three democrats in the senate. This committee was supposed to come up with some cuts, targeted cuts to reduce the deficit. Which they said then was the worst thing in the world to ever have a deficit. And then they got in that committee and instead of holding their pledge to protect and defend the United States, they upheld their pledge to not raise taxes to serve political figures in our landscape. The whole committee failed and this was contemplated that if this committee cannot come up with targeted cuts, then there will be across the board cuts on both sides, also known as sequester. You know what? That committee really never had a chance. I wish we would have known then that that committee was always a sucker deal. Because they were clicking -- clinking the champagne glasses when that committee failed. They knew it was going to be across the board cuts. They said, it's going to be domestic discretionary, which you liberals like, and there's going to be cuts to the military which U.S. conservatives like, which is a gross overgeneralization and not exactly accurate, but what we never accounted for is that in 2001, the U.S. military budget was already -- was about $290 billion. By the time we got to sequester, it was about $700 billion. They could stand some cuts but the programs that the average citizen needed that were going to be ravaged could not. So you know, no sooner than the Sequester went into effect, we had people say, we can't do these military cuts, can't happen, won't happen. They had their friends and advocates even though they've been getting fatfor years. What about meals on wheels and education funding and environmental protection? That was attacked. So what does that mean about today? What it means about today is this. We have seen more tax things given away, I definitely think some of the things made permanent today are good tax treatments -- treatments. I'm for research and development. I'm certainly for child credit and EITC. But they should be paid for because if they're not paid for they're going to come out of another part of the budget next year. Oh and by the way, how come tax doesn't have to be paid for but anything regular people need must be paid for. Why do we have to find offsets for unemployment insurance but not things big business needs? Utter hypocrisy. I want to tell you, for the folks listening, that there is a very important thing that speaker John Boehner said when the Republicans took over a few years ago. He -- they came up with this big, ugly budget, to cut things Americans rely on to prosper and grow and they said, we wouldn't pass their house file one system of Mr. Boehner, speaker Boehner said, if they won't take it one big loaf at a time, they'll take it one slice at a time. Boy if that promise is not being kept. We have to turn around and say no to this starve the beast philosophy. We have to turn it around and start meeting the needs of the American people. Taxes are the price we pay to live in a civilized society. If you don't like taxes, move to so mall ark you won't have to pay any. Good luck. But in America, where we pay some taxes that pays for schools that pays for clean water, pays for highways, pays for police, pays for fire, we've got to stop and stand against this false claim that there is something wrong with taxation. Let me just wrap up on one point. The gentlelady, I know we have to move on, we have other great speakers I want to hear from myself, but I want to make one quick comment as I listen to my colleagues and prepare to take my seat and that is one of t things we'll be dealing with tomorrow. Now you know, we talk about this tax extender thing and the omnibus as if it's two different things. It's one big thing. That's truth. One of the elements of the omnibus tomorrow, which is pretty ugly, is lifting the oil export ban on crude oil. According to the energy information administration, lifting the ban will increase oil industry profits by more than $20 billion annually. The big companies that make all these extra profits, I think that they have their favorites in the House of Representatives and not too many of them sit over here. Probably a lot of them sit over there. I will also say that it will cut refinery jobs, it will make us more dependent upon foreign oil and it will increase more fossil fuel. This is absolutely the wrong thing, the only virtue of it is that a small, tiny, select number of people are going to get $20 billion, and I'm disgusted by it. By the oil industry's own expectations that this will lead to more than 7,600 wells being drilled each year, more fossil fuel the largest report from the Center for American Progress says it will result in an additional 500 metric tons of carbon pollution each year, egive lit to 108 million more passenger cars or 138 more coal-fired power plants. It will cost jobs in refineries, it will do real damage to Americans, but this is on the docket tomorrow. Are there good things on the docket tomorrow? Yes, there are. I'll leave it to other people to decide whether it's worth Toyota pass a monstrosity like this. So i will say, always know that sometimes when you're in the game, somebody else playing has an overall long-term strategy and if you're just playing minute to minute, you are going to be no match for them. ...",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/nolan-statement-on-the-omnibus-vote,Nolan Statement on the Omnibus Vote,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Rick Nolan,N000127,nolan.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan today voted in favor of the FY 2016 Omnibus Appropriations Act. On the whole, this bipartisan compromise bill is good for the 8th District, Minnesota and our entire nation, Nolan said. For Minnesotas hard-hit Iron Range, the legislation advances our battle against the illegal dumping of low-grade, foreign government-subsidized steel with a provision I strongly supported to provide more funds and resources to crack down on cheater nations. And it requires the use of American iron ore and steel in a wide range of EPA public water system and treatment projects. The bill also provides additional funds for local transportation projects in Minnesota and throughout the nation, along with new measures to make our air and rail systems safer. It fully funds the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) so we can continue our progress in bringing back the St. Louis River, along with hundreds of other projects throughout the Great Lakes System; and after a long, tough battle, this legislation reauthorizes the Land & Water Conservation Fund that has provided Minnesota with more than $200 million over the years to help local communities preserve the places they love without costing taxpayers a dime. While Im deeply disappointed that we were unable to completely stop the Republican give-away to big oil companies in their push to lift the 40-year old ban on crude oil exports, I am pleased our leadership fought to extend and include important tax credits to support wind and solar energy reducing pollution and lightening our carbon footprint, Nolan continued. Im also pleased that we were able to remove provisions that would have weakened EPA clean water regulations. The measure fully funds the National Institutes of Health so they can continue groundbreaking research leading to new treatments and ultimately cures for cancer, Alzheimers, Parkinsons, diabetes and other dreadful diseases that rob our people and our nation of so much life and productivity. Students and teachers will benefit as well from additional funding for school improvement grants, special education, and early education programs such as Head Start; and seniors will get a boost from improved nutrition programs. The bill also raises pay for those on active duty and boosting funding for veterans services; and the legislation contains new measures to prevent terrorists from using the legal immigration system to enter this country to kill Americans. The bill failed to fully cut off funds for ill-conceived programs to aid so-called friendly rebels in Syria and Afghanistan. Congressman Nolan pledged to continue the fight to de-fund those failed ventures next year.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://walz.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-walz-votes-for-omnibus-appropriations-bill,Rep. Walz Votes for Omnibus Appropriations Bill,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Tim Walz,W000799,walz.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, D.C.] Today, Rep. Walz in support of the FY 2016 Omnibus Appropriations bill. This measure funds the government for FY 2016. The bill implements the Bipartisan Budget Agreement that was adopted by Congress in October. While this bill is not perfect; it is a bipartisan compromise. I supported this legislation today because it is needed to keep southern Minnesota moving in the right direction. From provisions that support renewable energy from the heartland, to funding our troops in the field and important national security priorities, to groundbreaking medical research and important investments in education. The bills investments in priorities include the following: Renewable Energy: Provides a major boost to renewable energy by extending the wind Production Tax Credit for five years (through 2019), and extending the solar Investment Tax Credit for five years (through 2021), while phasing both credits down somewhat over time. Extending the solar tax credit is estimated to create 61,000 jobs in 2017 alone. It is also estimated that the wind industry will grow to over 100,000 jobs over four years with the renewed wind tax credit. Energy Efficiency and Clean Energy R&D: Provides an 8 percent increase over 2015 for R&D activities in the pursuit of new clean energy and energy efficiency technologies. Overall Education: The bill restores the $2.5 billion cut in education that the GOP had proposed and also makes critical additional investments of $1.4 billion above 2015, in such areas as Title I that serves 24 million at-risk students. Early Learning: Investing in Head Start produces results and this bill invests nearly $400 million more than the House GOP bill and nearly $600 million more than 2015 in this vital initiative. The bill also provides $250 million for Preschool Development Grants, assisting 18 states across the country. Medical Research: Medical research at NIH has been underfunded for the last several years. This bill provides $900 million more than the House GOP bill and $2 billion more than 2015 for this life-saving research. Infrastructure: The popular TIGER grants are being used across the country to repair infrastructure and contribute to economic growth. The House GOP bill had slashed TIGER grants by 80 percent, killing jobs, but this bill restores the funding to the 2015 level of $500 million. Law Enforcement: The bill provides $187 million for COPS hiring grants, $7 million above the 2015 level and $187 million above the House GOP bill, which had eliminated the hiring grants. The bill also provides $80 million for the Community Policing Initiative, including $22.5 million for body-worn cameras and $15 million for Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation grants, an increase over the House bill. Finally, the Omnibus includes several other important provisions: Reauthorizes the key James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, making the Health Program permanent and reauthorizing the Victims Compensation Fund for five years; Delays the so-called Cadillac tax, a tax on employer-provided health plans worth over a certain threshold, for two years from 2018 to 2020; Includes the provisions of the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act, which addresses issues raised by the terrorist attacks in Paris with reforms to the program; and Reauthorizes the Land and Conservation Fund, which is one of our countrys most successful outdoor recreation and conservation programs and which expired on September 30. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://emmer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/emmers-statement-omnibus-bill,Emmer's Statement on Omnibus Bill,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,MN,Tom Emmer,E000294,emmer.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06) released the below statement following todays vote on the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016, also known as the Omnibus Bill: One thing Ive learned throughout my time in Congress and as a married man is that you do not typically get everything you want. Today, we voted on a piece of legislation where both sides of the aisle won some and lost some. Like many of my colleagues, there are many items I wished would have been included, however, I believe it is more important to acknowledge some of the positive and crucial items that were included in the Omnibus Bill. This legislation repeals the out of date oil export ban, strengthens the Visa Waiver Program, makes the United States trade agreement compliant by repealing COOL and invests in our nations transportation infrastructure. This bill addresses our countrys out of control Washington bureaucracy by reining in the IRS and cutting funding for the EPAs overreaches. Todays bill also prohibits taxpayer funding for abortions as well as any new funding for Obamacare. Lastly, we provide for our heroes by honoring our commitments to our veterans, adequately funding our military, and providing necessary health care benefits to 9/11 first responders. While it is clear I see many benefits to todays Omnibus Bill, the fact is that I had concerns that I simply could not push aside. Our nation faces an enormous and growing $18 trillion debt that our children and grandchildren will be burdened with, unless we begin to act. I have great issues withnew spending without plans to slow debt increases. I am hopeful that yesterdays tax extender package along with the pro-growth policies in todays bill, will lead to a stronger economic recovery that will benefit all Americans.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://mccollum.house.gov/press-release/passing-11t-appropriations-bill-victory-democrats,Passing $1.1T Appropriations Bill a Victory for Democrats,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Betty McCollum,M001143,mccollum.house.gov,,,legacy,"Today, the House of Representatives voted on the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016, a $1.1T bill to fund the day-to-day operations of the federal government and make critical investments in our national security and programs that serve the American people. Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-MN) released the following statement regarding her vote in support of this legislation: The appropriations bill that was passed today is a significant political victory for Democrats in Congress. Republicans hold their largest Congressional majority in 66 years, but Democrats forced the most harmful conservative policy riders out of this bill. Attacks on womens health, Syrian refugees, and our environment were stripped from this bill because Democrats stood united. This bill demonstrates that Democrats will stand united to defend our priorities and that Republicans are still unable to effectively govern. In addition to pulling the worst of the worst policy riders from the bill, Democrats delivered increased investments for clean air, clean water, and our nations parks. This legislation also includes increased funding for anti-poverty efforts, medical research, and education. The new investments in this bill are at their highest possible level given our current budget situation. 150 Republicans followed the leadership of the Democratic minority and supported this new spending. In spite of an overwhelming majority, Republicans were forced to abandon nearly all of their right-wing budget and policy priorities because Democrats kept the focus on governing responsibly and meeting the needs of the American people.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://web.archive.org/web/20160910212758/https://www.franken.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=3345,Sen. Frankens Statement on Duluth Police Chief Gordon Ramsays Departure,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Al Franken,F000457,web.archive.org,,,legacy,"Today U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.)issued the following statement on Duluth Police Chief Gordon Ramsay's acceptance of a new position as police chief of Wichita, Kansas:""Chief Ramsay has been an incredible leader and asset to the Duluth community,"" said Sen. Franken. ""He has worked tirelessly to make Duluth a safer and more inclusive city. I've had the opportunity to work with Chief Ramsay on issues ranging from mental health to combatting synthetic drug use, and he was always insightful and engaged. Wichita is lucky to have him, and he will be missed in Minnesota.""Sen. Franken has worked closely with Chief Ramsay on several issues throughout the years. Most recently, Chief Ramsay participated in a roundtable hosted by Sen. Franken on his Comprehensive Justice and Mental Health Act Friday, December 18, 2015 Today U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.)issued the following statement on Duluth Police Chief Gordon Ramsay's acceptance of a new position as police chief of Wichita, Kansas:""Chief Ramsay has been an incredible leader and asset to the Duluth community,"" said Sen. Franken. ""He has worked tirelessly to make Duluth a safer and more inclusive city. I've had the opportunity to work with Chief Ramsay on issues ranging from mental health to combatting synthetic drug use, and he was always insightful and engaged. Wichita is lucky to have him, and he will be missed in Minnesota.""Sen. Franken has worked closely with Chief Ramsay on several issues throughout the years. Most recently, Chief Ramsay participated in a roundtable hosted by Sen. Franken on his Comprehensive Justice and Mental Health Act Friday, December 18, 2015 Today U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.)issued the following statement on Duluth Police Chief Gordon Ramsay's acceptance of a new position as police chief of Wichita, Kansas:""Chief Ramsay has been an incredible leader and asset to the Duluth community,"" said Sen. Franken. ""He has worked tirelessly to make Duluth a safer and more inclusive city. I've had the opportunity to work with Chief Ramsay on issues ranging from mental health to combatting synthetic drug use, and he was always insightful and engaged. Wichita is lucky to have him, and he will be missed in Minnesota.""Sen. Franken has worked closely with Chief Ramsay on several issues throughout the years. Most recently, Chief Ramsay participated in a roundtable hosted by Sen. Franken on his Comprehensive Justice and Mental Health Act <div id=""block8"" class=""lyt-block block-press_release""> <div class=""inner-lyt-dates""> Friday, December 18, 2015 <div class=""clear""></div> </div> <div class=""bd record-bd""><p><span style=""font-size: 13px;""><span style=""color: #444444;""><span style=""font-family: georgia, palatino;""><span style=""line-height: 1.5;"">Today U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.)</span><strong style=""font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5;""></strong><span style=""line-height: 1.5;"">issued the following statement on Duluth Police Chief Gordon Ramsay's acceptance of a new position as police chief of Wichita, Kansas:<br /></span><span style=""line-height: 1.5;""><br /><strong>""Chief Ramsay has been an incredible leader and asset to the Duluth community</strong>,"" said Sen. Franken. <strong>""He has worked tirelessly to make Duluth a safer and more inclusive city. I've had the opportunity to work with Chief Ramsay on issues</strong></span><span style=""line-height: 1.5;""><strong> </strong></span><span style=""line-height: 1.5;""><strong>ranging from mental health to combatting synthetic drug use, and he was always insightful and engaged. Wichita is lucky to have him, and he will be missed in Minnesota.""<br /></strong></span><span style=""line-height: 1.5;""><strong><br /></strong>Sen. Franken has worked closely with Chief Ramsay on several issues throughout the years. Most recently, Chief Ramsay participated in a roundtable hosted by Sen. Franken on his Comprehensive Justice and Mental Health Act&#8212a bill that just recently passed the Senate&#8212in Duluth. Sen. Franken also worked with Chief Ramsay on combatting the synthetic drug problem in Duluth and public safety issues, such as lifting the ban on logging trucks traveling through Duluth.</span></span></span></span></p> <p style=""text-align: center;""><span style=""font-size: 13px;""><span style=""color: #444444;""><span style=""font-size: 13px;""><span style=""font-family: georgia, palatino;"">###</span></span></span></span></p> <p></p></div> <a href='https://twitter.com/share' class='twitter-share-button' data-count='horizontal'>Tweet</a> <script type='text/javascript' src='//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js'></script></div> </div> <div class=""clear""></div> </div> </div> <div id=""right"" class=""grid_5""> <div id=""right-r1"" class=""lyt-row""> <div id=""right-r1c1"" class=""alpha lyt-col grid_5 globalright""> <div id=""block1"" class=""lyt-block block-misc""><!--googleoff:all--><div id='recent_news' class='gold_block'> <div class=""hd""> <h2 class=""block-misc-title""> Al in the News 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Office</strong><br />515 W 1st St<br />Suite 104<br />Duluth, MN 55802<br />(218) 722-2390</p> </div> <div id=""office_5"" class=""office""> <p><strong>Moorhead Office</strong><br /> 819 Center Avenue<br /> Suite 2A<br /> Moorhead, MN 56560<br /> (218) 284-8721</p> </div> <div id=""office_1"" class=""office""> <p><strong>Rochester Office</strong><br />1202-1/2 7th Street NW<br />Suite 213<br />Rochester, MN 55901<br />(507) 288-2003</p> </div> <div id=""office_2"" class=""office""> <p><strong>Saint Paul Office </strong><br />60 East Plato Blvd <br />Suite 220 <br />Saint Paul, MN 55107 <br />(651) 221-1016</p> </div> <div id=""office_3"" class=""office""> <p><strong>West Central Mobile Office</strong></p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class=""clear""></div> </div> </div> </div> <div id=""privacy""> <div class=""page""> <div class=""container_16""> <div class=""left grid_7""> <span class=""fancy_font"">Official Web Site of Sen. Al Franken</span> </div> <div class=""right grid_9""> <a class=""fancy_font"" href=""/?textonly=1"">Text Only</a> &nbsp; | &nbsp; <a class=""fancy_font"" href=""/?p=privacy"">Privacy Policy</a> &nbsp; | &nbsp; <a class=""fancy_font"" href=""/?p=contact"">Contact</a> </div> </div> <div class=""clear""></div> </div> </div> <script type=""text/javascript"" src=""js/Franken_sen_tag1.js""></script> <script type=""text/javascript"" src=""js/sen_tag2.js""></script> </body> </html>",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=49cbf0e4-2271-4a09-bb5c-72d8531b66cb,"Klobuchar, Boozman, Franken Introduce Bipartisan National Child Protection Training Act",2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bill would build on the success of the National Child Protection Training Centers (NCPTC) facility at Winona State University, improve child abuse training programs, and enhance child protection nationwide WASHINGTON DC U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), John Boozman (R-AR), and Al Franken (D-MN) today introduced the National Child Protection Training Act, a bipartisan bill that seeks to improve child abuse training programs and enhance child protection nationwide. The bill would build on the success of the National Child Protection Training Centers (NCPTC) facilities at Winona State University in Winona, Minnesota, and at Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville, Arkansas. These centers have developed cutting-edge curricula, certification and degree programs, and classes for law students, medical students, and professionals to help improve child abuse training. As a former prosecutor and major advocate on this issue, Ive seen firsthand what a difference the right resources can make to children and families trying to escape the horrors of child abuse, Klobuchar said. I have visited Winona State many times, and have seen the good work their National Child Protection Training program is doing to put a stop to child abuse and give victims the support they deserve. This bill will help build on the success of the Winona State program at centers across the country and help make sure our childcare advocates have the tools and training they need to identify and prevent child abuse. Our children deserve the best opportunities we can provide to keep them safe and help them overcome issues resulting from abuse.This bill expands on the success of theSouthern Regional Training Center at the Northwest Arkansas Community Collegeand provides our child advocates with the tools and resources they need to support victims of child abuse, Boozman said. ""Making sure that people who work closely with children have the appropriate training to detect signs of child abuse is one of the best ways to protect our children,"" Franken said. ""Our bipartisan bill would take a successful Minnesota-based program and expand it nationwide by giving professionals who work with kids the tools they need to help detect and prevent abuse."" The bill would also direct the Attorney General to coordinate with the NCPTC to operate at least four regional training centers nationwide.It would require these centers to develop undergraduate and graduate curricula on child maltreatment, distribute the curricula to institutions of higher education, and to develop laboratory training facilities for students and professionals. The centers would also be required to help communities develop child abuse prevention programs and forensic interview training programs. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=67ad5979-0f5d-4375-80a8-11aff83b099d,Klobuchar: Bipartisan Year-End Budget Agreement is Good for Minnesota,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Agreement advances many of Klobuchars legislative priorities, which include efforts to invest in medical research, protect Great Lakes, support National Guard, honor veterans, combat sex trafficking, protect consumers, promote rail safety, and suspend the medical device tax,among others Also extends several tax credits that will provide certainty for Minnesota businesses and families while boosting Minnesotas investment in clean energy WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar today announced that a bipartisan year-end agreement she backed has passed the Senate in the form of two pieces of legislation with key Minnesota priorities. The agreement is comprised of a tax extenders bill and omnibus appropriations bill that have passed the House and are now expected to be signed into law. The agreement advances many of Klobuchars legislative priorities, which include efforts to invest in medical research, protect the Great Lakes, support the National Guard and honor our veterans, combat sex trafficking, protect consumers, promote rail safety, and suspend the medical device tax, among others. It also extends several tax credits that will provide certainty for Minnesota businesses and families while boosting Minnesotas investment in clean energy. This compromise deal is good for Minnesota and it is good for our country, Klobuchar said. It includes important investments in renewable energy like wind and solar, critical funding for the National Institutes of Health, funding for our transportation networks and conservation programs, and important provisions to make our country safer and more secure. It also includes a two year suspension of the medical device tax, which I have long advocated for because of its harmful impact on manufacturing and innovation in Minnesota and across our country. The agreement advances many of Klobuchars priorities, including: Investing in Cutting-Edge Medical Research At $32.1 billion, the agreement includes the largest funding increase for National Institutes of Health (NIH) in over 10 years, this includes funding for the Precision Medicine Initiative. Klobuchar has long been a leader in efforts to provide increased funding for NIH and medical research in order to boost cutting-edge biomedical research. She has consistently pushed her colleagues to support NIH funding in budget and appropriations negotiations. Protecting the Great Lakes As Vice Chair of the U.S. Senate Great Lakes Task Force, Klobuchar is a leader in efforts to protect the Great Lakes. The agreement includes over $1 billion to protect the Great Lakes. It includes provisions to support restoration, prevent the spread of invasive carp, and improve water quality in the Great Lakes. Supporting our National Guard The agreement includes funding for National Guard programs important to Minnesota. The programs funded include Beyond the Yellow Ribbon, a program pioneered in Minnesota that works to connect organizations, agencies, and companies to service members to help provide resources for issues ranging from the challenges of deployment to employment. In addition, the bill preserves STARBASE, a National Guard program that promotes learning in science, technology, engineering and math. As a member of the National Guard Caucus, Klobuchar has worked to expand the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Program and has consistently called for strong funding for Minnesotas STARBASE program. Honoring our Veterans Klobuchar has introduced legislation to reduce the disability claims background, end veteran homelessness, and expand access to mental health services for veterans. To ensure our vets get the care they deserve in a timely manner, the agreement includesfunding for an additional 770 processing employees. It also includes $7.5 billion for mental health services at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and fully funds the VAs homeless programs at $1.4 billion. Combatting Sex Trafficking Klobuchar is a national leader in the fight against sex trafficking and her bipartisan legislationwas signed into lawthis year to crack down on traffickers while supporting victims. The agreement provides $72 million to work with nongovernmental organizations, partner governments, and others to prevent human trafficking, prosecute traffickers, and provide necessary services for victims. Protecting Consumers As a member of the Senate Commerce Committee, Klobuchar is a leader in the U.S. Senate in protecting consumers and holding those responsible for wrongdoing accountable. The bill provides the Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) with $125 million to protect consumers from unsafe products. Promoting Rail Safety Klobuchar has introduced legislation to improve rail safety and service across the country. The agreement includes $50 million for Railroad Safety Grants to be used for track improvement projects that improve safety on rail routes, such as constructing grade-separations at highway-rail crossings. Supporting Drug Courts Klobuchar has been a strong advocate for drug courts, including leading bipartisan letters to the Appropriations Committee calling for strong funding. The agreement allocates $42 million to support drug courts to divert non-violent low-level offenders from prison into treatment and onto a path to become productive citizens. Provide People with Disabilities Opportunity to Save for Future Klobuchar passed theAchieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Actthis year to allow people with disabilities and their families to save for their futures by establishing new tax-advantaged savings accounts. The agreement includes a provision that allows ABLE accounts to be established in any state, which will allow people with disabilities to choose the state program that best fits their needs. Suspending Harmful Medical Device Tax After efforts from Klobuchar and Representative Erik Paulsen, the agreement includes a two-year suspension of the medical device tax. The agreement suspends the 2.3% excise tax on the sale of medical device products like pacemakers, ultrasound machines, ventilators, and artificial hips through December 31, 2017. Klobuchar and Paulsen have led efforts that would repeal the tax permanently. Minnesota is home to more than 700 medical device companies that employ approximately 35,000 people. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=c0dc14cd-ad0d-47b9-825d-fda9683c01d0,Klobuchar-Backed Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Families From Dangerous Chemicals Passes Senate,2015-12-18,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Bipartisan bill requires the EPA to review new and existing chemicals and regulate them based on the impact they would have on those most at risk, ensures chemical companies cannot hide information about their products from the public, and requires chemical companies to contribute to the cost of regulation Klobuchar has been a leader in consumer protection, and has fought for setting tough limits for diesel and formaldehyde emissions, the installation of smart phone kill switches, and limiting the amount of lead used in toys WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar backed bipartisan legislation to protect families from dangerous chemicals. The legislation requires the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to review new and existing chemicals and regulate them based on the impact they would have on those most at risk, ensures chemical companies cannot hide information about their products from the public, and requires chemical companies to contribute to the cost of regulation. The legislation overhauls the Toxic Substances Control Act of 1976 (TSCA). In the 39 years since TSCA was enacted, the EPA has been able to restrict just five chemicals, and it has prevented only four chemicals from going to market - out of the more than 23,000 new chemicals manufactured since 1976. The bill must now be reconciled with the U.S. House of Representatives-passed legislation. This is a critical bipartisan step forward in protecting our families from the dangers of toxic chemicals, said Klobuchar. In this complex economy, people need strong advocates who will fight to ensure the safety and integrity of the goods, products, and services they buy, and I will remain vigilant in my work to protect American families. Klobuchar has been a leader in the U.S. Senate in protecting consumers and holding those responsible for wrongdoing accountable. Since her time as a prosecutor, she has made protecting citizens a priority, including calling for the recent prosecution of peanut company executives responsible for a salmonella outbreak that sickened 714 people in 46 states and contributed to nine deaths. Klobuchar has also advocated for consumer safety through supporting the installation of smart phone kill switches, limiting the amount of lead used in toys, and ensuring safe pool drains. Recently, Klobuchar sent a letter to the EPA in response to the recent Volkswagen revelations to question the agencys diesel emissions testing process; call on the agency to immediately address consumer, environmental, and public health concerns; and urge the agency to establish robust safeguards to prevent automakers from gaming the system again. Following the call to action from Klobuchar, the EPA has announced it will be bolstering its diesel emissions testing process. She has also urged the EPA to finish implementing bipartisan legislation she passed into law five years ago to protect consumers from formaldehyde in wood products. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://franken.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=3343,Sen. Franken Reintroduces Bill to Help Protect Minnesota Nurses and Health Care Workers from Workplace Injuries,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Al Franken,F000457,franken.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.)has reintroduced legislationto address the hazards that nurses and health care workers face when manually lifting patients.The Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act, would help ensure that nurses and health care workerswho too often suffer serious, preventable injuries due to unsafe lifting practicescan do their job more safely.Our nurses and health care workers provide essential care to millions of Americans, and they shouldnt have to sacrifice their safety or their livelihood to do so,Sen. Franken said.Every year, thousands of these caregivers sustain serious injuries as a result of manually lifting patients. These injuries can cause a lifetime of chronic pain and even force nurses to leave the profession permanently. My bill would ensure that nurses and health care workers have the tools they need to do their jobs safely, which would prevent injuries, increase patient safety, and reduce costs.This bill, which was also reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), has the support of key organizations that have long-sought reforms for nurses and health care workers.Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), an organization that represents thousands of nurses,said,Nurses and other healthcare workers put their patients first. Sometimes, these workers get physically hurt by helping the people they care for. This bill provides a wonderful solution for patients, nurses and other healthcare workers by creating a federal standard on safe patient handling, mobility and injury prevention. As the nations second-largest nurses union, the AFT supports Sen. Franken and Rep. Conyers efforts to give our members a safe healthcare environment in which they can do what they do bestprovide the highest-quality of care for their patients.The American Nurses Association (ANA) President PamelaF. Cipriano, commended Sen. Franken and Rep. Conyers for the introduction of the Nurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act.Every day, nurses and other health care workers suffer debilitating and often career-ending musculoskeletal disorders when they manually lift or move patients, and work in pain. Manual lifting is an unacceptable risk and practice when we have the technology and knowledge to significantly reduce injuries. This bill signals that workers are not expendable and injuries are not tolerable as just part of the job. It is a much needed step in the right direction to implementing safer programs that will help tosave and extend the careers of thousands of registered nurses,said Cipriano, noting that safe lifting technology and simple devices also prevent injuries to patients and preserve their dignity.TheNurse and Health Care Worker Protection Act of 2015would help decrease work-related injuries by requiring the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to promulgate a health and safety standard that would require the use of mechanical lifts and safe lifting practices to minimize the risk of injury.Sen. Frankenwho serves as the top Democrat of the Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safetyhas fought to improve safety for American workers since joining the Senate. He first introduced legislation to implement safe patient handling procedures in 2009, and earlier this yearhe introducedthe Protecting American Workers Actto expand the number of safe workplaces and make it harder to violate workplace safety laws. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://emmer.house.gov/media-center/blog-posts/emmer-reform-fed,Emmer: Reform the Fed,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,MN,Tom Emmer,E000294,emmer.house.gov,,,legacy,"Yesterday, Chair of the U.S. Federal Reserve, Janet Yellen, announced that they are raising interest rates for the first time in almost a decade. While it remains to be seen how well unelected bureaucrats in Washington can maneuver monetary policy back towards normal interest rates, there is no doubt in my mind that we need to reform the Fed to make it more transparent and accountable to the American people. Two improvements that must be made law are rule based monetary policy which allows market participants to more accurately anticipate the Feds monetary policy actions and Ron Pauls Audit the Fed legislation which lets the American people know to whom the Fed is lending money. Luckily, the House Financial Services Committee has been diligently working on these initiatives. On November 19, 2015, the House of Representatives passed the Fed Oversight Reform and Modernization Act (H.R. 3189) by a bipartisan vote of 241- 185, which includes both of these measures. It is my hope that that the Senate considers H.R. 3189 at their earliest convenience and that one day it is enacted into law. To watch Representative Emmer speak on the House Floor on the Fed Oversight and Modernization Act, click on the video below.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://emmer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/emmer-votes-622-billion-tax-relief,Emmer Votes for $622 Billion in Tax Relief,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,MN,Tom Emmer,E000294,emmer.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06) today voted in favor of the Tax Extender Package which passed with a vote of318-109. The American people know that we cannot tax and spend our way into prosperity, said Emmer. Minnesotans know how to spend their money better than Washington bureaucrats. Today, passage of this legislation allows for $622 billion in tax relief over the next 10 years, which allows families, businesses and taxpayers to keep more of their hard-earned money. The package allows for a 2-year suspension of the medical device tax - which is crucial to Minnesota - and the so-called Cadillac Tax, said Emmer. ""This package also makes the research and development credit permanent, extends the bonus depreciation credit, and enhances Section 179 for small businesses. This package is a huge win for Minnesota, and what is good for Minnesota is good for the Country. Congress has a duty to enact pro-growth policies that help working families and encourage, not stifle, development and innovation throughout our nation, and today we took a big step towards doing just that.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://paulsen.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=22&itemid=1779,House Passes Two-year Suspension of the Medical Device Tax,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,MN,Erik Paulsen,P000594,paulsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Congressman Erik Paulsen (MN-03) voted for, and the House approved, legislation that suspends the medical device excise tax for a two-year period in a vote Thursday afternoon. The provision was included in the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act, which also makes a number of temporary tax provisions permanent in order to give more certainty to American taxpayers. The medical device tax is a 2.3% excise tax on the sale of medical devices like pacemakers, ventilators, and artificial hips and was included in the Affordable Care Act, which passed Congress in 2010. Paulsen has long championed efforts to repeal the medical device tax in Congress, and legislation he authored, the Protect Medical Innovation Act, passed the House earlier this year by a bipartisan vote of 280-140. Last year, he authored an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal on the need to repeal the burdensome tax. Suspending the medical device tax will give much needed relief to our innovators and job creators that are developing life-saving and life-improving products, said Paulsen. Temporarily repealing this tax is welcome news for the hundreds of medical device companies in Minnesota and the tens of thousands of workers they employ. This bipartisan vote sets the stage to get rid of this burdensome, job-killing tax once and for all, and Ill continue to lead the effort for its full repeal. Paulsen spoke about the legislation on the House floor before the vote. Video is available here. Congressman Paulsen, a champion of small business and advocate of free enterprise, entrepreneurship, and innovation, serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, the bicameral Joint Economic Committee, and is co-chair of the Congressional Medical Technology Caucus. For more information on Congressman Paulsens work in Congress visitpaulsen.house.gov. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://paulsen.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=22&itemid=1780,Paulsen-authored Provisions Included in Year-end Tax Package,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,MN,Erik Paulsen,P000594,paulsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. In addition to a two-year suspension of the medical device tax, Congressman Erik Paulsen (MN-03) secured other important provisions in the Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes (PATH) Act to give more certainty and predictability to taxpayers. The bill passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 318-109 and made permanent a number of temporary tax provisions that are often renewed on a short-term basis or retroactively. Were the only country in the world that lets important parts of our tax code expire on a regular basis, said Paulsen. Minnesota families and small businesses cant plan for the future when Congress passes tax policy at the last second, or even worse, retroactively. By making charitable giving and other important tax provisions permanent, were giving more certainty to businesses and hardworking taxpayers, which will help grow our economy. Provisions authored by Congressman Paulsen included in the PATH Act are: IRA Charitable Rollover Allows IRA owners aged 70 and older to rollover required withdrawals to charities without being required to count the money as income. This popular provision has been renewed several times since 2005 and is made permanent in the PATH Act. Removal of Bond Requirements for Small Brewers Currently, small brewers face biweekly bonding requirements that require time and money to meet. Under the PATH Act, small brewers will only need to meet these bonding requirements quarterly. Increasing Foreign Investment A provision that encourages foreign investment in the U.S. by easing tax and administrative burdens on foreign investors in U.S. mutual funds. Tax Rate for Small Mutual Insurance Companies Cuts taxes for small mutual insurance companies, allowing them to grow and better serve local communities across the country. Expanding the Definition of Hard Cider Modifies and broadens definition of hard cider so that more small, craft cider makers will qualify for a lower excise tax rate. Congressman Paulsen, a champion of small business and advocate of free enterprise, entrepreneurship, and innovation, serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, the bicameral Joint Economic Committee, and is co-chair of the Congressional Medical Technology Caucus. For more information on Congressman Paulsens work in Congress visitpaulsen.house.gov. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=7e54851a-b4e4-4821-bd79-0be440d1bd88,Senator Amy Klobuchar's Statement On Resuming Commercial Air Travel Between the U.S. and Cuba,2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, the chief author of the bipartisan bill lifting the trade embargo restrictions against Cuba, issued the following statement regarding the agreement between the United States and Cuba to resume commercial air travel between the two countries: ""Securing commercial flights between the United States and Cuba will make it easier for Americans to seek travel and commerce opportunities on the island after more than 50 years of isolation. This announcement is an important step in modernizing our relationship with Cuba. The next step is for Congress to pass my bipartisan bill to lift the fifty-three-year-old embargo so that we can boost U.S. exports and allow Cubans greater access to American goods."" Klobuchar is leading the bipartisan Freedom to Export to Cuba Actwhich currently has 22 Senate cosponsors. The bill lifts the current embargo and allows more U.S. goods to be exported to Cuba. The bill would eliminate the legal barriers to Americans doing business in Cuba, boosting job creation and exports. It does not repeal provisions of current law that address human rights in Cuba or that allow individuals and businesses to pursue claims against the Cuban government. Klobuchar attended the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Cuba with Secretary of State John Kerry in August. She also recently testified before the International Trade Commission to highlight the benefits of lifting the trade embargo with Cuba.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=a09bdef5-4ec8-44f4-8afb-95f28e76f29c,"Klobuchar, Hatch Become Senate Co-Chairs of Rare Disease Congressional Caucus",2015-12-17,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) have been named Senate co-chairs of the Rare Disease Congressional Caucus to bring public and Congressional awareness to the unique needs of the rare disease community. Their new role is an opportunity to work with patients, physicians, scientists, and industry to create opportunities to address roadblocks in access to and development of crucial treatments. The Caucus works to give a permanent voice to the rare disease community on Capitol Hill and highlight the broad benefits of work on rare disease. While there are about 7,000 known rare diseases, there are fewer than 500 drugs approved to treat any of those conditions, Klobuchar said. It is critical that we work together to increase the number of safe, effective, and affordable treatments that are available for people with rare diseases. I have long worked with Senator Hatch on this issue and I look forward to continuing this work as a Senate Co-Chair of the Rare Disease Congressional Caucus. Throughout my time in the Senate, I have worked hard to help the 30 million Americans with rare diseases, said Hatch. While we have seen great success from past achievements like the Orphan Drug Act, the fact that 95 percent of rare diseases have no treatment shows that much more needs to be done. Senator Klobuchar has been a terrific partner on legislation to get vital treatments to patients in need, and I am honored to join her as Senate Co-Chairs of the Rare Disease Congressional Caucus. Klobuchar is a leader in efforts to boost innovation and provide safe options in the treatment of rare diseases. She has consistently called for increased funding for the National Institutes of Health and medical research, which is critical to fueling the next generation of biomedical breakthroughs such as the treatment of rare diseases. She also introduced the OPEN Act with Senator Hatch to increase the number of safe, effective, and affordable treatments that are available for people with rare diseases. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://franken.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=3339,"In Senate Speech, Sen. Franken Praises Momentous International Climate Change Agreement",2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Al Franken,F000457,franken.senate.gov,,,legacy,"In a speech delivered today on the Senate floor, U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.)applauded the recent international agreement that aims to combat the causes of climate change. Sen. Franken, who was among a group of 10 Senators representing the U.S. at the summit, said the international move toward clean energy will open up new opportunities for the nation and for Minnesota, which is already a leader in renewable energy production.You can download video of his speech by clicking here.""This past Saturday, 196 countries came together and agreed to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions, taking a very important step in the fight against climate change,"" said Sen. Franken. ""This historic agreement is a recognition that we cannot afford to ignore the negative impacts of climate change. And that we must work together, globally, to put the planet on a safer path forward.""""But our job is not done,"" Sen. Franken continued. ""The agreement in Paris puts the planet on a safer trajectory than the one we have been on. But we have to remain vigilant and build on that success. Internationally, we have to hold other nations accountable, ensure that they commit to stronger emission reduction targets over time, and to make sure that those reductions are transparent and verifiable. Domestically, we have to build on the success of our cities and states, and we have to work to make sure that the Clean Power Plan and other emission reduction policies are effective. As a member of the Senate Energy Committee, I intend to do just that.""Working to address climate change has been one of Sen. Franken's top prioritiessince joining the Senate. He has fought to reduce carbon emissions and transition our economy to renewable, homegrown sources of energy.You can read a copy of his prepared remarks below: Floor Statement on Paris Climate NegotiationsSenator Al Franken(as prepared for delivery) M. President, I rise today to celebrate the successful climate negotiations that just wrapped up in Paris.This past Saturday, 196 countries came together and agreed to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions, taking a very important step in the fight against climate change. This historic agreement is a recognition that we cannot afford to ignore the negative impacts of climate change. And that we must work together, globally, to put the planet on a safer path forward.The agreement does not simply take countries at their word, but requires transparent measurement and verification to ensure they live up to their promises. And crucially, the deal requires countries to revisit their emission reduction targets every five years. That way, countries can factor in new technologies and new policies in order to keep warming to under 2 degrees Celsius.M. President, this truly historic deal has been nearly 25 years in the making. International climate efforts date back to 1992, when governments around the world met in Rio with the objective of stabilizing greenhouse gas concentrations. Nations have met every year since to further this goal. And while some meetings have been more successful than others, most have been met with disappointment and lack of action. After all, climate change is a complex issue. And bringing about consensus action for any international issue is no small feat. Which is why this agreement is truly, truly impressive.Two weeks ago, I traveled to Paris with 9 of my colleagues. We met with the United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, with U.S. Energy Secretary, Ernest Moniz, and with our top climate change negotiator, Todd Stern. I would like to congratulate all of them for their work.Part of the purpose of our trip was to demonstrate to the world that there is a strong coalition in the United States Congress that supports the President's efforts on climate change. A message we conveyed to other nations, including Bangladesha country that has contributed little to industrial air pollution but is one of the most vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change. It is estimated that unless we act, rising sea levels will inundate some 17 percent of Bangladesh, displacing about 18 million people in this low-lying nation. They will be uprooted and turned into climate refugees without a home.But of course, climate change isn't something that will just impact Bangladesh and other low-lying nations. It is already impacting us right here at home.While we cannot attribute any single extreme weather event to climate change, M. President, we do know that climate change impacts the frequency, duration, and severity of extreme weather events. Just look at the damage caused by Superstorm Sandy. The storm surges caused by Sandy along the Eastern Seaboard were more damaging because of climate-induced sea level rise. And may I remind you that the damage caused by Sandy cost tax payers 60 billion dollars. We are also seeing longer wildfire seasonswildfires that are burning hotter and are more intense. The Forest Service is spending more and more fighting these firesnow more than half of its entire budget. And we are seeing more intense droughts. And unless we act, these droughts will have a major impact on food security around the world.That's why I recently penned an op-ed in the Minneapolis Star Tribune with Dave MacLennan, the CEO of Cargillthe nation's largest privately held corporation. As the CEO of a company focused on agriculture, Dave is concerned about what climate change is going to do to our food supplyin a world that is expected to go from 7 billion to 9.5 billion inhabitants by midcentury.And that's why Cargill called for a strong outcome at the global climate negotiations. So you can see that Cargill has a strong business case to make on why we have to deal with climate change. But of course that business case isn't just limited to our agriculture sector. Addressing climate change presents a tremendous opportunity to transform our energy sector.M. President, for the very first time just this last week, Beijing issued its most severe warning to alert citizens of intense smog and local air pollution levels. Officials ordered half of the city's private vehicles to stay off the road, halted all operation at outdoor construction sites, and advised schools to temporarily close their doors. Citizens were encouraged to limit outdoor activities and recommended to wear a mask when outside.China is choking on its own fumes from fossil fuels. And as China and others recognize that they have to race toward clean energy, I want to make sure that our nation leads that race. I want to make sure our star-ups are innovating tomorrow's solutions and that our companies are the ones developing and deploying clean energy technologies around the world. Again, I want to reiterate, that addressing climate change head-on would not only help mitigate unprecedented damage to our economy, but spur growth and innovation in a world that is hungry for advancements in clean energy.My state of Minnesota recognized this opportunity in 2007 when it established a renewable energy standard, and an energy efficiency standard. These kinds of policies send a strong signal to the private sector to develop and deploy clean energy solutions. And major investors are catching on to the opportunities. Just this month, Bill Gates launched the Breakthrough Energy Coalition to develop transformative energy solutions. The Coalition of nearly 30 billionaires from 10 different countries will invest in early stage energy companies to help them bridge the gap between government-funded lab research and the marketplace. According to Gates, and I quote, the ""primary goal with the Coalition is as much to accelerate progress on clean energy as it is to make a profit."" And to back up this statement, Gates alone plans to invest $1 billion in clean energy in the next five years.So you can see how, M. President, that the very serious threat of climate change presents a ""Sputnik moment"" for our nationan opportunity to rise to the challenge and defeat that threat. In response to Sputnik, we ended up not just winning the Space Race and sending a man to the moon, we did all sorts of great things for the American economy and society.We did it once, and we can do that again. By rising to the challenge of climate change, we will not just clean up our air, but also drive innovation and create jobsand not only in the clean energy sector.The Obama Administration deserves a lot of credit for its leadership on climate change. Our domestic commitment through the Clean Power Planwhich builds on the work of my state and othershas established a federal plan for reducing emissions. This important policy has provided American innovators and businesses the confidence to take on new risks and drive new technologies forward. After dragging our feet for so many years, I am proud that the United States is acting domestically, and leading internationally.But our job is not done. The agreement in Paris puts the planet on a safer trajectory than the one we have been on. But we have to remain vigilant and build on that success. Internationally, we have to hold other nations accountable, ensure that they commit to stronger emission reduction targets over time, and to make sure that those reductions are transparent and verifiable. Domestically, we have to build on the success of our cities and states, and we have to work to make sure that the Clean Power Plan and other emission reduction policies are effective. As a member of the Senate Energy Committee, I intend to do just that.Two years ago, M. President, my first grandchild was born, and I am expecting my second grandchild in January. God willing, they will live through this century and into the next. And I want them to know that when we had the opportunity to put earth on a safer path, that we seized the moment. So let's celebrate this agreement because it is an important milestone. And let's build on it to make the planet a safer and more habitable place for our grandchildren.Thank you, M. President. I yield the floor. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://franken.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=3340,"Sen. Franken: Suspension of Medical Device Tax Will Boost Innovation, Jobs in Minnesotas Important Medical Device Industry",2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Al Franken,F000457,franken.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Today, U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) hailed a two-year suspension of the medical device taxincluded in a bipartisan tax compromiseas an important boost to Minnesota's medical device companies that will help create jobs and expand innovation in an industry that already provides tens of thousands of jobs in the state.Sen. Franken has fought the tax since it was first proposed as part of the Affordable Care Act, and has worked for several years to repeal it. The two-year suspension of the tax is expected to be voted on as part of a larger legislative package in the days to come.""This is great news for an industry that is so important to Minnesota's economy and to millions of people who rely on the life-saving technology our state's medical device industry produces each and every day,"" said Sen. Franken. ""I fought for this important change because it will allow hundreds of important Minnesota companiesboth large and smallto create jobs, expand innovation,and continue to improve the health of people across the globe.""Sen. Franken, a strong supporter of the medical device industry, has fought the medical device tax since it was first proposed. During the debate over the health reform law, he fought to have the tax stripped from the bill, and ultimately succeeded in getting it cut in half in the final legislation. He has cosponsored bills to repeal the medical device tax several times during his time in the Senate. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://franken.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=3341,"Sen. Franken Successfully Helps Revive Critical Loan Program That Helps 10,000 Minnesota Students Afford College",2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Al Franken,F000457,franken.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Today, U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) lauded the Senate passage of a two-year extension to the Perkins Loan program, which helps 10,000 Minnesota college students afford school each year. In October the program expired, cutting off an important lifeline for students who need help paying for college.The Perkins Loan program provides critical support for students who have already reached their limit on other federal loans and still need help paying for things like textbooks and materials. While the bill that passed in the Senate today extends Perkins Loans for two years, it also makes some changes to the program that Sen. Franken hopes to fix when the Education Committee works on reauthorizing our federal financial aid laws.""During my time in the Senate, I've held roundtables on college affordability all around Minnesota to hear from students about the challenges that they and their families face in paying for college, and to talk about ways to make the situation better,""said Sen. Franken, a member of the Senate Education Committee. ""But unfortunately, college continues to get more and more unaffordable and our students continue to take on more and more debt.""In Minnesota, over 10,000 students receive Perkins Loans for an average of $2000 a year. Earlier this year, Congress let that critical support expire, but I'm pleased that we were able to come together today and pass a bipartisan two-year extension of the program. While the extension isn't perfect, it's a compromise that allows the Senate Education Committee to work on renewing our financial aid laws without cutting off students in the meantime.""Sen. Franken has long been a champion of making the cost of college more affordable. When the Perkins Loan program expired earlier this year,he immediately fought back.He has also introduced many legislative measures to reduce the cost of college, including two bipartisan college affordability bills that would give students and families better information about the costs of college.You can read about themhereandhere. In addition, Sen. Franken recently reintroduced his measure to help college students manage costs by expanding access tofree online textbooks. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://emmer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/emmer-announces-cuba-working-group-steering-committee,Emmer Announces Cuba Working Group Steering Committee,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,MN,Tom Emmer,E000294,emmer.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. - Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06) today joinednine* of his colleagues in announcing the launch of a bipartisan Cuba Working Group along with itssteering committee. An overwhelming majority of the American people supports a change in our policy towards Cuba and the creation of the Cuba Working Group highlights that consensus, said Emmer. Since last year, a massive and sweeping change has occurred in our policy towards Cuba, which has benefits for farmers, manufacturers, and most importantly the Cuban and American people. Im proud to join with my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to advance policies that will improve human rights, create opportunities for American exports, and improve our national security and foreign policy. In a letter to Speaker Paul Ryan and Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi announcing the groups formation, the steering committee members said: Increasingly, the American people are indicating their desire for a new, more pragmatic approach to Cuba. More people are traveling from the U.S. to Cuba, more businesses are looking for opportunity on the island, and more sectors are eager for trade. The bi-partisan Cuba Working Group will promote a U.S.-Cuba policy that reflects the interests of the American people in engagement with Cuba. The letter concludes, Our goal is to raise the level of understanding inside of Congress for the need to build a new policy framework for U.S.-Cuban relations. The bipartisan Cuba Working Group Steering Committee Members are: Kathy Castor (D-FL), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Rick Crawford (R-AR), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Rodney Davis* (R-IL),Tom Emmer (R-MN), Sam Farr (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Betty McCollum* (D-MN),Jim McGovern (D-MA), Ted Poe (R-TX), Reid Ribble (R-WI), Mark Sanford* (R-SC), Nydia Velazquez* (D-NY). Letter to Speaker Ryan and Democratic Leader Pelosi can be found here: Cuba Working Group. Emmer is the sponsor of H.R. 3238 - the Cuba Trade Act of 2015. For more information, visit emmer.house.gov/cuba. *Additional Members were added to the Cuba Working Group Steering Committee after Congressman Emmer's Press Release was sent.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://paulsen.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=22&itemid=1777,Rep. Erik Paulsen Efforts Lead to Inclusion of Medical Device Tax Suspension in Year-end Package,2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,MN,Erik Paulsen,P000594,paulsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Congressmen Erik Paulsen (MN-03) applauded the inclusion of a two-year medical device tax repeal in the year-end tax extender package announced Tuesday. Paulsen has been a Congressional leader on efforts to eliminate the burdensome 2.3.% excise tax on the sale of medical devices like pacemakers, ventilators, and artificial hips. Legislation he authored to repeal the tax, the Protect Medical Innovation Act, passed the House by a 280-140 vote earlier this year. The medical device tax was initially passed in the Affordable Care Act in 2010 and went into effect in 2013. The medical device tax was a bad idea five years ago, and its a bad idea now, said Paulsen. The tax is stifling innovation of life-saving and life-improving medical technology, killing American manufacturing jobs, and hurting small businesses. For these reasons, a bipartisan coalition in Congress expressed their strong support for elimination of the tax. Suspending this tax will give our innovators some relief from an unnecessary burden and protect high-paying jobs. Advocacy groups and stakeholders cheered the inclusion of the two-year suspension in the package and Paulsens advocacy on the issue. AdvaMed is extremely appreciative of the strong leadership by Rep. Paulsen and his tireless efforts to address the medical device tax, which has resulted in language being included in the extenders bill to suspend the tax, said JC Scott, Senior Executive Vice President, Government Affairs at Advamed. Hitting pause on this harmful tax is an important first step for protecting the medical technology ecosystem, freeing up funds for important research and development projects, and helping to ensure the U.S. remains the global leader in innovation. We urge the House and the Senate to adopt this agreement and the President to sign it as quickly as possible. ""We thank Congressman Paulsen for his tremendous leadership on an issue that impacts job creation and patient care throughout the United States. Suspension of the medical device tax would be a powerful boost for medical technology innovation,"" said Scott Huennekens, President & CEO of Verb Surgical and Chairman of the Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA). ""We urge Congress to act quickly to address the medical device tax before any more harm is caused by this onerous policy."" The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA) congratulates House and Senate negotiators for including a two year suspension of the medical device tax in the tax extenders package. We hope this two year delay will lead to permanent repeal and allow stakeholders and leaders in the industry to continue to advance economic and innovative advancements in the field, said Nelson Mendes, Chairman of the MITA Board. Mendes concluded, This legislation is the result of a constructive bipartisan agreement and we would like to recognize Rep. Erik Paulsen and other leaders for their strong support and leadership. ""Suspension of the medical device tax will have a tremendous impact on patients who are seeking new therapies and life saving innovation, said Shaye Mandle, President & Chief Executive Officer of LifeScience Alley. For Minnesota, whose companies pay the largest share of this tax, today's action opens the door for significant investment in people and technologies, benefitting our economy and strengthening US leadership in healthcare evolution. This achievement could not have happened without the leadership of Minnesota's congressional delegation and, in particular, the tireless efforts of Erik Paulsen. Minnesota's Medical Alley thanks you!"" Paulsen previously authored a Wall Street Journal column on the why Congress needed to repeal the burdensome tax. Congressman Paulsen, a champion of small business and advocate of free enterprise, entrepreneurship, and innovation, serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, the bicameral Joint Economic Committee, and is co-chair of the Congressional Medical Technology Caucus. For more information on Congressman Paulsens work in Congress visitpaulsen.house.gov. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://paulsen.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=22&itemid=1778,"After Efforts from Klobuchar and Paulsen, Medical Device Tax Suspension Included in Year-End Agreement",2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,MN,Erik Paulsen,P000594,paulsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and Representative Erik Paulsen announced that after efforts from them and other lawmakers, a two-year suspension of the medical device tax has been included in a bipartisan, year-end tax extenders agreement. The proposed package suspends the 2.3% excise tax on the sale of medical device products like pacemakers, ultrasound machines, ventilators, and artificial hips through December 31, 2017. Klobuchar and Paulsen have led efforts that would repeal the tax permanently. Minnesota is home to more than 700 medical device companies that employ approximately 35,000 people. The tax extenders bill is expected to receive votes in both chambers in the coming days. I opposed the medical device tax from the start and have led Senate efforts with Sen. Hatch to repeal it because of its impact on manufacturing and innovation in Minnesota and across our country, said Klobuchar.After a lot of hard work, Democrats and Republicans came together today to suspend this harmful tax for two years. I will continue working with Rep. Paulsen and my colleagues in the Senate to end this tax permanently. Doing so will improve patients lives, create well-paying jobs and give Minnesota businesses the certainty and stability needed to keep researching, inventing and developing the next lifesaving medical breakthrough. Weve seen the harmful, job-crushing effect that taxes in Obamacare are having on our small businesses, and the medical device tax has been one of the worst, said Paulsen.Its driven innovation overseas, harmed job creation here at home, and made it difficult for small businesses to grow. Thats why Ive championed this bipartisan provision that repeals the tax for two years to prevent further job losses and remove an unnecessary burden for Minnesota innovators that manufacture life-saving and life-improving products. As a co-chair of the bipartisan Medical Technology Caucus, Senator Klobuchar has consistently fought for Minnesota medical device companies and has been a leader in the effort to reduce or repeal the medical device tax. During the health care reform debate Klobuchar fought to cut the tax in half, resulting in a $20 billion reduction in the tax and a one year delay in the implementation.Klobuchar also led the effort in 2012 to delay the implementation of the device tax, and successfully secured 17 other Democratic Senators to join her in a letter to then-Senate Majority Leader Reid urging delay.In 2015, Klobuchar introduced the Medical Device Access and Innovation Protection Act with Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT). This bill would repeal the medical device tax for manufactures and importers. Paulsen has long championed the legislation repealing the medical device tax in the House and legislation he authored, the Protect Medical Innovation Act, passed the House earlier this year by a bipartisan vote of 280-140. Last year, he authored an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal on the need to repeal the burdensome tax. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=3f780509-cf80-48ef-84d3-86447e1d3337,"After Call from Dayton, Klobuchar, Franken, and Nolan, Department of Labor Approves Trade Adjustment Assistance for Steel Workers and Miners Impacted by Layoffs",2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Department of Labor approves Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for affected workers at Magnetation; TAA provides training and education benefits and services to these workers Lawmakers urged the Department of Labor to expedite approval of TAA petitions WASHINGTON, DC Governor Mark Dayton, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, along with Representative Rick Nolan, today announced that the Department of Labor (DOL) has approved Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) petitions for steelworkers and miners who have been impacted by recent layoffs at the Magnetation plant. The lawmakers urged the Department of Labor to expedite approval of TAA petitions submitted by workers from the affected mining operations. Steelworkers on the Iron Range urgently need help as they endure the serious economic consequences of illegal foreign steel dumping,said Governor Mark Dayton.I thank Secretary Perez for expediting benefits for laid off steelworkers at Magnetation LLC. But now we need to get to the root of the problem. We look forward to meeting with White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough next week to discuss steps the Administration can take to fight back against the illegal dumping of foreign steel. The hard-working steelworkers and miners who were affected by recent layoffs on the Iron Range received good news today, Klobuchar said. The Department of Labor responded to our call to approve these benefits, and now our Iron Range workers will have the support they need and deserve to help them get back on their feet. Minnesotas iron ore and steel workers are the best in the world, Franken said. But right now, many of them are sitting on the sidelines waiting for our mining operationsbusinesses that closed because of illegal foreign trade practicesto reopen. Im fighting to improve the Range economy, and in the meantime, I want to make sure that workers who have been laid off can get the support and assistance they need. Im glad that, at our urging, the Department of Labor is going to ensure that Minnesotans who were hurt by the closing at Magnetation will be eligible for critical training and education benefits. We are grateful to the Administration for expediting our request for Trade Adjustment Assistance, as well as to President Obama for sending his Chief of Staff, Denis McDonough, to the Range next week so he can report back to the President on how this crisis in our mining and steel industries is affecting our region as well as our national economy and our national security, Nolan said. But first and foremost, we need to get the Iron Range back to work. To do that, we need to get at the heart of the problem, and put a stop to the illegal dumping of millions of tons of low-grade, foreign government-subsidized steel thats flooding our domestic marketplace, costing us thousands of good-paying jobs and threatening the very existence of our mining and steel industries. Minnesotas federal delegation and the Governor have worked together to secure immediate funding for job retraining and educational opportunities for affected Minnesota steel workers and miners. Yesterday, following meetings and discussions with the Governor and Minnesotas federal delegation, it was announced that the White House is sending Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, the Presidents top advisor, to the Iron Range on December 22 to discuss the steel crisis directly with affected workers, mining executives, business leaders, and local elected officials. McDonough will report back directly to the President after the meeting. The full text of the letter that Dayton, Klobuchar, Franken, and Nolan sent in November is available below: Dear Secretary Perez, We write to request that the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) expedite the approval of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) benefits for recently laid off steelworkers at Magnetation LLC. As you know, Minnesotas Iron Range has been severely impacted by foreign producers dumping steel in U.S. markets. Over 2,000 mineworkers have been affected by a temporary or indefinite layoff announcement, representing more than 40 percent of the regions mining workforce. We are grateful these layoffs have been approved for TAA benefits. With hundreds of training plans already on file, this vital program has helped many Minnesotan families avoid financial ruin. Earlier this year, DOL approved a number of TAA petitions for various mining companies and facilities. We were disappointed, however, that DOL restricted TAA eligibility to just one of Magnetations four sites in Minnesota. As a result of that limitation, the recently announced layoffs at the companys Bovey plan will leave more than 160 workers without access to TAA benefits benefits that have long been available to workers at Magnetations nearby plant in Keewatin, among others. When the Bovey layoffs begin in February, affected workers will need to know whether they can count on TAA benefits to help them make ends meet and access training programs. To provide that assurance, the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) submitted a new TAA petition on November 18, 2015 to provide coverage to all of Magnetations Minnesota facilities. We strongly urge DOL to approve this petition and help resolve this unfortunate situation as soon as possible. Thank you for your help in providing economic certainty to thousands of Minnesota workers suffering from unfair steel dumping practices. Sincerely, ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=41399f1c-345b-4bc5-af3b-78c6731016f3,"Klobuchar, Franken: Bipartisan Agreement Reached for Senate Confirmation Vote on Wilhelmina Wright As Federal District Court Judge",2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Currently serving on the Minnesota Supreme Court, Justice Wright has over 25 years of legal experience and has served at all levels in the Minnesota courts Senate has only confirmed 10 District Court Judges this year, making this announcement a major bipartisan victory WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken today announced a bipartisan agreement that guarantees Wilhelmina Mimi Wrightwill receive a Senate vote on her nominationto be a United States District Court Judge for the District of Minnesota before the February Senate recess. Currently serving on the Minnesota Supreme Court, Wright has over 25 years of legal experience and has served at all levels in the Minnesota courts. Wright was recommended to the senators by a bipartisan judicial selection advisory committee. Klobuchar and Franken formed the bipartisan advisory committee to review candidates and assist them in making a recommendation for the position. The Senate has only confirmed 10 District Court Judges this year, making this announcement a major bipartisan victory. With this critical bipartisan agreement, we now know that the confirmation vote for Mimi Wright will take place very soon, Klobuchar said. Mimi is a dedicated public servant with a distinguished career spanning all levels of the state and federal legal system. I fought hard for her confirmation, and I have no doubt thatthe Senate will confirm her, and she will serve Minnesota well. Being a federal judge demands broad experience and an unwavering commitment to the fair and just application of the law,Franken said.Mimi Wright doesnt just meet those requirements, she exceeds them. Thats why Ive been working so hard to get her confirmed. Im pleased we finally reached a bipartisan agreement to vote on Justice Wrights nomination, and Im confident that she will continue to be a great public servant for Minnesota. Wright was appointed to the Minnesota Supreme Court in 2012. She previously served on the Minnesota Court of Appeals from 2002-2012. Prior to this appointment, she served as a trial judge on the Ramsey County District Court. Before joining the bench, Wright was an Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of Minnesota, where she represented the United States in complex economic fraud cases and violent crime cases. During her time as a federal prosecutor, she received the United States Department of Justice Directors Award and the United States Department of Justice Special Achievement Award. Before joining the U.S. Attorneys office, Wright practiced with Hogan & Hartson, LLP in Washington, DC. She received her Bachelor of Arts from Yale University in 1986 and her Juris Doctorate from Harvard Law School in 1989. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=d25d14ab-f9fd-4205-ab5c-5f38030eb158,"After Efforts from Klobuchar and Paulsen, Medical Device Tax Suspension Included in Year-End Agreement",2015-12-16,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Minnesota is home to more than 700 medical device companies that employ approximately 35,000 people WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar and Representative Erik Paulsen announced that after efforts from them and other lawmakers, a two-year suspension of the medical device tax has been included in a bipartisan, year-end tax extenders agreement. The proposed package suspends the 2.3% excise tax on the sale of medical device products like pacemakers, ultrasound machines, ventilators, and artificial hips through December 31, 2017. Klobuchar and Paulsen have led efforts that would repeal the tax permanently. Minnesota is home to more than 700 medical device companies that employ approximately 35,000 people. The tax extenders bill is expected to receive votes in both chambers in the coming days. I opposed the medical device tax from the start and have led Senate efforts with Sen. Hatch to repeal it because of its impact on manufacturing and innovation in Minnesota and across our country, said Klobuchar. After a lot of hard work, Democrats and Republicans came together today to suspend this harmful tax for two years. I will continue working with Rep. Paulsen and my colleagues in the Senate to end this tax permanently. Doing so will improve patients lives, create well-paying jobs and give Minnesota businesses the certainty and stability needed to keep researching, inventing and developing the next lifesaving medical breakthrough. Weve seen the harmful, job-crushing effect that taxes in Obamacare are having on our small businesses, and the medical device tax has been one of the worst, said Paulsen. Its driven innovation overseas, harmed job creation here at home, and made it difficult for small businesses to grow. Thats why Ive championed this bipartisan provision that repeals the tax for two years to prevent further job losses and remove an unnecessary burden for Minnesota innovators that manufacture life-saving and life-improving products. As a co-chair of the bipartisan Medical Technology Caucus, Senator Klobuchar has consistently fought for Minnesota medical device companies and has been a leader in the effort to reduce or repeal the medical device tax. During the health care reform debate Klobuchar fought to cut the tax in half, resulting in a $20 billion reduction in the tax and a one year delay in the implementation.Klobuchar also led the effort in 2012 to delay the implementation of the device tax, and successfully secured 17 other Democratic Senators to join her in a letter to then-Senate Majority Leader Reid urging delay.In 2015, Klobuchar introduced the Medical Device Access and Innovation Protection Act with Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT). This bill would repeal the medical device tax for manufactures and importers. Paulsen has long championed the legislation repealing the medical device tax in the House and legislation he authored, the Protect Medical Innovation Act, passed the House earlier this year by a bipartisan vote of 280-140. Last year, he authored an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal on the need to repeal the burdensome tax. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/brainerd-dispatch-reader-opinion-save-our-workers-and-our-industries,Brainerd Dispatch: Reader Opinion: Save our workers (and our industries),2015-12-15,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Rick Nolan,N000127,nolan.house.gov,,,legacy,"The race for multi-national corporate profits through manipulation and trade agreements (including the TPP) is hollowing out the American society. They damage the heart of our social structure by devaluing American workers, insisting that they must somehow compete with cheap, and often exploited and unprotected foreign labor. In addition, foreign production, like steel, is often heavily subsidized by foreign governments and dumped on our domestic markets at artificially low prices, making domestic competition nearly impossible. By not finding ways to protect American industry and the soul of the country, the American worker, we are allowing the ravaging of our economy and the lives of Americans. It is important to understand that Wall Street and the stock market represent how well corporate profits are doing and does not measure the other, longer term, costs of those profits or the economic health of the rest of the society. One example of abuse is the dumping of foreign steel, often highly subsidized by foreign governments. The result is the undercutting of American steel industry and thus mining, mine workers and the businesses and social structure that supports them. Representative Rick Nolan (MN CD 8) has introduced legislation, the Support Our Steelworkers Act (SOS), to stop the dumping of foreign steel on our markets ... to the detriment of our mines, the miners and the supporting structure which is such an integral part of northern Minnesota and our entire state economy. He is working to remedy the situation by encouraging President Obama to immediately impose tariffs to stop the dumping ... something both Reagan and Bush did earlier to support the steel industry...and then to pass the SOS Act. Rep. Nolan wants the American steel industry and the miners to be able to compete fairly and to save a vital industry and American workers. Bob Passi Baxter",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/duluth-news-tribune-lawmakers-decry-central-states-pension-cuts,Duluth News Tribune: Lawmakers decry Central States pension cuts,2015-12-15,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Rick Nolan,N000127,nolan.house.gov,,,legacy,"US Reps. Rick Nolan and Marcy Kaptur on Tuesday said they are making an ""urgent call to the Treasury Department"" to reject a request by the Central States Pension Fund to cut pensions for some 270,000 active Teamsters and retirees in several states including thousands in Minnesota. The pension plan is facing a huge deficit and has petitioned federal regulators to allow it to cut benefits to most recipients by 50 to 70 percent in order to keep paying some pension to everyone. The cuts are allowed under a provision passed in last December's federal spending bill. But Nolan, D-Crosby, and Kaptur, D-Ohio, joined 16 other members of Congress in submitting a public comment Monday night calling on Ken Feinberg, the Department's Special Master of Implementation, to deny Central States' request. ""Make no mistake, we are going to leave no stone unturned in our efforts to fight these outrageous cuts. Big corporations that get into financial trouble should not be permitted to take their problems and failures out on employee pensions, especially while executives collect tens of millions of dollars in golden parachutes,"" Nolan said in a statement. Kaptur is the sponsor of the Keep Our Pension Promises Act, H.R. 2844. The measure, co-sponsored by Nolan, would repeal a provision in last year's last-minute budget agreement that opened the door to pension cuts. It would instead shore up the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation by closing two tax loopholes used almost entirely by wealthy estates to reduce their tax burdens, according to a news release from Nolan. Nolan said the bill would protect the pensions not just of Teamsters under the Central States plan but some 1.5 million workers in about 200 different multi-employer pension plans. ""Pensions are paychecks, not handouts,"" Kaptur said. ""If the United States of America could bail out Wall Street, whose risky behavior robbed pension funds of workers' hard-earned benefits they've earned over a lifetime of hard work across our nation, surely we can find a way to restore retired workers' earned pensions. There are other solutions working their way through Congress that don't pick the pockets of workers and retirees to pay for financial losses for which they bear no responsibility.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/duluth-news-tribune-readers-view-nolan-fights-for-iron-range-in-world-war,Duluth News Tribune: Reader's view: Nolan fights for Iron Range in world war over steel,2015-12-15,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Rick Nolan,N000127,nolan.house.gov,,,legacy,"While Republicans control both houses of Congress and trip over each other to undermine President Barack Obama, Minnesotas 8th District has a world-class fighter in U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan. Case in point: our hundreds of jobless Iron Range families who are victims of a steel world war. While Republicans in Congress obsess about Obama and Minnesota Republicans obstruct Gov. Mark Daytons attempt to deliver help from our booming state economy, Nolan joins other fighters like Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, to break the steel-war logjam. According to Brown, China has more steelmaking capacity than the entire rest of the world combined. They cant keep their steel mills busy because they dont have that much domestic consumption. China is always trying to sell steel at below-market prices so-called dumping steel is the term the trade lawyers use. Nolan, from a mining state, and Brown, from a steelmaking state, form an axis of action we all should support at petition2congress.com, where names can be added to the plea to please stop (the) dumping of foreign steel. Help Nolan by going there today. David Strand Aitkin",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/fox-21-new-logging-bill-allows-heavy-logging-trucks-on-i-35,FOX 21: New Logging Bill Allows Heavy Logging Trucks on I-35,2015-12-15,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Rick Nolan,N000127,nolan.house.gov,,,legacy,"A bill by Congressman Rick Nolan permitting heavy logging trucks on Interstate I-35 has been approved by the house and the senate, and signed in to law by President Barack Obama. Federal regulations prevent logging trucks weighing more than 80,000 pounds from using I-35. Because of this, heavy logging trucks had to travel down Superior Street in Duluth.. The bill makes it possible for trucks weighing up to 99,000 lbs with six axles to operate on a 24 mile stretch of I-35.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/grand-forks-herald-big-win-in-federal-transportation-bill-for-minnesota,Grand Forks Herald: Big win in federal transportation bill for Minnesota: planning time,2015-12-15,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Rick Nolan,N000127,nolan.house.gov,,,legacy,"More than $4 billion for transportation projects is headed from Washington to Minnesota in the next five years, but money is not the big news for state officials. Minnesota's take is part of a $305 billion funding bill that easily passed the House and Senate late this week. It is the first long-term transportation package Congress has passed in a decade and a rare bipartisan effort in the current Congress. However, Minnesota Department of Transportation officials are quick to point out that the state already planned to get nearly that much federal money. ""This is basically flat,"" MnDOT's Serge Phillips said. ""It is not a game changer."" The federal money does give Minnesota a few percent increases each of the next five years, but Phillips said the big advantage is having a fair amount of certainty that the money will be available over that period. For years, states have not been able to count on federal money, which hurts planning. ""You cant undertake a major project like replacing a bridge when Washington is changing the rules of the game every few months, and this bill is a needed step forward that will create jobs and start the process of improving our transportation infrastructure system,"" U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., said. Phillips said that it will take time to sift through details of the bill, which President Barack Obama signed Friday afternoon. Transportation funding is important to Minnesota, being a geographically rural state with lots of road miles. Also, it learned on Aug. 1, 2007, the importance of maintaining roads and bridges when the Interstate 35W bridge fell into the Mississippi River. ""In Minnesota, we know all too well the importance of investing in our roads, bridges and transportation systems,"" Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said. Klobuchar sponsored several provisions in the bill, including one that requires federal transportation authorities to help state officials reduce safety risks of highway-railroad intersections. In Minnesota, concerns have increased in recent year as trains hauling North Dakota crude oil multiply and both increase risk of explosions and trains close to road intersections for long periods of time delaying public safety agencies' response to emergencies. Phillips said one section of the bill is devoted to hazardous materials transportation, which underscores the importance Congress placed on the topic. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., joined Klobuchar on getting two provisions in the bill. One would provide grants to states that are taking steps to reduce distracted driving. The other Klobuchar-Hoven provision makes it clear that a vehicle's owner controls data collected by a ""black box"" that records several things about a vehicle's operation, including speed and seat belt use. Insurance companies want the data after accidents to see if the driver was at fault. Klobuchar also successfully inserted a provision that allows more states to get money for a program that phases teens into full driving privileges. Also in the bill is a provision championed by Rep. Rick Nolan, D-Minn., to change the law to allow heavy logging trucks to use Interstate 35 through Duluth instead of being forced to drive through downtown on Superior Street. ""This is such good news for all the pedestrians and drivers who navigate Superior Street through the winter months when the pavement gets icy and snow piles up high along the sides,"" Nolan said. The bill allows states to raise the weight limit on milk trucks, too. Peterson said that gives flexibility to the dairy industry. It is unrelated to transportation, but the bill formally restores $3 billion in cuts to the federal crop insurance program. The cuts were in an earlier bill, but even before it passed congressional leaders agreed to restore them. ""This bill fulfills that promise and will protect farmers from cuts that would have threatened the integrity of this vital safety net for rural America,"" Peterson said.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/mille-lacs-county-times-nolan-hears-wish-lists-sees-areas-he-can-help,"Mille Lacs County Times: Nolan hears wish lists, sees areas he can help",2015-12-15,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Rick Nolan,N000127,nolan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Mille Lacs County, city and township leaders appeared to be getting in the Christmas spirit Friday, Dec. 4, because they came to the Mille Lacs County Courthouse with wish lists that could make their communities better places to live, work or navigate. The lists werent compiled for Santa Claus, but U.S. Congressman Rick Nolan, who represents Mille Lacs County and the rest of Minnesotas 8th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. It was a jovial gathering with Nolan sitting at the dais of the board room of the Mille Lacs County Board with County Commissioners Genny Reynolds, DaveOslin, Phil Peterson and County Administrator Pat Oman. In the audience were the countys engineer Bruce Cochran, land services Michelle McPherson, economic developments Richard Baker, and community and veteran services Beth Crook. There were representatives from the cities of Isle, Pease and Princeton, as well as some township officials. Nolan appeared receptive to many of the challenges of the local units of government and some of the plights they were facing. On a number of occasions, Nolan replied to presenters with the words, We can help you with that. Cochran discussed wetlands delineation programs and the difficult process it was for the county to receive millions of dollars in federal aid. The process needs streamlining, Cochran said. Cochran also discussed funding for road projects and the window in which a project is identified and applications for funding are due. Nolan said there are executive orders that can be issued to help the county with the problem. If you have an individual problem, dont hesitate to call us. Sometimes we know of a fix over and beyond what the average person might be aware of, Nolan said. And when it comes to local projects, Nolan welcomes calls on those, too, he said. I like to roll up my sleeves and work on small projects even if its just a 10-mile trail, he said. One area of conversation that got a lot of talk was the Malone Island Bridge in Isle. Its a 1964-era bridge connecting Isle to an island with 60 to 70 properties. The bridge is in disrepair with its replacement in need of funding. Theres money available for projects like the bridge, Nolan said, and at the end of the day its a worthy and essential project. Well weigh in on it with you, Nolan said. Well help it get funded. Beth Crook, with the county community and veterans services, presented Nolan with data showing that Mille Lacs County is unique in terms of the number of out-of-home placements of children it manages. The placements are 15 percent of the countys tax levy, she said. Nolan listened with a very interested ear. Jeff Hansen, the clerk of the city of Pease, talked about water and sewer issues and the problem a lack of adequate services plays in the failure to attract development. Pease does not have fire protection in the city, and because of disrepair, its 500 gallon water system can hold just 250 gallons of water. The city is seeking funds to build a water tower, Hansen said. Nolan said he would help Pease, too. Princeton Community Development Director Jolene Foss told Nolan about a 200-acre parcel thats ready for development in that city. She also welcomed help in connecting the citys industrial parks and talked about the development of a potential new roundabout on Highway 95 north of Wal-Mart. Foss also talked about regional trail systems leading in and out of the city. Nolan pledged trail assistance through a recently passed federal transportation bill. Richard Baker, who heads the countys economic development efforts, talked about challenges with obtaining grants for the Soo Line Trail in the Onamia and Isle areas and the Great Northern Trail between Princeton and Milaca. Nolan offered the review of grant applications before they are submitted to help with the approval process. Baker also discussed a 600-acre regional park Milaca is attempting to establish and a 40-acre trail for 4-wheel vehicles in the Isle area.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/minnpost-congress-passed-a-long-term-transportation-bill-for-the-first-time,Minnpost: Congress passed a long-term transportation bill for the first time in a decade what's in it for Minnesota?,2015-12-15,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Rick Nolan,N000127,nolan.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON One of Washingtons favorite cans to kick down the road has finally found an off-ramp: after passing 36 short-term extensions, Congress passed a five-year plan to fund the nations highways and infrastructure. The last time it funded them for longer than two years? 2005. Last week, President Obama signed the compromise bill, the so-called FAST Act, that provides $305 billion in federal money over the next five years for transportation projects. It had been negotiated for months, but passed overwhelmingly out of Congress last week as officials sought to put a law in place before highway funding ran out. The bill wont resolve all the questions surrounding transportation policy for example, it does not raise the federal gas tax, which has been the same since 1993, even though there are Democrats and Republicans who want to raise it. Still, the law provides much-needed certainty to federal, state, and local transportation agencies, as well as businesses, in planning and executing projects in the long term. How much does Minnesota get? For Minnesota, theres certainly enough to like here. For one, the states getting more cash: through fiscal year 2020, Minnesota is slated to receive just over $4 billion total from Uncle Sam for transportation, $3.4 billion in highway funding and $550 million in transit funding. To put that in perspective, Minnesotas total transportation budget in 2014 from the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) to the Metropolitan Council and beyond was $5.3 billion, according to the Met Council. Federal funding from the highway bill as well as other federal funding sources made up 17 percent of that total. State lawmakers still need to figure out a transportation funding plan, but with the numbers from the federal government set, at least one piece of the puzzle is in place. So, where will all that fresh cash go? Most will go into the hands of MnDOT, the Met Council, and other transportation authorities around the state. For highway spending, which is primarily the purview of MnDOT, that money will be funneled toward various programs: $895 million, for example, into block grants that authorities can use for highways, roads and bridges; or $167 million for a federal program designed to encourage states to ease traffic congestion and improve air quality. While exact funding plans are not yet set in stone and wont be until Congress passes a bill to fund the government this transportation bill will lead to simple, tangible improvements along with longer-term projects, says Serge Phillips, federal relations manager for MnDOT. The bill will finance a broad array of things, from basic highway maintenance and repair to more specific items like widening roadways to reduce traffic congestion, collecting better safety data on freight trucks, or simply buying more buses in Minnesota cities. Federal money is also crucial for big-ticket highway projects, says Phillips. Federal funding accounts for about 60 percent of our capital highway construction funding that is for infrastructure, roads and bridges, he explains. For MnDOT, $477 million of its $795 million total highway construction budget came from the federal government in 2014. Setting an example? For transit projects, the $550 million sum through 2020 will get funneled into a variety of funds, such as one for bus improvements ($26 million over five years), transit resources on Indian reservations (over $11 million), and rural transportation (about $1.5 million). If youre a public transit user in the Twin Cities, you might be wondering what this big bill does for long-awaited projects like the Southwest LRT. The short answer: its no silver bullet, but its a big help. For major projects, the five-year funding bill provides a rare commodity: stability from Washington. That will help projects like the Southwest LRT along, according to Adam Duininck, chair of the Met Council. If there are question marks about different pieces of Southwest coming together over the next year or so, knowing that the federal funding commitment is there in a long-term way helps build momentum toward Southwest and other projects, Duininck says. The federal government is a big part of light rail projects, Duininck explains, and could fund up to half of projects like the Southwest LRT or the proposed Bottineau Blue Line extension. Shoring up D.C. numbers, he says, will put much-needed pressure on legislators in St. Paul. It was not that long ago that people looked at D.C. and said, no way they can get transportation, and then the workings of the bill came together, Duininck says. Thats a bipartisan bill, and here were working through the same dynamics, different parties in the legislature and a DFL governor. Is there a way for us to put together a package something we can do that can make everyone happy, hopefully? MnDOTs Phillips agrees that the stability offered by the bill is as precious a commodity as its money. Knowing what funding levels will look like for the next five years, at least on the federal side, gives state officials substantial room for long-term planning. In pushing for a transportation plan over the last decade, lawmakers claimed that stop-gap transportation funding bills which ranged from a few days to a year in length rendered transportation authorities totally unable to develop plans for multi-year projects. I know this sounds bureaucrat-y, but the stability is really important, explains John Schadl, a communications officer at the Met Council. We have to negotiate complex financial deals with many different partners. If you can show partners you have a stable federal funding source, they wont only continue with projects like Southwest but have more momentum going into other projects. Thats really not a small thing. Policy provisions, too Beyond funding levels, the long, wide-ranging bill contains plenty of other provisions that will affect transportation and the economy in Minnesota. For example, the bill requires government buses and rail cars to be made from 70 percent domestic material, up from 60 which could give a boost to the Minnesota steel industry. It also sets aside $6.3 billion over five years for freight rail in all 50 states, with a requirement that 25 percent of the funds go to projects in rural areas, which advocates see as a plus for Minnesota. Beyond that, Eighth District Rep. Rick Nolan, the only Minnesotan currently on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, included an amendment on the bill to allow logging trucks to use a 24-mile stretch of I-35 south of Duluth during wintertime, as opposed to Superior Street, which had been considered dangerous for the large trucks. Nolan told MinnPost he couldnt be happier about the final product his committee helped to produce. I think it is an important and dramatic improvement in the U.S. transportation plan, in that it gives counties and states the long-term protection in what kind of money is available so they can do rational, intelligent planning, he said. Its impossible to do your planning when youre working with two-month and six-month extensions. In a press release, Sen. Amy Klobuchar took credit for several provisions in the bill aimed at helping Minnesota infrastructure, including one to improve safety at railroad crossings, one that expanded a grant program to combat distracted driving, and one that changed a grant program for teen driver safety. In Minnesota, we know all too well the importance of investing in our roads, bridges, and transportation systems, said Klobuchar, referencing the I-35W bridge collapse in 2007. This bipartisan, long-term bill will increase funding for Minnesota and give states and local officials the certainty they need to plan ahead for critical transportation projects. Transit officials and D.C. politicians werent the only ones pleased. Business leaders see the long-term transportation bill as an achievement that shores up some long-term stability for them, too. This is a big step for Congress, says Bentley Graves, director of health care and transportation policy at the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce. It fills in a number of blanks in a concrete way for us These are real dollars that go into real projects around the state, and this will help us move along.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/park-rapids-enterprise-big-win-in-federal-transportation-bill-for-minnesota,Park Rapids Enterprise: Big win in federal transportation bill for Minnesota,2015-12-15,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Rick Nolan,N000127,nolan.house.gov,,,legacy,"More than $4 billion for transportation projects is headed from Washington to Minnesota in the next five years, but money is not the big news for state officials. Minnesotas take is part of a $305 billion funding bill that easily passed the House and Senate late this week. It is the first long-term transportation package Congress has passed in a decade and a rare bipartisan effort in the current Congress. However, Minnesota Department of Transportation officials are quick to point out that the state already planned to get nearly that much federal money. This is basically flat, MnDOTs Serge Phillips said. It is not a game changer. The federal money does give Minnesota a few percent increases each of the next five years, but Phillips said the big advantage is having a fair amount of certainty that the money will be available over that period. For years, states have not been able to count on federal money, which hurts planning. You cant undertake a major project like replacing a bridge when Washington is changing the rules of the game every few months, and this bill is a needed step forward that will create jobs and start the process of improving our transportation infrastructure system, U.S. Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., said. Phillips said that it will take time to sift through details of the bill, which President Barack Obama signed Friday afternoon. Transportation funding is important to Minnesota, being a geographically rural state with lots of road miles. Also, it learned on Aug. 1, 2007, the importance of maintaining roads and bridges when the Interstate 35W bridge fell into the Mississippi River. In Minnesota, we know all too well the importance of investing in our roads, bridges and transportation systems, Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., said. Klobuchar sponsored several provisions in the bill, including one that requires federal transportation authorities to help state officials reduce safety risks of highway-railroad intersections. In Minnesota, concerns have increased in recent year as trains hauling North Dakota crude oil multiply and both increase risk of explosions and trains close to road intersections for long periods of time delaying public safety agencies response to emergencies. Phillips said one section of the bill is devoted to hazardous materials transportation, which underscores the importance Congress placed on the topic. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., joined Klobuchar on getting two provisions in the bill. One would provide grants to states that are taking steps to reduce distracted driving. The other Klobuchar-Hoeven provision makes it clear that a vehicles owner controls data collected by a black box that records several things about a vehicles operation, including speed and seat belt use. Insurance companies want the data after accidents to see if the driver was at fault. Klobuchar also successfully inserted a provision that allows more states to get money for a program that phases teens into full driving privileges. Also in the bill is a provision championed by Rep. Rick Nolan, D-Minn., to change the law to allow heavy logging trucks to use Interstate 35 through Duluth instead of being forced to drive through downtown on Superior Street. This is such good news for all the pedestrians and drivers who navigate Superior Street through the winter months when the pavement gets icy and snow piles up high along the sides, Nolan said. The bill allows states to raise the weight limit on milk trucks, too. Peterson said that gives flexibility to the dairy industry. It is unrelated to transportation, but the bill formally restores $3 billion in cuts to the federal crop insurance program. The cuts were in an earlier bill, but even before it passed congressional leaders agreed to restore them. This bill fulfills that promise and will protect farmers from cuts that would have threatened the integrity of this vital safety net for rural America, Peterson said.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/president-obama-sending-white-house-chief-of-staff-denis-mcdonough-to,President Obama Sending White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough to Visit Iron Range Hard Hit By Layoffs Stemming From Foreign Steel Dumping,2015-12-15,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Rick Nolan,N000127,nolan.house.gov,,,legacy,"[WASHINGTON, DC] - White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, the Presidents top advisor, will be in Virginia, MN at Range Community & Technical College on Tuesday, December 22nd to discuss the Iron Range layoffs and the national steel crisis directly with affected workers, mining executives, business leaders and local elected officials. Today, Governor Mark Dayton, Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, and Congressman Rick Nolan announced the plans to host McDonough on the Iron Range. Further details regarding the exact time and agenda will be forthcoming. The announcement follows personal meetings and discussions among the four and with McDonough during which they emphasized the gravity of the situation on the Iron Range, where nearly 2,000 miners have lost their jobs in the worst iron mining and steel industry downturn in decades. They further pointed out that the crisis threatening the industries threatens the survival of the U.S. mining and steel industries and with it the nations economic and natural security. Iron Range legislators also joined the governor and the congressional delegation in sending a letter directly to President Obama urging a meeting to address the crisis. Minnesota steelworkers urgently need help from the Administration in Washington, said Governor Mark Dayton. I thank President Obama for sending his Chief of Staff, Denis McDonough, to help us with the very serious economic problems facing Minnesotans on the Iron Range. We need the administration to do everything possible to fight back against the illegal dumping of foreign steel. For generations, Minnesota steel workers have met the highest standards of excellence in steel production. On a level playing field they can compete with any country in the world, Klobuchar said. I look forward to the opportunity for Denis to hear directly from Iron Range workers and discuss concrete steps to crack down on foreign steel dumping, which has undercut our domestic industry. Minnesotas iron ore and steel workers can compete with anybody in the world on a level playing field, said Sen. Franken. But the industry has been shaken by foreign competitors who are flooding American markets with illegally dumped steel. The Northland is struggling, and we need action. Thats why we called on President Obama and his Administration to help us remedy this problem. Im pleased they are paying attention, and that the President has tasked his Chief of Staff to head to the Iron Range. We need to do everything we can to fight for our workers and producers, and this is an important step. This meeting is a critical step forward in our fight to get the Iron Range back to work, Congressman Rick Nolan said. Im gratified that the President has given his personal attention to the crisis by sending his most trusted and most senior advisor to the Range to hear directly from those affected. This year alone, over 2,000 steelworkers in Minnesota have lost their jobs as a result of foreign producers dumping low-cost subsidized steel into our country and unless constructive action is taken now, miners and steelworkers in Minnesota and across the country will soon face even more layoffs. Governor Dayton spoke personally with White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, urging President Obama to take executive action to stop illegal steel dumping, which is threatening Minnesota's steel industry. The Governor has worked closely with Minnesota's Congressional Delegation over the course of the last year to petition the federal government, including the U.S. International Trade Commission, U.S. Department of Commerce, and U.S. Department of Labor, to crack down on illegal steel dumping practices and to ensure impacted steelworkers receive Trade Adjustment Assistance benefits. Additionally, the Governor has called on the State Legislature to meet in special session to extend unemployment benefits for laid off steelworkers on Minnesota's Iron Range. He and Lt. Governor Tina Smith have visited the Iron Range numerous times to meet with and extend state services to impacted steelworkers, and to rally against illegal steel dumping. Senator Klobuchar has spoken directly with McDonough multiple times urging him to bring the concerns of Iron Rangers directly to the President. She is a leader in efforts to fight foreign dumping and ensure a level playing field for U.S. steel workers and producers. Following consistent pressure from Klobuchar last year, the International Trade Commission voted to impose penalties on Mexican, Turkish, and Korean companies dumping steel in the U.S. In addition, she recently led a letter along with Senator Al Franken and Representative Rick Nolan to successfully urge the U.S. Department of Labor to expedite approval of the three Trade Adjustment Assistance petitions submitted by workers from the affected mining operations. Last month, Klobuchar and Franken introduced legislation to crack down on illegal steel dumping by strengthening trade enforcement. Senator Franken has long fought to ensure fair trade practices and protect Minnesota workers and businesses. Hes worked hard to help limit the damage being done to the American steel and iron ore industry by unfairly priced foreign steel. Hes pressed the U.S. International Trade Commission and the Department of Commerce to address the problem and has helped introduce legislation to bolster our trade protections. Earlier this month, Sen. Franken helped personally call on President Obama to take administrative action to help fix the steel dumping problem. After several direct meetings between Congressman Nolan and McDonough regarding the effect the steel crisis is having on Minnesotas Iron Range, McDonough brought the issue directly to the attention of President Obama the next morning. The President then made the decision to send McDonough to the heart of the layoffs on the Iron Range. Nolan also introduced the Support Our Steelworkers Act in November to immediately impose a moratorium on the importation of foreign steel and steel products into the United States for five years. He has called on President Obama to use his authority under Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974 to impose high tariffs on foreign steel that would mark the equivalent of a moratorium; and he has consistently urged the Administration to toughen current trade enforcement policies. The flood of foreign steel has threatened the survival of the domestic iron ore and steel industry and put thousands of Americans out of work. Steel imports are 31% of the market at a time when domestic steel mills are only operating at 70.5% of capacity. This problem is expected to only get worse due to the global steel overcapacity of 700 million metric tons. Much of the steel being dumped into the U.S. is illegally state-subsidized, or benefits from unfair practices such as currency manipulation. The International Trade Commission has found a determination of illegal steel dumping in 157 cases. In fact, steel products make up 46% of the trade enforcement orders the Department of Commerce administers under U.S. trade laws. Yet the flood of illegal steel continues into the United States virtually unabated.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=5956dcab-9d45-4252-8b87-de853a80b696,President Obama Sending White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough to Visit Iron Range Hard Hit By Layoffs Stemming From Foreign Steel Dumping,2015-12-15,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,,,legacy,"White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, the Presidents top advisor, will report back to President Obama following a December 22nd meeting at Range Community & Technical College in Virginia with affected workers, mining executives, business leaders and local elected officials. [WASHINGTON, DC] - White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, the Presidents top advisor, will be in Virginia, MN at Range Community & Technical College on Tuesday, December 22nd to discuss the Iron Range layoffs and the national steel crisis directly with affected workers, mining executives, business leaders and local elected officials. Today, Governor Mark Dayton, Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, and Congressman Rick Nolan announced the plans to host McDonough on the Iron Range. Further details regarding the exact time and agenda will be forthcoming. The announcement follows personal meetings and discussions among the four and with McDonough during which they emphasized the gravity of the situation on the Iron Range, where nearly 2,000 miners have lost their jobs in the worst iron mining and steel industry downturn in decades. They further pointed out that the crisis threatening the industries threatens the survival of the U.S. mining and steel industries and with it the nations economic and natural security. Iron Range legislators also joined the governor and the congressional delegation in sending a letter directly to President Obama urging a meeting to address the crisis. Minnesota steelworkers urgently need help from the Administration in Washington, said Governor Mark Dayton. I thank President Obama for sending his Chief of Staff, Denis McDonough, to help us with the very serious economic problems facing Minnesotans on the Iron Range. We need the administration to do everything possible to fight back against the illegal dumping of foreign steel. For generations, Minnesota steel workers have met the highest standards of excellence in steel production. On a level playing field they can compete with any country in the world, Klobuchar said. I look forward to the opportunity for Denis to hear directly from Iron Range workers and discuss concrete steps to crack down on foreign steel dumping, which has undercut our domestic industry. Minnesotas iron ore and steel workers can compete with anybody in the world on a level playing field, said Sen. Franken. But the industry has been shaken by foreign competitors who are flooding American markets with illegally dumped steel. The Northland is struggling, and we need action. Thats why we called on President Obama and his Administration to help us remedy this problem. Im pleased they are paying attention, and that the President has tasked his Chief of Staff to head to the Iron Range. We need to do everything we can to fight for our workers and producers, and this is an important step. This meeting is a critical step forward in our fight to get the Iron Range back to work, Congressman Rick Nolan said. Im gratified that the President has given his personal attention to the crisis by sending his most trusted and most senior advisor to the Range to hear directly from those affected. This year alone, over 2,000 steelworkers in Minnesota have lost their jobs as a result of foreign producers dumping low-cost subsidized steel into our country and unless constructive action is taken now, miners and steelworkers in Minnesota and across the country will soon face even more layoffs. Governor Dayton spoke personally with White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough, urging President Obama to take executive action to stop illegal steel dumping, which is threatening Minnesota's steel industry. The Governor has worked closely with Minnesota's Congressional Delegation over the course of the last year to petition the federal government, including the U.S. International Trade Commission, U.S. Department of Commerce, and U.S. Department of Labor, to crack down on illegal steel dumping practices and to ensure impacted steelworkers receive Trade Adjustment Assistance benefits. Additionally, the Governor has called on the State Legislature to meet in special session to extend unemployment benefits for laid off steelworkers on Minnesota's Iron Range. He and Lt. Governor Tina Smith have visited the Iron Range numerous times to meet with and extend state services to impacted steelworkers, and to rally against illegal steel dumping. Senator Klobuchar has spoken directly with McDonough multiple times urging him to bring the concerns of Iron Rangers directly to the President. She is a leader in efforts to fight foreign dumping and ensure a level playing field for U.S. steel workers and producers. Following consistent pressure from Klobuchar last year, the International Trade Commission voted to impose penalties on Mexican, Turkish, and Korean companies dumping steel in the U.S. In addition, she recently led a letter along with Senator Al Franken and Representative Rick Nolan to successfully urge the U.S. Department of Labor to expedite approval of the three Trade Adjustment Assistance petitions submitted by workers from the affected mining operations. Last month, Klobuchar and Franken introduced legislation to crack down on illegal steel dumping by strengthening trade enforcement. Senator Franken has long fought to ensure fair trade practices and protect Minnesota workers and businesses. Hes worked hard to help limit the damage being done to the American steel and iron ore industry by unfairly priced foreign steel. Hes pressed the U.S. International Trade Commission and the Department of Commerce to address the problem and has helped introduce legislation to bolster our trade protections. Earlier this month, Sen. Franken helped personally call on President Obama to take administrative action to help fix the steel dumping problem. After several direct meetings between Congressman Nolan and McDonough regarding the effect the steel crisis is having on Minnesotas Iron Range, McDonough brought the issue directly to the attention of President Obama the next morning. The President then made the decision to send McDonough to the heart of the layoffs on the Iron Range. Nolan also introduced the Support Our Steelworkers Act in November to immediately impose a moratorium on the importation of foreign steel and steel products into the United States for five years. He has called on President Obama to use his authority under Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974 to impose high tariffs on foreign steel that would mark the equivalent of a moratorium; and he has consistently urged the Administration to toughen current trade enforcement policies. The flood of foreign steel has threatened the survival of the domestic iron ore and steel industry and put thousands of Americans out of work. Steel imports are 31% of the market at a time when domestic steel mills are only operating at 70.5% of capacity. This problem is expected to only get worse due to the global steel overcapacity of 700 million metric tons. Much of the steel being dumped into the U.S. is illegally state-subsidized, or benefits from unfair practices such as currency manipulation. The International Trade Commission has found a determination of illegal steel dumping in 157 cases. In fact, steel products make up 46% of the trade enforcement orders the Department of Commerce administers under U.S. trade laws. Yet the flood of illegal steel continues into the United States virtually unabated.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://franken.senate.gov/?p=news&id=3338,Op-Ed: Our New Education Law Will Help Minnesota Students and Schools,2015-12-14,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Al Franken,F000457,franken.senate.gov,,,legacy,"If we want a stronger nation tomorrow, we need to give our kids a world-class education today. That was the idea when Congress passed what you may know as No Child Left Behind (NCLB), a law that has governed our federal K-12 education policies for the last 13 years.The goal of NCLB was admirable: to ensure that every child in Minnesota and across the country graduates high school with the skills they need to succeed. But NCLB failed. It failed our schools and teachers, but more importantly, it failed our kids.Instead of focusing on each child's abilities and potential for growth, NCLB was centered on high-pressure, high-stakes tests, and mandated a one-size-fits-all approach for schools struggling to help students succeed. In fact, the law has been failing us for so long that the Education Department handed out waivers to statesincluding Minnesotato exempt them from meeting some of its most burdensome requirements. A Long-Awaited Reform Since I first joined the Senate, one of my top priorities has been to make our education system work better for Minnesota. That's why I became a member of the Senate Education Committee, and it's why I've spent years traveling to dozens of K-12 schools across our state. At nearly all of these meetings, teachers, principals, superintendents, and parents told me that it's time to fix this law.And we just took a huge step in the right direction. I'm thrilled to say that we came togetherRepublicans, Democrats, Senators, and House Members alikeand passed comprehensive legislation to dramatically reform NCLB.This reform, of course, is not perfect, but it's a huge improvement over NCLB. Over the last 13 years, we learned that our approach to fixing failing schools just hasn't worked. So in this bill, we tried to strike a balance between giving our states more flexibility and making sure that they take appropriate action to improve struggling schools.The new lawcalled the Every Student Succeeds Actalso makes critical investments in early childhood education, which is something I've long fought for. A quality early childhood education doesn't just start kids off on the right foot, it's also good for the budget: study after study shows that for every dollar invested, we get as much as $16 back in the long run.The bill we passed in Congress does a lot of good things for Minnesota, and for the sake of our kids, I'm glad we finally got it done. Improving Education in Minnesota This bill includes several provisions I authoredlike expanding student mental health services, increasing access to accelerated learning courses so that high school kids can earn college credit, and improving the recruitment and preparation of quality school principals.It also includes a bipartisan measure I wrote to allow states to use Computer Adaptive Tests that can provide immediate feedback for teachers and are useful tools for measuring individual students' growth. This will help inform teachers on their students' instruction, and is a much more useful way to assess whether or not children are learning.Another problem I had with NCLB is that it failed to get our kids ready for the 21st century workforce. When I talk to employers around Minnesota, they often tell me that they're starving for workers who have a good grasp of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). And this isn't just a problem for Minnesotanearly all of the top 30 fastest-growing jobs nationwide require STEM skills.But our kids are lagging behind the rest of the world, and part of the problem is that there's a shortage of effective STEM teachers. That's why I also pushed for a bipartisan provision to recruit top-notch STEM educators and keep them in the classroom.I was proud to take a leading role in helping write this reform bill, and over the last several weeks, I was glad to serve as a member of the House-Senate committee tasked with hammering out its final details. It's Time for a Change Over the past 13 years, we've learned a lot about what works in our education policiesand a whole lot more about what doesn't work. There's nothing more important to our kids' futures, and our country's economic future, than providing them with a good education. And after working for years, I'm pleased we finally got this reform effort finished.NCLB didn't live up to the expectations that parents, teachers, and students had when it was passed more than a decade ago. But now we have the chance to get things right. Once the President signs this measure, I look forward to taking a leading role in making sure the new law is implemented in a way that will benefit students, parents, teachers, and schools in Minnesota. This op-ed originally appeared in newspapers across Minnesota. By: Sen. Al Franken",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ellison.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-keith-ellison-statement-on-paris-climate-deal,Rep. Keith Ellison Statement on Paris Climate Deal,2015-12-12,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Keith Ellison,E000288,ellison.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington Rep. Keith Ellison released the following statement after a deal was announced at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris: We have long needed a global agreement to address climate change and a commitment to curb emissions. Today, the negotiators in Paris delivered just that as they passed one of the most important agreements in human history. The Paris climate deal gives us a fighting chance to protect our way of life against the worst impacts of climate change. Congratulations to all the leaders who negotiated this deal and to the activists around the world fighting for this cause. Just a few years ago, this agreement seemed impossible. Your work has made a historic difference. While the Paris agreement is cause for celebration, we have a lot of work to do to reach these goals. Lets get started.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://collinpeterson.house.gov/rep-petersons-newsletter-12112015,Rep. Peterson's Newsletter 12/11/2015,2015-12-11,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Collin Peterson,P000258,collinpeterson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Sunrise, Otter Tail County Dear Friends, I was a guest on KFGO and KLGR Radio this week to discuss my efforts to protect crop insurance in the recent budget deal and the next steps for Country of Origin Labeling (COOL). The Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research also held a hearing this week, where I questioned National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) Administrator Reilly about the Census of Agriculture and other NASS surveys. Congress has had some bipartisan success this year passing a long-term reauthorization of highway transportation programs. I am hopeful that Congress can come together in a similar spirit to pass needed legislation to fund the government for 2016 and extend tax credits which expired at the end of last year. Uncertainty surrounding the tax code is especially burdensome for our agriculture industry, and this is something I will continue to push. Sincerely, Congressman Collin C. Peterson Minnesota 7th District Annual Sugar Co-op Meetings American Crystal Sugar and Minn-Dak Farmers Cooperative held their annual meetings in Fargo during the last two weeks. These meetings are an opportunity for growers to look back at the previous year and plan for the future. Both cooperatives elected new board members and Minn-Dak recognized retired director Chuck Steiner of Foxhome for his 15 years of service to their board. We must remain vigilant against attacks on the farm safety net, like we saw in the budget deal. We were able to reverse those cuts to the crop insurance program, and I will continue to fight to ensure that people do not unravel the Farm Bill programs like the successful sugar program in the must-pass bills that Congress is currently considering. KFGO News and Views I joined Fargos KFGO Radio host Joel Heitkamp for a News and Views interview this week regarding the World Trade Organizations decision to authorize annual retaliatory tariffs from Canada and Mexico over the U.S. country-of-origin labeling (COOL) program. More than 60 countries have COOL in some capacity, and it is my hope that Congress can find a solution that helps farmers and consumers while avoiding retaliation by the end of the year. KLGR Farm Show I was a guest on the KLGR Farm Show this week to discuss COOL retaliation and my recent visits with farmers in the district. We also talked about my efforts to eliminate provisions of the budget deal that would reopen the farm bill and undermine the federal crop insurance program, and how we were able to address these concerns in the recently passed highway bill. Farm Credit Association Wally Sparby and Tom Meium of my staff met with the Farm Credit Associations Legislative Committee on Friday to review agriculture policy. These farm credit associations, including Ag Country, Ag Star, and United FCS, provide credit, financial services and management consultation to farmers and rural communities in the 7th District. Service Academy Interviews Jennifer and Richard Smestad (FERGUS FALLS), Mike Arntson (MOORHEAD) Each year, I have the privilege of nominating young people to U.S. service academies. On Saturday, a screening panel met to interview potential candidates applying for a nomination to one of the four U.S. service academies.These include the U.S. Military Academy West Point, U.S. Naval Academy, U.S. Air Force Academy and the U.S. Merchant Marines Academy.The U.S. Coast Guard Academy does not require a Congressional nomination. These institutions prepare college-age Americans to become officers of the U.S. Uniformed Services.Upon graduation, service academy graduates are commissioned as Officers in the active or reserve components of the military or Merchant Marines for a minimum of five years. Legislative Update Cotton Hearing The Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management held a hearing Wednesday to review the state of the cotton industry. Cotton growers are facing tough times, trying to get through this low price period with less help from the farm bill, which made the hearing especially timely. While cotton isnt grown in the 7th District, its important for all of agriculture to stick together in support of a farm bill that works for all growers, of all sizes, in all regions of the country. Agriculture Census Hearing The Agriculture Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research held a hearing Wednesday afternoon to look at the Census of Agriculture and other National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) surveys. I expressed concern to NASS Administrator Reilly about reports that farmers werent receiving ARC-CO payments because of yield data problems. The Farm Service Agency (FSA) uses farmer-provided yield data, collected by NASS, to calculate ARC-CO payments. However, farmers are not required to submit this information and if too few farmers from a county complete the survey, NASS cant use that countys data. When that happens, FSA must use other data sources, which may result in lower or no ARC payments. I also asked that he provide more information about how the national average all-barley price is set. He promised to follow up with my office. Newsstand Holiday Fire Safety Winter holidays are a time of celebration for many families across the country, but also a time of increased risk of fire. The FEMA U.S. Fire Administration has releasedonline educational materialsto help families safely cook holiday meals, display decorations, and use heat sources. Discovering the 7th Dr. George R. Christie and family (1902) The Christie Home Historical Society, founded in 1976, was the Long Prairie residence of Dr. George R. Christie ad his family from 1901 to 1976. The property is unique as the home has remained largely unchanged over the past century, with original family furnishings and artifacts. The museum, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006, offers free tours to veterans and members of the military. This Week in American History National Guard First Muster, 1636 The first regiments of the U.S. National Guard were officially organized on December 13, 1636. As the original English settlements along the Eastern Seaboard began to expand west, citizens continued the practice of forming self-sufficient military units. This militia tradition, the foundation of the oldest military units in the United States, has provided community, state, and national defense for nearly 400 years. Citizen-soldiers have courageously served in every major American military conflict since 1637, making the National Guard one of the oldest military service organizations in the world. Visitors from the District Marna Metzger (Minnesota FSA) and Mike Krejci (American Crystal Sugar), Amber, Dodge, and Trevor Johnson (EAST GRAND FORKS) Morgan Jarandson (FERGUS FALLS) 2015 Congressional Art Competition",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://franken.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=3336,"Sen. Frankens Bipartisan Measure to Combat Mental Health Crisis in Criminal Justice System Clears Senate, is One Step Closer to Becoming Law",2015-12-11,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Al Franken,F000457,franken.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Today, the Senate approvedU.S. Sen. Al Franken's (D-Minn.) bipartisan legislation to make our communitiessafer by improving access to mental health services for people in the criminal justice system who need treatment. Earlier this year, Sen. FrankenintroducedhisComprehensive Justice and Mental Health Act, whichwould help reduce the rates of repeat offenders and improve safety for law enforcement officers. The bill cleared the full Senate today, and now needs to pass in the House of Representatives before becoming law. ""Our criminal justice system is brokenit doesn't help treat people who have mental illnesses, and it doesn't protect the safety of law enforcement personnel,""said Sen. Franken.""The United States has five percent of the world's population, but 25 percent of the world's prison population. And that's in large part because we have criminalized mental illness, using our justice system as a substitute for a fully functioning mental health system. That's a huge problem, and my Comprehensive Justice and Mental Health Act would help fix it. ""I've been working for years on this bill, and I'm very pleased to say that we just took a huge step towards reforming how our criminal justice system treats mental illness. My bill bolsters federal support for mental health servicesincluding special support for veterans who need helpand provides critical training to law enforcement. ""Now that my legislation has cleared the Senate, I'm going to fight to get it passed in the House of Representatives and signed into law. It's too important to continue ignoring this crisis."" For years, Sen. Frankena member of the Senate Judiciary Committeehas been working on his criminal justice measure in order to bring more resources to law enforcement, the courts, and correctional facilities and help them better deal with the increasingly prevalent mental health issues they encounter. He's held discussions on his legislation all across Minnesota, meeting with law enforcement, advocates, and other experts on how to best reform how our criminal justice system handles mental illness. TheComprehensive Justice and Mental Health Actwould improve outcomes for the criminal justice system, the mental health system, and for those with mental health conditions by doing the following, among other things: Extending theMentally Ill Offender Treatment and Crime Reduction Act(MIOTCRA), and continuing support for mental health courts and crisis intervention teams; Authorizing investments in veterans treatment courts, which serve arrested veterans who suffer from PTSD, substance addiction, and other mental health conditions; Supporting state and local efforts to identify people with mental health conditions at each point in the criminal justice system in order to appropriately direct them to mental health services; Increasing focus on corrections-based programs, such as transitional services that reduce recidivism rates and screening practices that identify inmates with mental health conditions; Supporting the development of curricula for police academies and orientations; and Developing programs to train federal law enforcement officersin how to respond appropriately to incidents involving a person with a mental health condition. More information on theComprehensive Justice and Mental Health Actisavailablehere. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://franken.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=3337,Sen. Franken Applauds Passage of Bill to Protect Servicemembers from Foreclosure,2015-12-11,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Al Franken,F000457,franken.senate.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Sen. Al Franken praised the Senate's passage of a bill he supports to help protect members of the armed forces from foreclosure.The bill, which cleared the Senate on Thursday evening, would safeguard active-duty servicemembers from losing their homes for one year following the completion of service.""We owe a great debt to our active-duty servicemembers and their families, and we need to be doing everything in our power to support them both during and after their service,""said Sen. Franken.""That's why I was pleased to see the Senate come together and pass legislation to extend foreclosure protections for our active duty servicemembers. The men and women who serve our country sacrifice so much for us, and the least we can do is to give them some time to readjust to life at home without having to face foreclosure.""The billcalled theForeclosure Relief and Extension for Servicemembers Actextends the existing 12 months of foreclosure protection for military personnel leaving active duty under theServicemembers Civil Relief Act(SCRA).The current one-year protection from foreclosure is set to expire at the end of 2015; this bill extends it to 2017. The foreclosure protection period will revert back to just 90 days starting in 2016 if Congress doesn't act. Sen. Franken has also cosponsored a bill to make this protection permanent. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://paulsen.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=22&itemid=1775,Paulsen Statement on Passage of Trade Customs Legislation,2015-12-11,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,MN,Erik Paulsen,P000594,paulsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Congressman Erik Paulsen (MN-03), a member of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, released the following statement after the House passed the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act. Making much-needed reforms to our custom procedures, strengthening enforcement measures behind our trade agreements, and removing unnecessary barriers to trade are essential to growing our economy. With the completion of two important trade deals on the horizon, todays legislation could not come at a more critical time. 774,000 Minnesota workers are supported by trade, and establishing fair and strong trade rules means ensuring we are on a level playing field with our global competitors. Paulsen is a trade leader in Congress, serving as co-chair of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) Caucus. Video of his floor remarks on the legislation are available here. Congressman Paulsen, a champion of small business and advocate of free enterprise, entrepreneurship, and innovation, serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, the bicameral Joint Economic Committee, and is co-chair of the Congressional Medical Technology Caucus. For more information on Congressman Paulsens work in Congress visitpaulsen.house.gov. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://paulsen.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=22&itemid=1776,Erik's Correspondence Corner: Health Care Premiums and the Visa Waiver Program,2015-12-11,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,MN,Erik Paulsen,P000594,paulsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. In this weeks correspondence corner, Congressman Erik Paulsen (MN-03) answers an email from Gary in Orono who asked that Congress do something to address rising health care premiums. Sharon in Coon Rapids sends in an email to ask the Congressman to support the Visa Waiver Improvement Act. Watch this weeks videohere Each week, Congressman Paulsen receives thousands of letters, emails, tweets, Facebook posts, and phone calls from constituents voicing their opinions. Through this video series, Congressman Paulsen regularly responds to constituent correspondence on a variety of topics. For more information on Congressman Paulsens work in Congress and to view previous editions of Eriks Correspondence Corner, visit www.paulsen.house.gov. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://franken.senate.gov/?p=news&id=3335,St. Cloud Times: Franken scores win on schools overhaul,2015-12-10,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Al Franken,F000457,franken.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Sen. Franken has been working hard to make sure students in Minnesota and across the country have access to an outstanding education. As a member of the Senate Education Committee, for years he has pushed to reform the ineffective No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), which guided federal education policy for 13 years.That's why he was thrilled to join President Obamaat the signing of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). This new lawwhich overhauls NCLBgives states and school districts more flexibility in creating curriculums, setting academic standards, and educating students. ESSA replaces the one-size-fits-all approach of NCLB with bipartisan solutions that will better prepare students for a lifetime of learning.Sen. Franken was proud to have written many bipartisan provisions included in the final bill, including measures to expand programs that let students earn college credit while in high school, improve STEM education, and increase access to student mental health services.The St. Cloud Times reports: Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., could be forgiven Tuesday for doing something of an end-zone dance after the Senate passed the first major rewrite of education policy since No Child Left Behind in 2001.""This has been something I've really been working on for seven years,"" he said in an interview. ""This is my third shot at it, and so it's very important.""President Obama is expected to sign it into law Thursday. The legislation, which reduces Washington's role in setting academic standards and penalizing schools for missing achievement goals, includes a number of provisions authored by Franken.They include ones supporting mental health training for school staff; enhancing principal training, placement and retention; and allowing foster children to remain in and receive transportation to their original schools.His provisions also include a renewal of a program to create community learning centers that provide after-school academic enrichment programs, particularly for students in low-performing schools; and creation of a program to develop and support Native American language immersion opportunities for students. To read the full article, click here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/nolan-praises-today-s-signing-of-landmark-education-bill-as-a-win-for,"Nolan Praises Todays Signing of Landmark Education Bill as a Win for Teachers, School Officials and Students Alike",2015-12-10,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Rick Nolan,N000127,nolan.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan voiced high praise today for the landmark bipartisan Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) education bill President Obama signed late this morning. The bill replaces the old and widely unpopular No Child Left Behind Act, reducing the amount of standardized testing and giving teachers, local school districts and states far more flexibility and control over how they use federal funds to improve schools and educational outcomes. This new law is a win for teachers, school officials and students alike, Nolan said. It enhances local control, marks the end of the high stakes associated with testing, gives teachers more voice and adds flexibility for rural and tribal school leaders in how they use federal funds to meet their own unique educational needs. Moreover, the bill maintains strong accountability requirements to ensure that all students regardless of where they live or the challenges they face have access to the resources they need to live up to their full potential. The new law also includes Nolans bipartisan amendment making it the policy of the United States to ensure that Indian children do not attend school in buildings that are dilapidated or deteriorating which may negatively affect the academic success of such children. Nolan, a former teacher, noted that with this provision, Thousands of Indian children attending dangerous and dilapidated facilities like the Bug-O-Nay-Gee-Shig school on Minnesotas Leech Lake Reservation are a step closer to getting the education they are entitled to. Its an important addition that lays the groundwork for future funding to bring 63 Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools in terrible condition up to standard.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=70bd803f-1b66-404c-8eaa-bc5fc3d4c556,"After Efforts from Klobuchar and Franken, Minnesota Selected as One of Seven States to Receive National Guard Cyber Protection Team",2015-12-10,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Cyber Protection Team will support the militarys cyber defense efforts and help defend the regions networks from cyberattacks Senators led a letter with the Minnesota federal delegation urging the Army to select Minnesota as a host site for a Cyber Protection Team WASHINGTON, DC Today, U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken announced Minnesota has been selected as one of seven states to receive a National Guard Cyber Security Protection Team. The Cyber Protection Team will support the militarys cyber defense efforts and help defend the regions infrastructure and networks from cyberattacks. The senators led efforts, including a delegation letter urging the Army to select Minnesota as a host site for a Cyber Protection Team. At a time when international cyber threats are growing in severity and frequency, the Minnesota National Guard has positioned itself on the cutting edge of defensive cyber operations, Klobuchar said. Hosting a Cyber Protection Team will further these critical efforts and allow the Minnesota National Guard to serve as a national leader in the fight against cyber terrorism. In recent years, weve seen a dramatic increase in the number of cyber threats against our country, and its critical that we take action to protect our networks from attacks, Franken said. This new designation will give the Minnesota National Guard the tools it needs to help defend our stateand the entire regionagainst the growing threat of cyber warfare and cyber terrorism. Full text of the senators letter with the other members of Minnesotas federal delegation is available below: Dear Major General Lyons: We write in strong support of the Minnesota Army National Guards proposal for a Cyber Protection Team (CPT). We understand that you will soon be deciding on sites to host ten Army National Guard CPTs over the next three years. We strongly believe that Minnesota offers significant advantages as a host for a CPT due to our Army National Guards proactive planning for and experience in cyber operations and our states unique industrial and academic resources. The Minnesota Army National Guard has already taken significant steps to develop its capabilities and experience in defensive cyber operations. It has already established and trained a Computer Network Defense Team to defend its cyber network and can assist civil authorities in the event that an essential system is interrupted or degraded due to a cyberattack. In the past two years the Minnesota Army National Guard has trained and conducted cyber related exercises and engagements with Minnesota Information Technology (MNIT) and the national law enforcement-private sector partnership group InfraGard, as well as Minnesotas State Partnership Country, Croatia. Minnesotas Army Guard members at the Joint Reserve Intelligence Center in Minneapolis have also provided cyber intelligence analysis support to U.S. Central Command and U.S. Africa Command. Minnesota is also home to major corporations and academic institutions, which provide strong bases of support for recruiting talented professionals into the Army National Guard and for developing unique partnerships with the private sector and academia to strengthen cyber defenses. Several Minnesota Army National Guard officers work as IT professionals for Fortune 500 companies headquartered in the state and are employing highly technical skills acquired in the civilian workforce to their military positions. Six Minnesota academic institutions have been recognized by the Defense Department as Centers of Excellence for educating students in the field of Information Assurance. Minnesota is widely recognized as a leader in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematic (STEM) education, providing a solid base for recruitment, retention, and continuing education of servicemembers involved in cyber defense. We hope you will carefully consider these factors as you determine the location of Army National Guard CPTs. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Sincerely, ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://franken.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=3333,"Sen. Franken: No Child Left Behind Overhaul Will Improve Education in Minnesota, Help Students and Schools Succeed",2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Al Franken,F000457,franken.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Today, U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) called a bipartisan overhaul to ""No Child Left Behind""which has governed our federal K-12 education policies for the past 13 yearsa critical step to helping improve education in Minnesota and across the country.The bill, which passed in the Senate today and is soon slated to become law, gets rid of the high pressure, high-stakes approaches that have failed our schools under ""No Child Left Behind"" and instead finally allows schools to focus on each child's abilities to succeed and their potential for growth. Furthermore, it includes several provisions written by Sen. Franken to help Minnesota students and schools succeed.""Over the past 13 years under No Child Left Behind, we've learned a lot about what works in our education policiesand a whole lot more about what doesn't work.""said Sen. Franken, a member of the Senate Education Committee.""I've always said that the only thing I liked about No Child Left Behind was its name, and now we have the opportunity to get things right. There's nothing more important to our kids' futuresand our country's economic futurethan providing them with a good education. While this isn't a perfect bill, I'm pleased we got this reform effort accomplished.""Among the biggest victories in this bill is ensuring that states have more flexibility. The one-size-fits-all approach to fixing failing schools wasn't working, and this bill will help address that. And I am proud that so many of the provisions I authored are included in this billthings like strengthening STEM education, expanding student mental health services, increasing access to accelerated learning courses that help high school students earn college credit, and improving the recruitment and preparation of quality school principals.""Once the President signs the measure, I'm going to work hard to make sure that the new law is implemented in the most effective way possible, so that it benefits students, parents, teachers, and schools in Minnesota. This is a big win.""Sen. Franken took a key role in helping craft the education reform measure that passed today, and for the past several weeks, he has served on the House-Senate committee tasked with hammering out details of the final legislation. He wrote several provisions in the legislation, including: Mental Health in Schools. Sen. Franken's mental health in schools provision enables schools to partner with community-based organizations to expand access to mental health services for students. These provisions also support training for school staff and volunteers to help them recognize the signs of behavioral health problems in students and refer them for appropriate services. Principal Training and Recruitment. This provision improves the preparation, placement, and retention of effective principals in high-need schools. Computer Adaptive Testing. Sen. Franken's bipartisan computer adaptive testing provision allows states to use computer adaptive tests that include questions within, as well as above and below, grade level. Such tests give teachers and school systems the ability to more accurately measure each student's achievement level and determine student growth. Accelerated Learning. This bipartisan provision seeks to raise student academic achievement and save students and families money through accelerated learning programs. That includes things like Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate, dual enrollment programs, and early college high schools that provide postsecondary-level instruction, examinations, or sequences of courses that are widely accepted for credit at institutions of higher education. STEM Education.This bipartisan provision improves STEM education and teacher professional development. This program also helps raise the stature and status of the STEM teaching profession by supporting colleges and universities in their efforts to improve math and science teacher training. 21st Century Community Learning Centers. This bipartisan provision renews a current program to create community learning centers that provide academic enrichment opportunities during after school hours for children, particularly students who attend high-poverty and low-performing schools. School Counseling. Sen. Franken's provision allows school-employed counseling professionals, such as school counselors, school social workers, and school psychologists, to work together to create and expand comprehensive school counseling programs. Counseling programs emphasize prevention and early intervention, engage families, and incorporate research-based approaches to promote students' academic success. Native American Language Immersion. This bipartisan provision creates a program for the purpose of supporting and developing programs that provide Native Language Immersion opportunities for students at pre-K through postsecondary education levels. Education of Students in Foster Care.Sen. Franken's bipartisan provision improves the educational stability of students in foster care by improving collaboration between child welfare agencies and state and local educational agencies. It allows children to remain in their school of origin if it is in their best interest, and makes sure that funding for school transportation is available for those children. A point of contact for education of foster children is appointed in the local educational agency when there is also a point of contact in the corresponding child welfare agency. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://mccollum.house.gov/press-release/congresswoman-betty-mccollum-remarks-hr-1076,Congresswoman Betty McCollum Remarks on H.R. 1076,2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Betty McCollum,M001143,mccollum.house.gov,,,legacy,"Mr. Speaker, we have an epidemic of gun violence in this country and Congress is doing nothing to end the killing. Right now, a person on the FBIs Terrorists Watch List can go into a gun store and purchase a firearm legally. If a person on the Terrorist Watch List is too dangerous to buy a plane ticket, why are they allowed to purchase unlimited weapons and ammunition? Congress needs to act now to protect the American people, not guns. The Denying Firearms and Explosives to Dangerous Terrorists Act a bipartisan bill - would prohibit the sale of firearms to people on the FBIs Terrorist Watch List. Congress needs to take the most basic step we can by passing this bill to keep Americans safe from those who wish to do us harm. Mr. Speaker, I yield back.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=3e0f1872-93d7-4bba-baf2-39e06ddc09d6,"Klobuchar Provisions to Help Ensure All Students Receive a Quality Education Passes Congress, Will Head to Presidents Desk to Be Signed into Law",2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Provisions Klobuchar authored would help expand STEMopportunities, improve teacher and principal retention, and reduce chronic absenteeism WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar today announced that her provisions to help ensure that all students receive a quality education passed the House and Senate as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act, which updates the No Child Left Behind federal education law, and will soon head to the presidents desk to be signed into law. The three provisions that Klobuchar authored would help expand STEM opportunities, improve teacher and principal retention, and reduce chronic absenteeism. It shouldnt matter what school you attend, or what circumstances youre born intoall children deserve the right to receive a quality education that will open doors of opportunity, Klobuchar said. Education can be a real game changer that leads to higher-paying jobs and a brighter future for our people and our country. These provisions will help ensure America continues to be a place where anyone who works hard and dreams big can achieve great things. Klobuchars STEM provision, which she introduced with Senator John Hoeven (R-ND), would improve students access to STEM education by allowing states to award funding to create or enhance a STEM-focused specialty school or a STEM program within a school. The provision she authored to help reduce chronic absenteeism would add absenteeism as an acceptable use of professional development funds for teachers and principals, giving school professionals the tools and training they need to address chronic absenteeism and intervene with at-risk students as early as kindergarten. As Hennepin County Attorney, Klobuchar started a major anti-truancy initiative to keep kids in the classroom and out of the courtroom. Her office worked closely with local schools on a faster, more effective response to truancy problems. She also successfully included a provision with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to help improve teacher and principal retention in schools serving American Indian students. Inadequate professional development and the lack of ongoing support are key reasons why some teachers and principals leave the profession, leading to instability and added costs of rehiring and retraining for schools and school districts. Klobuchars amendment adds mentoring and teacher support programs, including instructional support from tribal elders and cultural experts, to improve the professional development that teachers and principals in Indian schools receive, helping ensure that these professionals stay in schools longer and provide a quality education to Native students.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=8b3f191b-058a-4c4f-9570-90b42a8cc346,"Klobuchar, Hoeven STEM Legislation Pass Congress, Will Head to Presidents Desk to Be Signed Into Law",2015-12-09,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Provisions continue senators efforts to promote Science, Technology, Engineering and Math Education and Training WASHINGTON U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.) today announced that legislation they introduced to bolster Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) education has passed the House and Senate as part of the Every Student Succeeds Act and will now head to the presidents desk to be signed into law. The bill includes the senators provisions to promote STEM education and training. To stay competitive in the 21st century economy, we need a 21stcentury education system that prepares out students today for the jobs of tomorrow, Klobuchar said. By boosting STEM opportunities across the country, todays action will help give our students the skills they need to be successful in high-tech, high-wage jobs. Quality STEM education is an increasingly important component in our students education, said Hoeven. The STEM initiatives Congress passed today will help provide greater access to STEMtraining and help ensure that our students have the skills they need to be competitive today and into the future. The bipartisan legislation, modeled after a provision in Klobuchar and Hoevens Innovate America Act, improves students access to STEM education by allowing school districts to award funding to create a STEM-focused specialty school or an enhance an existing STEM program within a school. Klobuchar has been a leader in Congress on issues of economic innovation.She helped launch the Diversifying Tech Caucus that brings together lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, along with researchers and academics, to shape policy that will help increase diversity in the tech sector and move our economy forward. As Ranking Senate Member of the Joint Economic Committee and a member of the Senate Commerce Committee and the Presidents Export Council, Klobuchar has been a leader in efforts to boost Americas ability to compete in the global economy, working to cut red tape for businesses and open up new markets to U.S. exports. As a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Hoeven has advocated for strengthened STEM education funding, which helps prepare our students for the jobs of both today and tomorrow. Hoeven is also a member of the Senate STEM Education and Workforce Caucus and the Senate GOP High-Tech Task Force, which works to ensure that the nations technology firms remain at the forefront of the world economy. In March, Klobuchar and Hoeven met with STEM students at Sheyenne High School in West Fargo and Horizon Middle School in Moorhead to highlight the schools work to prepare students for advanced STEM curriculum. This legislation continues the senators efforts to promote and support STEM education. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/nolan-leads-effort-calling-on-treasury-to-reject-devastating-pension,Nolan Leads Effort Calling on Treasury to Reject Devastating Pension Cuts,2015-12-08,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Rick Nolan,N000127,nolan.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Reps. Rick Nolan (MN-08) and Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) are spearheading an urgent call to the Treasury Department to reject a request by the Central States Pension plan to be allowed to slash earned retirement benefits for some 270,000 active workers and retirees in Minnesota and throughout the Midwest by 50-70 percent. Nolan, Kaptur, and 16 other members of Congress submitted a public comment Monday night calling on Ken Feinberg, the Departments Special Master of Implementation, to turn down the request. Make no mistake we are going to leave no stone unturned in our efforts to fight these outrageous cuts. Big corporations that get into financial trouble should not be permitted to take their problems and failures out on employee pensions especially while executives collect tens of millions of dollars in golden parachutes, Nolan said. Congresswoman Kaptur is to be commended for her hard work and outstanding leadership. Rep. Kaptur is the sponsor of the Keep Our Pension Promises Act (H.R. 2844). The measure, cosponsored and strongly supported by Rep. Nolan, would repeal a provision in last years last-minute budget agreement that opened the door to pension cuts, and would instead shore up the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation by closing two tax loopholes used almost entirely by wealthy estates to reduce their tax burdens. The bill would protect the pensions of some 1.5 million workers in approximately 200 different multi-employer pension plans. Pensions are paychecks, not handouts, Rep. Kaptur added. If the United States of America could bail out Wall Street, whose risky behavior robbed pension funds of workers hard earned benefits theyve earned over a lifetime of hard work across our nation, surely we can find a way to restore retired workers earned pensions. There are other solutions working their way through Congress that dont pick the pockets of workers and retirees to pay for financial losses for which they bear no responsibility. I am grateful for the support of Congressman Nolan and our colleagues in these efforts.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/nolan-praises-today-s-signing-of-landmark-transportation-bill,Nolan Praises Todays Signing of Landmark Transportation Bill,2015-12-08,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Rick Nolan,N000127,nolan.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan voiced high praise today for the landmark 5-year, $305 billion transportation bill that puts repair and expansion of the nations highways, roads, bridges, pipelines and railroads back on track after 8 years of delays and short-term extensions that have frustrated long-term planning and repeatedly put the Highway Trust Fund at risk. President Obama signed the measure today. After years of kicking the can down the road, we have a transportation bill that addresses the fact that our nations infrastructure that has literally been crumbling before our very eyes, Nolan said. Now federal, state and local planners will have long-term stability along with the resources they need to repair our highways and bridges, keep trains on the tracks, help ensure the safety of our pipelines and by doing so, create tens of thousands of badly needed jobs here in Minnesota and across the nation. The bill includes Nolans amendment addressing a serious safety problem in Duluth by permitting huge logging trucks to avoid the narrow and often snow covered main thoroughfare of Superior Street and instead operate on a 24-mile stretch of Highway I-35 from north of Duluth to South of Scanlon, including Highway 210 via Exit 235. Nolan, the only Minnesotan now serving on the House Transportation Committee, added that the measure contains $3.4 billion over 5 years specifically targeted for highways in Minnesota. Additionally, the transportation bill contains significant new Buy America provisions to boost U.S. manufacturing jobs by increasing domestic content of buses and rail cars from 60% to 70%. At a time when our Iron Range mining and U.S. steel industries are experiencing the worst downturn in decades, these new Buy American requirements are especially critical and important as we continue efforts to ban foreign steel imports for 5 years to give our domestic iron and steel industries time to recover, Nolan added. Earlier this week, Nolan formally introduced his Support Our Steelworkers (S.O.S.) Act (H.R. 4130) to immediately stop the importation of foreign steel and steel products. The measure also reauthorizes the Export-Import Bank (EXIM Bank) to aid small and medium-sized businesses in qualifying new customers and provide critical resources necessary to export goods and services around the globe. Nolan fought hard for the provision, leading a successful effort to employ a rarely used tool called a Discharge Petition to force consideration of the legislation to reauthorize the bank directly the floor of the House. The bill passed in the House, and was later included in the overall transportation bill to ensure final passage in both the House and Senate.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=50635c91-dcc0-470e-a77f-18776f697168,"Klobuchar, Lee Hold Hearing on Proposed Inbev, SABMiller Merger",2015-12-08,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, DC U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Mike Lee (R-UT), the ranking member and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, issued the following statements today following their hearing on AnheuserBusch Inbevs proposal to purchase SABMiller. Todays hearing was an opportunity to discuss how merging the worlds two biggest beer producers would impact competition and consumers across the country, Klobuchar said. We examined how the proposed merger would affect the price of a pint as well as the craft brewers who are serving up world class beers across the country. Wholesalers make decisions everyday on what brands to put on their trucks. By working to ensure those decisions are driven by consumer demand and not producer power, we can help competition in the beer industry remain on tap. ""The American beer market is a more than $100 billion business, and delivers a product that, in both its national brand and regional craft brew forms, holds a special place in American culture and hospitality, Lee said. Todays hearing helped answer some of the questions we had about the merger and mitigated many of our concerns about the transaction."" During the hearing, Klobuchar highlighted the thriving craft brewery industry in Minnesota and pressed the witnesses on how the proposed merger would affect it. There are currently more than 70 breweries in Minnesota, which is more than the entire country had in 1978.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ellison.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/ellison-emmer-introduce-resolution-supporting-opening-of-somali-embassy,"Ellison, Emmer Introduce Resolution Supporting Opening of Somali Embassy in Washington DC",2015-12-07,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Keith Ellison,E000288,ellison.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington Earlier today, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Rep. Tom Emmer (R-MN) introduced a resolution supporting the opening of the Somali Embassy in Washington, DC The opening is the first time Somalia has had an official United States Embassy since 1992. It was a tremendous honor to attend the opening of the Somali Embassy, said Rep. Keith Ellison, who represents the largest Somali diaspora in the U.S. The Somali people have shown incredible resilience in the face of extreme social and political challenges. I am proud to support Ambassador Awad and the new Somali Embassy as they seek to build the relationship between our two nations and promote peace in Africa. This is a historic moment. Since the founding of the Congressional Somalia Caucus, we have worked to focus on priorities that would improve the security and governing systems there and the opening of the Somali Embassy in Washington is a tremendous step in that direction, said Emmer. As Somalia works to resettle refugees back into their country after decades of turmoil, famine and conflict, increased cooperation between our countries is critical. I applaud the efforts made by the State Department, NGOs and aid organizations that made this possible, but there is much work to be done. We must continue to work together to improve financial, intelligence, security and anti-terrorism cooperation as its vital to the national security of both nations.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ellison.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-keith-ellison-statement-on-donald-trump-calling-for-an-end-to-muslim,Rep. Keith Ellison Statement on Donald Trump Calling for an End to Muslim Immigration,2015-12-07,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Keith Ellison,E000288,ellison.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington Rep. Keith Ellison released the following statement after Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump called for an end to Muslim immigration: Most people know more about what keeps our country strong than the leading Republican presidential candidate. Donald Trump should reread the words of our Constitution about religious freedom and tolerance. Do we really want someone who doesnt understand our values speaking to the world on our behalf? The President is supposed to bring everyone together, not divide through hateful rhetoric and fear mongering about an entire religion. The fact that Donald Trump is leading in the Republican Presidential primary polls should raise deep concerns about where Republicans want to lead our country. Demagogues like Trump appeal to the worst in people. They have never been celebrated in our history books - from Joseph McCarthy on. Americans know that we are braver and better than this.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://franken.senate.gov/?p=news&id=3328,Star Tribune Op-Ed: Our food supply is reason enough to act on climate change,2015-12-07,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Al Franken,F000457,franken.senate.gov,,,legacy,"One of us is a U.S. senator. One of us is the CEO of Cargill, the nation's largest privately held corporation. But we're both citizens who share a deep concern about the impact climate change is beginning to have on our way of life, and a deep commitment to doing our part to address this challenge before it's too late.The challenge is complex but very real. Two months ago, we experienced the warmest October ever recorded, and 2015 will go down as easily the hottest year on record. Climate change is already shrinking glaciers, acidifying oceans and altering weather patterns.But there's another element of the danger posed by climate change: the damage it could do to our food supply. As a senator representing a farm state and as the CEO of a company focused on agriculture, we are particularly concerned about changes in weather patterns, temperature and rainfall, trends that will make farming and thus food security even more challenging around the world.Our global population is expected to grow from 7 billion today to 9.5 billion by midcentury. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that as populations continue to grow and developing nations continue to industrialize global food demand could increase by up to 70 percent by the year 2050.Our food system is resilient, and our farmers have a long history of innovating and adapting in the face of change. But the impact of climate change on agriculture could prove significant, and we all have a role to play in tackling this global challenge.That's why Cargill has joined other major American companies, including great Minnesota businesses like Target, Best Buy and General Mills, in signing the White House's American Business Act on Climate Pledge.As part of the pledge, Cargill made specific commitments to improve energy efficiency and increase the use of renewable energy. It also reaffirmed the work it is doing across its global supply chains to protect forests and reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. These new benchmarks will continue the work Cargill has done previously to lower its carbon footprint and make its agricultural supply chains more sustainable.But there's another major element of the pledge: Cargill and its fellow signatories are offering their support for a strong outcome at the global climate negotiations in Paris this month, where some 150 heads of state are convening making it one of the largest international gatherings on any issue.After all, America cannot solve climate change alone. But American leadership can help bring about a global consensus. And just as the pledge represents a collaboration between government and industry, the Paris talks represent an important inflection point in the effort to build collaboration across nations and establish an international commitment to taking serious action now.That commitment has been elusive in the past, but there is real reason to believe that this time could be different. In advance of the Paris conference, more than 180 countries have taken the significant step of announcing their own individual commitments to addressing climate change. Successful negotiations in Paris, followed by real action on the part of the governments meeting there, could finally yield the kind of major international effort it would take to turn the tide on climate change.Rarely have we had so much momentum toward a truly global strategy for addressing this threat. And if we blow this chance, we may not have another one like it. As the Earth is warming, the clock is ticking.As a member of the Senate Energy Committee, Al has fought to reduce carbon emissions and invest in clean energy and energy efficiency research, development, and deployment. And with so much at stake both in our own country's efforts to combat climate change and in the Paris talks he is grateful to have a business like Cargill as a partner committed to improving energy efficiency, increasing renewable energy use and deploying clean energy solutions, such as combined heat and power.In the past, it may have seemed odd for a progressive Democrat and a global CEO to join together to promote climate action, but the truth is that everyone who breathes air, drinks water and eats food has a stake in efforts to address climate change. And the challenge today is clearer than it's ever been and with the global consensus building, solutions can't be far behind. Al Franken represents Minnesota in the U.S. Senate. Dave MacLennan is chairman and CEO of Cargill. This op-ed originally appeared in the Star Tribune, you can read it on their website here. By: Sen. Al Franken and Dave MacLennan",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://mccollum.house.gov/press-release/mccollum-remarks-lao-embassy-celebration-40th-founding-anniversary-lao-peoples,McCollum Remarks at the Lao Embassy in Celebration of the 40th Founding Anniversary of the Lao People's Democratic Republic,2015-12-07,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Betty McCollum,M001143,mccollum.house.gov,,,legacy,"Good evening. Ambassador Sayavongs and Madam Sayavongs, I am honored to be with you tonight to celebrate sixty years of diplomatic relations between our countries, as well as the fortieth anniversary of the Lao PDR. My relationship with the people of Laos is very special and I strongly support strengthening our bilateral relations. My home is Minnesota. In my congressional district, I represent tens of thousands of Hmong and Lao-Americans who call Laos their ancestral home. They have family in Laos. Their traditions come from Laos. And, they care deeply about the future of Laos. More than anyone, I would like to acknowledge Mr. Chao Lee who has been on my congressional staff since 2001, for guiding me and advising me. He is with us tonight and I would like to thank him for his work on behalf of U.S.-Lao relations. Over my fifteen years serving in Congress I have taken many steps to strengthen this relationship. I was a supporter of normalized trade relations with Laos at a time when many people were fighting about the past rather than working to build a new future. I have always supported increased U.S. funding for UXO clean a terrible legacy of war that harms the Lao people. And, in 2006, I had the pleasure of celebrating a very special Christmas in Vientiane during a visit to your beautiful country. Ambassador, I am committed to working with you to strengthen our future together. We will work as partners to address issues important to both our countries economic development, increased trade, and access GSP, as well as improving human rights and human development to ensure that all Lao people, including women and girls, are free to live full, productive lives. Ambassador, I wish your government much success as Laos chairs ASEAN next year. I know the Obama Administration will work as a partner to ensure next years ASEAN Summit is a success and they will have my full support. Again, congratulations Mr. Ambassador on your countrys 40 years. Thank you.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=9786606b-f97d-4744-84c8-b09d98f2948b,Klobuchar Raises Concerns About Potential Canadian Pacific Railway/Norfolk Southern Railway Merger,2015-12-07,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Combined, the two railroads would have approximately $17 billion in annual revenue and would operate approximately 34,000 miles of track; in a letter to the Attorney General and Surface Transportation Board Chairman, Klobuchar said one of the most concerning aspects of the potential merger is that the railroads current antitrust exemption prevents the Department of Justice (DOJ) from blocking the merger even if it is predicted to harm competition As long-time leader and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee, Klobuchar has introduced legislation to repeal the outdated and anticompetitive antitrust exemption for railroads and make railroad mergers subject to full antitrust scrutiny by the Department of Justice Since 1980, number of class one railroads in U.S. has gone from 26 to 7; today 90 percent of the freight traffic is handled by only four railroads WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today raised concerns about the recent proposal by Canadian Pacific Railway to merge with Norfolk Southern Railway. Combined, the two railroads would have approximately $17 billion in annual revenue and would operate approximately 34,000 miles of track. In a letter to Attorney General Loretta Lynch and Surface Transportation Board Chairman Daniel Elliott, Klobuchar said one of the most concerning aspects of the potential merger is that the railroads current antitrust exemption prevents the Department of Justice (DOJ) from blocking the merger even if it is predicted to harm competition. As ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee, Klobuchar has introduced legislation to repeal the outdated and anticompetitive antitrust exemption for railroads and make railroad mergers subject to full antitrust scrutiny by the Department of Justice. Significant consolidation has already occurred in the railroad industry, Klobuchar wrote. Increased prices and diminished service, such as delayed deliveries, has burdened the shipping industry, American producers and those who rely on freight rail for distribution. The Railroad Antitrust Exemption makes further consolidation particularly dangerous. We can all agree that competition leads to low prices, high-quality service, and innovation, but I am concerned that further consolidation will complicate efforts to promote those goals. Klobuchar and Senator David Vitter (R-LA) have introduced bipartisan legislation to help promote fairness and competition in the railroad industry. The Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Actremoves the railroad industrys obsolete exemption from the antitrust laws. Doing so would require that the railroad industry play by the same antitrust rules as other industries, resulting in more competitive pricing that helps keep costs down for shippers and customers. In 2014, Klobuchar raised competitive concerns about Canadian Pacific Railways proposed acquisition of CSX, a merger that was later abandoned. The full text of Klobuchars letter is below: Dear Attorney General Lynch and Chairman Elliott: I am writing to express my concerns about concentration in the railroad industry following the recent proposal by Canadian Pacific Railway to merge with Norfolk Southern Railway. Despite Norfolk Southern's rejection of Canadian Pacific's offer, Canadian Pacific has reiterated its intent to acquire Norfolk Southern. Significant consolidation has already occurred in the railroad industry. In 1980, there were approximately 26 major (Class I) railroads in the United States. Today, however, there are only seven Class I railroads, four of which handle over 90 percent of United States rail freight. Increased prices and diminished service, such as delayed deliveries, has burdened the shipping industry, American producers, and those who rely on freight rail for distribution. These effects are costly to Minnesota, which ranks third in the country for agricultural exports ($8 billion in 2013. I am also concerned that this proposed merger, if completed, would become the catalyst for a final round of railroad industry consolidation. The railroad antitrust exemption makes further consolidation particularly dangerous. In other industries, that level of concentration would trigger substantial antitrust review by either the Department of Justice (DOJ) or the Federal Trade Commission to ensure any merger would not harm the nations consumers in violation of Section 7 of the Clayton Act. Because of the exemption, the DOJ has only an advisory role in the process. The Surface Transportation Board (STB) has sole authority to approve Class I railroad mergers if it finds them to be consistent with the public interest, 49 U.S.C. section 11324. I introduced the Railroad Antitrust Enforcement Act, S. 1634, to repeal the outdated and anticompetitive antitrust exemption. Until Congress enacts that bill, the Surface Transportation Boards review must protect consumers. I have specific concerns about this transaction. Combined, the two railroads would have approximately $17 billion in annual revenue and would operate approximately 34,000 miles of track. The CEO of Canadian Pacific has proposed placing Norfolk Southern into a so-called voting trust under 49 C.F.R. section 1013 during the period of the Surface Transportation Board's review. As you are well aware, the voting trust is an instrument that ensures that a purchased railroad remains independent from the purchasing railroad until the Surface Transportation Board completes its review of the transaction. In 2001 the Surface Transportation Board added the following requirement for merger applicants contemplating the use of a voting trust: [A]pplicants contemplating the use of a voting trust must explain how the trust would insulate them from an unlawful control violation and why their proposed use of the trust would be consistent with the public interest. 49 CFR section 1180.4(b)(4)(iv). I believe that any proposal by Canadian Pacific to have current or former Canadian Pacific executives assume operational control of Norfolk Southern as Trustees of the potential voting trust would raise serious concerns about their true independence and essentially cede operational control before the Department of Justice has had an opportunity to provide its views and the Surface Transportation Board has reviewed whether the combination is in the public interest. To protect competition, review of the transaction must occur before any possible coordination between the two parties. I urge you to carefully scrutinize any such proposal and ensure that any voting trust structure is truly independent. We can all agree that competition leads to low prices, high-quality service, and innovation, but I am concerned that further consolidation will complicate efforts to promote those goals. I look forward to working with you on these important issues. Sincerely, ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://collinpeterson.house.gov/press-release/peterson-statement-2014-2016-rfs-targets,Peterson Statement on 2014-2016 RFS Targets,2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Collin Peterson,P000258,collinpeterson.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson today made the following statement after the EPA released its 2014-2016 Renewable Fuels Standard targets. A strong biofuels industry is an essential component of the rural economy and necessary to achieving our full potential of producing the next generation of domestic biofuels. Todays announcement isnt everything we wanted, but is an improvement on the disastrous proposed rule. The Administration deserves credit for listening to our concerns and now needs to immediately start work on the numbers and get the program back on track.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://collinpeterson.house.gov/press-release/peterson-statement-hearing-review-farm-credit-system,Peterson Statement at Hearing to Review the Farm Credit System,2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Collin Peterson,P000258,collinpeterson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Thank you Mr. Chairman and good morning everyone. And welcome todays witnesses. The topic of todays hearing is very timely, given whats happening across the countryside right now. Commodity prices have fallen, and will likely continue to fall, and land values continue to increase. This has a lot of farmers asking if they will have access to the financing they need for the next planting season. Access to credit is one of the most important tools we can provide to our farmers and ranchers. The farm bills commodity programs work hand in hand with the crop insurance program to provide a safety net to ensure continued access to credit. Having a crop insurance policy in place gives lenders the certainty to know farmers will make good on their commitment and pay back their loans even during difficult times. So, with that said, I look forward to todays testimony and I yield back.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://collinpeterson.house.gov/rep-petersons-newsletter-1242015,Rep. Peterson's Newsletter 12/4/2015,2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Collin Peterson,P000258,collinpeterson.house.gov,,,legacy,"2015Capitol Christmas Tree Dear Friends, The Agriculture Committee heard testimony from Farm Credit Administration Chairman of the Board and CEO Kenneth Spearman this week at a hearing to review the Farm Credit System and its mission to provide credit to agriculture and rural America. This week, Congress approved the Fixing Americas Surface Transportation Act, which I was proud to support. The bill reauthorizes federal highway and transit programs for five years and includes a provision to roll back the cuts to the crop insurance program included in last months budget agreement. I was also honored to receive the CRP Legacy Award from Pheasants Forever in recognition of my support for the program in past farm bills. Finally, we kicked off the holiday season with the lighting of the Capitol Christmas Tree. Sincerely, Congressman Collin C. Peterson Minnesota 7th District Farm Credit Administration The Honorable Kenneth Spearman, Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Farm Credit Administration, visited my office to talk about the future credit picture for agriculture. USDA predicts a 36 percent decrease in farm income, but Chairman Spearman feels that the capital requirements for farmers are solid for the next few years. During the Agriculture Committees hearing on farm credit I explained that access to credit is one of the most important tools we can provide to our farmers and ranchers. The farm bills commodity programs work hand in hand with the crop insurance program to provide a safety net to ensure continued access to credit. Having a crop insurance policy in place gives lenders the certainty to know farmers will make good on their commitment and pay back their loans even during difficult times. Minnesota Bankers Association This week I met with Steve Daggett and Joe Witt of the Minnesota Bankers Association to discuss the state of banking in Minnesota, rural lending issues, and regulatory relief. Both attended this week's Agriculture Committee hearing on the Farm Credit System, and I appreciate their perspective on how we can work together to provide adequate credit to rural Minnesotans. Pheasants Forever Howard Vincent (CEO, Pheasants Forever), Chelsea Flaherty (St. Paul), Curt Anderson (Meeker County) This week I was honored to receive the CRP Legacy Award from Pheasants Forever, recognizing my support for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) spanning multiple farm bills. Our work doesnt end when with the passage of a new farm bill, which is why I have continuously pushed USDA to implement CRP in a way that balances a number of conservation and wildlife goals. I would like to see USDA enroll more large tracks of land with the program which will create better habitat for pheasants and other animals. Bill Adams On Tuesday I met with Bill Adams from Fergus Falls to get an update on a number of issues. Fergus Falls is a city on the move, and I always appreciate an update on what is happening in the city. Bill and I also talked about Medicare reimbursement rates for hospitals that are too large to be considered Critical Access Hospitals yet too small to take advantage of certain economies of scale like urban hospitals. These tweener hospitals find themselves in a tough position, and I will continue to work to ensure that the reimbursement rate for these hospitals are both fair for the hospital and the people who rely on its services. Bill and I also discussed a conversation that he and others are trying to initiate about the need for balanced health care. The idea is to improve care by having smarter health care, not just more health care. Minnesota Cattlemens Convention Grant Breitkreutz (REDWOOD FALLS), Dar Giess (Pierz), State President Tom Nolte (Sebeka), Mike Landuyt (WALNUT GROVE) Leaders of the Minnesota and national beef industries gathered in Hinckley this week for the annual Minnesota Cattlemens Convention.Among the issues discussed was the de-listing of gray wolves from the Endangered Species Act which would task the state, rather than the federal government, with wolf management efforts. I have long supported state controlled management for wolves, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has provided excellent management techniques when responding to problem wolves. Other topics of interest to Minnesota cattle producers are the EPAs Waters of the U.S. rule and Congressional efforts to halt its implementation, GMO labeling, and extending tax relief to farms, ranches and small business. Hutchinson Solar Array Hutchinson is nearing completion of Minnesotas first landfill cap-mounted solar array. Tom Meium of my staff participated in a grand opening event this week to commission the 400 kW municipal project which will provide the community with clean energy from the solar site on the closed landfill. The HutchinsonSolar Array was partially funded by a grant from Xcel Energy and other project partners including Ameresco, Hunt Electric and tenKsolar. Minnesota Dairy Conference and Expo Dairy farmers from across the state gathered in St. Cloud this week for the 2015 Minnesota Dairy Conference and Expo.This annual meeting provided dairy policy updates and workshops on production performance, dairy economics and industry trends. I appreciate the valuable input provided by the Minnesota Milk Producers in developing the Margin Protection Program in the last farm bill. United Veterans Legislative Council of Minnesota My staff assistant Meg Louwagie attended the United Veterans Legislative Council of Minnesota meeting this week. Reports were given on many different areas including the Minneapolis and St. Cloud VA, the Fort Snelling Cemetery, and several different Minnesota veteran assistance organizations. Legislative Update Renewable Fuels Standard The EPA released Renewable Fuels Standard targets this week, and while the announcement wasnt everything we wanted, it is an improvement on the proposed rule. The Administration deserves credit for listening to our concerns and now needs to immediately start work on the numbersfor 2017 and get the program back on track. Minnesota is well positioned for the kind of national energy policy we should be pursuing in the future. Ethanol in particular plays an important role in our local economy and America's farm community. I have been a strong supporter of increased domestic production of renewable fuels as we work to decrease our nation's dependence on foreign oil and also decrease air and water pollution. I'll continue to support the production and use of biofuels produced in Minnesota to respond to the expanding market for renewable fuels. Farm Credit System The Agriculture Committee heard testimony from Farm Credit Administration chair and CEO Kenneth Spearman this week during its hearing to review the Farm Credit System. The farm bills commodity programs work hand in hand with the crop insurance program to provide a safety net to ensure continued access to credit. Having a crop insurance policy in place gives lenders the certainty to know farmers will make good on their commitment and pay back their loans even during difficult times. Transportation Bill Conference Report I voted in strong support of H.R. 22, the Fixing Americas Surface Transportation Act or the FAST Act, to reauthorize federal highway and transit programs for five years. The bill will increase funding for transportation and infrastructure projects in Minnesota, and most importantly, will give everyone from state officials to rural townships the ability to make plans and prioritize their transportation needs. You cant undertake a major project like replacing a bridge when Washington is changing the rules of the game every few months, and this bill is a needed step forward that will create jobs and start the process of improving our transportation infrastructure system. In addition to the transportation provisions, the bill also included a number of provisions that I strongly support including: Crop Insurance Fix I fought and secured a commitment from House Leadership that the $3 billion in cuts to the crop insurance program included in the budget agreement would be restored. This bill fulfills that promise and will protect farmers from cuts that would have threatened the integrity of this vital safety net for rural America. Export-Import Bank Reauthorization I supported a four-year extension of the Export-Import Bank charter this week, which helps U.S. companies with foreign competitors, would have its charter renewed through Sept. 30, 2019, but with a lower lending limit and other reforms. This is a substantial win for manufacturers, big and small, in keeping us competitive in today's economy. Milk Hauling Provision This provision will allow states to create a new permit to let milk haulers move more milk with fewer trips on interstate highways. Providing more regulatory flexibility helps our dairy industry stay competitive and keeps prices affordable or consumers. Newsstand Assistance to Firefighters Grant The application period for entry into the Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program will extend from December 7, 2015 to January 15, 2016. The AFG program provides funds to assist fire departments and medical service organizations meet emergency response needs. AFG grant guidance is available online. 2016 Safety-Net Coverage On Thursday, USDA announced that producers receiving coverage from the 2014 farm bill Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) and Price Loss Coverage (PLC) programs are eligible to sign contracts to enroll in coverage for 2016 on December 7, 2015. Enrollment can be completed at FSA county offices through August 1, 2016. Discovering the 7th Built in 1883, the Fairfax Depot originally served the Minneapolis and St. Louis Railroads. Now a local museum, the building houses relics from homes and businesses from the Fairfax area. The Fairfax Depot also serves as the primary rest stop along the non-motorized FairRidge Recreation Trail. This Week in American History Monument Completion, 1884 / Present Washington, DC workers placed a nine-inch aluminum apex atop the newly completed Washington Monument on December 6, 1884. The 555-foot monument, the tallest structure in the world at the time of completion, was built using 36,000 blocks of marble and granite. A 1910 city law restricted the height of new buildings to ensure that the monument will remain the tallest structure in the District of Columbia. For information regarding visits to the Washington Monument, please call my office at (202) 225-2165. 2015 Capitol Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://paulsen.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=22&itemid=1774,Erik's Correspondence Corner: Education and Cybersecurity,2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Republican,House,MN,Erik Paulsen,P000594,paulsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. In this weeks correspondence corner, Nathan in Chaska emails Congressman Erik Paulsen (MN-03) and asks for him to support the Every Student Succeeds Act. Richard in Bloomington emails in with a question about what Congress is doing to prevent cyberattacks. Watch this weeks videohere Each week, Congressman Paulsen receives thousands of letters, emails, tweets, Facebook posts, and phone calls from constituents voicing their opinions. Through this video series, Congressman Paulsen regularly responds to constituent correspondence on a variety of topics. For more information on Congressman Paulsens work in Congress and to view previous editions of Eriks Correspondence Corner, visit www.paulsen.house.gov. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=37af8bd3-5050-4a0a-b6ef-660c0c2dde02,"In Response to Klobuchar Letter, Army Will Conduct Investigation Into Wrongful Discharge Of Servicemembers With Mental Health Disorders",2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,,,legacy,"According to recent reports, the U.S. Army has dismissed more than 22,000 soldiers for misconduct since 2009 after they returned from deployment and were diagnosed with mental health disorders Klobuchar and 11 of her colleagues sent a letter to the U.S. Army calling for a full investigation by the U.S. Army Inspector General into the allegations WASHINGTON, DC In response to a letter U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar sent with 11 of her colleagues, the U.S. Army announced it will conduct a full investigation into the wrongful discharge of servicemembers with mental health disorders. According to recent reports, the U.S. Army has dismissed more than 22,000 soldiers for misconduct since 2009 after they returned from deployment and were diagnosed with mental health disorders. Last month, Klobuchar and 11 of her colleagues sent a letter to Acting Under Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning and Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army General Mark A. Milley calling for a full investigation conducted by the U.S. Army Inspector General into the allegations and expressing concern that the dismissed soldiers will not receive the critical retirement, health care, and employment benefits that those with an honorable discharge would receive. The senators also emphasized that the forceful separation of soldiers with post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) or traumatic brain injuries (TBI) further denies these men and women much-needed treatments, and may even discourage other servicemembers from seeking the medical treatments they require. Soldiers struggling with mental health disorders deserve to be supported, not dismissed for misconduct and stripped of the benefits they deserve, Klobuchar said. That is why I pushed for an investigation into allegations that the Army discharged servicemembers for misconduct when they may be suffering from PTSD or brain injuries, and I am glad the Army heard our call. This investigation will help to shed light on what went wrong so that we can set things right for these soldiers and prevent this from happening in the future. The letter was led by Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT) and was signed by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jon Tester (D-MT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ed Markey (D-MA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Gary Peters (D-MI), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Tim Kaine (D-VA). The full text of the letter is available below: Dear Honorable Fanning and General Milley: We are troubled by recent allegations that the U.S. Army is forcefully separating for misconduct servicemembers diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) or traumatic brain injuries (TBI). We encourage you to conduct a full U.S. Army Inspector General investigation into these recent allegations that the U.S. Army is violating the intent of Section 512 of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2010. Recent media reports indicate that since January 2009, the U.S. Army has separated over 22,000 soldiers for misconduct after they returned from deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan and were diagnosed with mental health problems or TBI. As a result, many of the dismissed soldiers have not received crucial retirement benefits, health care benefits, and post-service employment eligibility that soldiers receive with an honorable discharge. Soldiers who deploy are at an increased risk for mental health issues and the forceful separation of servicemembers post-deployment only further denies treatment and support at a critical moment in any soldiers life. Additionally, fear of dismissal may discourage servicemembers from seeking the medical treatment they require. Section 574 of the FY14 NDAA called for a GAO report to look into these kinds of dismissal cases. That report was delivered to Congress in February of this year recommending that the services develop a method to identify the number of servicemembers separated for non-disability mental conditions and take actions to ensure that servicemembers are appropriately separated for non-disability mental conditions in accordance with DoDs separation requirements. Serious gaps in DoD policies have been identified and any investigation going forward should take this into consideration. We are concerned that it may be easier to discharge servicemembers for minor misconductpossibly related to mental health issuesthan to evaluate them for conditions that may warrant a medical discharge. We know that the health and safety of our servicemembers and their families is your top priority and we are confident that you will investigate these recent allegations. Thank you again for your service to our country and we look forward to working with you to rectify this grave offense to the men and women that serve in our armed forces. Sincerely, ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=689c4aec-2dd3-480f-af48-932f50b7a02c,"After Major Efforts from Klobuchar, Congress Reauthorizes the Export-Import Bank",2015-12-04,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Klobuchar has continually called on Congress to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank so that American businesses can compete on a level playing field in the global market In Minnesota alone, the Export-Import Bank has supported $2 billion in exports and helped more than 170 businesses in the last five years, nearly two-thirds of which were small businesses WASHINGTON, DC After major efforts from U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, Congress has voted to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank. The reauthorization passed the House and Senate as part of the final transportation bill and is expected to be signed into law. The Export-Import Bank helps American businesses compete on a level playing field in the global market, but its charter expired at the end of June. In Minnesota alone, the Export-Import Bank has supported $2 billion in exports and helped over 170 businesses in the last five years, nearly two-thirds of which were small businesses. Small businesses in Minnesota and across the country rely on the Export-Import Bank to level the playing field with foreign competitors to ensure that American companies can access new markets and compete in the global economy, Klobuchar said. I fought hard for this reauthorization and its a major victory for our Minnesota small businesses and local communities. Klobuchar has been a major advocate for the Export-Import Bank. She cosponsored the bipartisan amendment to the transportation bill to reauthorize the Bank, which passed the Senate in July and consistently spoke on the Senate floor to call on Congress to reauthorize the Bank. Also in July, she met with President Obama and senior White House officials to discuss the importance of reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank and work on a strategy to get that done. In her role as chair of the Senate Steering and Outreach Committee, she called a meeting in June with small business leaders from across the country about the importance of reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank. Congress allowed the Banks charter to expire at the end of June, threatening crucial financing that businesses rely on to help boost their exports and create good jobs all across the country. Since 1934, the Export-Import Bank has helped fuel U.S. exports to foreign markets across the globe. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://franken.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=3327,Sen. Franken Lauds Passage of a Five-Year Transportation Bill,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Al Franken,F000457,franken.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Today, U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) released the following statement after the Senate passed a bipartisan transportation bill that funds federal infrastructure projects for five years. The legislation includes a fix for Duluth's logging truck issue, which you can download a video of Sen. Franken speaking about here.The bill, which was also passed in the House of Representatives earlier on Thursday, is now expected to be signed into law by President Obama.""Upgrading our infrastructure creates jobs, improves safety, and strengthens the overall health of our economy,"" said Sen. Franken. ""I'm pleased that Congress has finally passed a bipartisan, long-term transportation bill that gives state and local officials in Minnesota and across the country the certainty they need to plan and invest in our infrastructure. The bill increases support for highways, public and tribal transportation programs, and makes critical improvements to rail safety.""The legislation does a lot of good things for Minnesota, such as resolving a logging truck safety problem that Duluth residents have dealt with for too long. It also undoes crop insurance cuts that would have hurt Minnesota farmers, and helps our businesses by renewing the Export-Import Bank.""Counties, cities, communities, and businesses all across Minnesota have waited far too long for long-term transportation funding, and I'm pleased we were finally able to get this bill across the finish line.""During his time in the Senate, Franken has fought for stronger investments in transportation infrastructure in Minnesota and across the country. He played a key role in ensuring that a public safety problem plaguing residents of Duluth was fixed. Over the summer, he pressed Senate leaders for a limited waiver to let logging trucks travel on Interstate 35 instead of through downtown Duluth. He also supported a provision written by Rep. Rick Nolan (D-Minn.) to make that change.The legislation, called the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, is a bipartisan, five-year bill that improves surface transportation infrastructure and enhances federal safety programs for highways, public transportation, passenger rail, and more. Last month, Sen. Franken called for higher funding levels than what was in earlier versions of the bill. And he also successfully pressed Senate leaders to increase investments in tribal transportation.The FAST Act also restores the Export-Import Bank, which supports Minnesota businesses bringing their goods to foreign markets. The Bank's authority expired earlier this year, severing an important link between small and large businesses in Minnesota and other countries. In addition, the bill eliminates cuts to the federal crop insurance program, which were included in budget legislation passed earlier this year. These cuts would have hurt the livelihoods of Minnesota farmers and their families. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://mccollum.house.gov/press-release/mccollum-statement-gun-violence-prevention,McCollum Statement on Gun Violence Prevention,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Betty McCollum,M001143,mccollum.house.gov,,,legacy,"Yesterdays massacre in San Bernardino, CA was the 355th mass shooting in the U.S. this year in which there were 4 or more victims. Over the past decade, 280,000 Americans have died due to gun violence. Gun violence in America has now become such a common, everyday occurrence that we know there will be another breaking news report of a shooting. We can only hope it is not our town, neighborhood, or family that is victimized. This is intolerable. I am done with the politically correct talk about common sense gun safety measures. It is time for the American people who value their safety from gun violence more than gun rights to stand up and say: enough! This Republican Congress is controlled by the NRA and they are only interested in protecting guns, not our families and communities. Innocent Americans will continue to be murdered in schools, churches and at work unless policy makers acknowledge the proliferation of guns is directly responsible for this epidemic of death and violence. We need a comprehensive public safety and public health approach to guns in America. Every legal firearm should be required to be registered and insured for liability. Ammunition sales should be regulated and limited. And, possessing or owning a firearm should require safety training and a license following a background check. How is the public safer when there are more regulations imposed on a person owning and driving an automobile than on an individual who owns an arsenal of guns? It is time to make America safe for all our families!",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=c766e692-1a46-4fc2-9275-75d4d1c95d50,Klobuchar-Backed Bipartisan Transportation Bill to Increase Highway and Transit Funding for Minnesota Passes Senate,2015-12-03,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Under the FAST Act, Minnesota would receive more than $4 billion in funding over five years, including an increase of $36 million above current levels in highway and transit funding in FY 2016 and up to a $107 million increase in FY 2020 Klobuchar successfully included several priorities in the legislation, including provisions to improve rail safety at blocked highway-rail crossings, combat distracted driving, promote teen driver safety, and protect driver privacy WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar today announced that a bipartisan, long-term transportation bill that will increase transportation funding for Minnesota passed the Senate and is expected to be signed into law. Under the Fixing Americas Surface Transportation (FAST) Act, Minnesota would receive over $4 billion in funding for transportation over the five years of the bill. Minnesota would receive an increase of over $36 million above current levels in highway and transit funding in FY 2016 and up to a $107 million increase in FY 2020. The bill also includes Klobuchars provisions to improve rail safety at blocked highway-rail crossings, help combat distracted driving, promote teen driver safety, and protect driver privacy. Additionally, the bill includes a long-term reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank. In Minnesota, we know all too well the importance of investing in our roads, bridges, and transportation systems, Klobuchar said. Ive been a leading advocate for investing in infrastructure, and this bipartisan, long-term bill will increase funding for Minnesota and give states and local officials the certainty they need to plan ahead for critical transportation projects. The bill also includes my provisions to make traveling safer for drivers on the road and a long-term reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank. Ill continue working on bipartisan solutions that drive our state and country forward. Under the FAST Act, Minnesota would receive over $767 million in FY 2016, over $783 million in FY 2017, over $800 million in FY 2018, over $818 million in FY 2019, and over $838 million in FY 2020 for roads, bridges and transit. Klobuchar successfully included the following provisions in the long-term transportation bill agreement: Blocked Highway-Rail Crossings:Klobuchars provision helps improve safety at rail-highway crossings by ensuring that the U.S. Secretary of Transportation provides tools and best practices to states to mitigate the safety risks posed by blocked rail crossings. Local leaders and emergency responders across Minnesota have raised concerns that blocked rail crossings hold up trafficsometimes for hoursisolating parts of communities and delaying emergency vehicles. Distracted Driving:Klobuchar introduced bipartisan legislation with Senator Hoeven to help more states access a federal distracted driving grant program. The program is intended to award funding to states that are taking steps to curb distracted driving, but last year, because of overly stringent requirements, only one state qualified for the grants. Klobuchars provision makes modifications to the grant requirements that are preventing many states from qualifying and would help ensure that more states are able to access critical funding for enforcement and public education to help keep our roadways safe. Teen Driver Safety:Klobuchars provision promotes teen driver safety by making necessary changes to help more states qualify for federal Graduated Driver Licensing incentive grants. Currently, no states qualify for these grants. The Graduated Driver License programs have proven effective at reducing the crash risk of new drivers by introducing teens to the driving experience gradually, phasing in full driving privileges over time in lower risk settings, and learning to eliminate distractions that cause crashes. Driver Privacy:Klobuchar joined Senator Hoeven to introduce legislation that would protect driver privacy by making it clear that the owner of a vehicle is also the owner of any information collected by an Event Data Recorder (EDR). An EDR is an onboard electronic device that has the ability to continuously collect at least 43 pieces of information about a vehicles operation, including direction, speed, seatbelt usage, and other data. Hoeven and Klobuchars provision will ensure that the vehicle owner controls the data and that his or her personal privacy is protected. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/ely-echo-nolan-bill-would-impose-ban-on-foreign-steel-imports-for-5-years,Ely Echo: Nolan bill would impose ban on foreign steel imports for 5 years,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Rick Nolan,N000127,nolan.house.gov,,,legacy,"U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan said Monday hell introduce legislation to immediately halt imports of foreign steel for a period of five years, giving the domestic steel industry time to return to 100% of production capacity. The measure could come as soon as November 30, when Congress returns after the Thanksgiving holiday. Nolans bill comes on the heels of the announcement last week that Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. will lay off several hundred workers in the Babbitt and Silver Bay areas due to a glut of steel in the U.S. market brought about by the continued dumping of millions of tons of low-grade, foreign government-subsidized steel. Once and for all, its time for this Congress and this Administration to stand up for American workers and American jobs jobs being destroyed and stolen due to illegal steel dumping by China, India and other Southeast Asian nations. My bill would place an immediate moratorium on imports of foreign steel for five years, so our domestic industry will have time to return to 100% of production capacity and so thousands of American workers who have lost their jobs in our mining, iron ore and steel industries can return to work as quickly as possible, Nolan said. Nolan noted that while steel imports increased by 36% last year and captured their highest share of the U.S. market on record, American steel mills are still only running at 70.5% of capacity because the domestic market is glutted with low-grade, foreign government-subsidized steel. Nolan added that he plans to introduce a companion bill in the House to legislation by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken to toughen U.S. trade enforcement policies and impose high duties on foreign imports causing injuries to U.S. manufacturers and workers. As I have repeatedly pointed out, the United States has proven itself incapable of enforcing trade agreements and incapable of stopping illegal dumping of foreign steel once it reaches our shores, Nolan continued. So we need a moratorium on foreign steel. Beyond that, we need to defeat the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement that will cost us millions more jobs and the loss of thousands of additional manufacturing facilities. And we need to go back and reexamine every single trade agreement beginning with NAFTA. That disaster alone sent millions of good jobs overseas and contributed to the loss of some 57,000 U.S. manufacturing facilities.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/kbjr-us-rep-rick-nolan-discusses-future-of-social-security,KBJR: U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan discusses future of social security,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Rick Nolan,N000127,nolan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Duluth, MN (NNCNOW.com) -- The Citizens Federation invited U.S. Congressman Rick Nolan to discuss the future of social security and Medicare at a forum on Monday in Duluth. Citizens Federation asked Representative Nolan to share the latest discussion on social security in Congress. The non-profit organization educates people on earned benefits and how much of an impact it has on the local economy. Citizens Federation officials say about $1.2 billion a year of local household income comes from social security, Medicare and Medicaid. That number makes up the St. Louis, Douglas and Carlton counties. Congressman Rick Nolan urged everyone to protect their well-earned social security. ""Social security is not a welfare program it's an earned benefit that people started paying for the first day the first hour that they went to work,"" said U.S. Congressman Rick Nolan, Minnesota District 8. Citizens Federation is holding precinct caucuses statewide on March 1st for people to present resolutions to social security, Medicare and Medicaid issues.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/kbjr-us-rep-rick-nolan-tours-duluth-medical-centers,KBJR: U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan tours Duluth medical centers,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Rick Nolan,N000127,nolan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Duluth, MN (NNCNOW.com) -- Duluth hospitals invited Congressman Rick Nolan to see firsthand how important quick healthcare access is to the community. Congressman Nolan sat down with medical officials to learn more about medical helicopters that can bring patients quickly to level two trauma centers. These Life Link Three helicopters aren't just taxis but an intensive care unit that give prehospital services to emergency hospital providers like St. Luke's Hospital and St. Mary's Medical Center. Doctors say the care a patient receives within the first ""Golden Hour"" will give them a better chance at recovering from a heart attack, stroke or severe trauma. ""From the moment the helicopter lands on scene or at a referring hospital we are able to start delivering excellent care to stop the bleeding to halt the injury process and to begin what we call the resuscitation,"" said Dr. Mark Monte, Surgeon at St. Luke's Hospital. Congressman Rick Nolan toured the new surgical facility at St. Luke's Hospital and St. Mary's Medical Center Newborn ICU.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/lake-county-news-chronicle-nolan-meets-with-northshore-employees-drafts,"Lake County News Chronicle: Nolan meets with Northshore employees, drafts bill",2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Rick Nolan,N000127,nolan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Silver Bay was rocked last week with Cliffs Natural Resources' announcement it would idle its Northshore Mining operation there and in Babbitt, putting the vast majority of the 540 workers out of a job by Dec. 1 through at least the first quarter of 2016, though there is no confirmed date the plant will reopen. Some people are just glad they are among the 70 or so that will be kept on through the shutdown for maintenance and other tasks. Others are thankful they have a secondary income or lucky enough to have been able to put a little money away for a rainy day. Many are having difficult conversations with their family about cutting back on spending and managing expectations for Christmas. Managing expectations. Words no one wants to hear about their favorite football team this time of year, but utterly heartbreaking when it's a daddy talking to his little girl. Many of those that will be laid off or having hours cut back met with U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan, D-Crosby, Monday to talk about the shutdown, their concerns and fears and the state of the steel industry in the United States. Nolan said the people he met with want to know what can be done and what is being done to revive the industry. ""The whole industry is reeling,"" Nolan said. ""They are pretty discouraged. They not only see what's happening to them, but what's happening around the Iron Range and around the country."" Nolan said he, Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, Gov. Mark Dayton and the entire Iron Range delegation to Congress are calling for a meeting with President Barack Obama and they will ask him to invoke Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974. Section 201 allows domestic industries seriously injured or threatened with serious injury to petition the U.S. International Trade Commission for import relief. The USITC can make a recommendation, but the ultimate decision rests with the president. Nolan said George W. Bush invoked Section 201 early in his first term to help the steel industry and Ronald Reagan used it early in the 1980s for the same reason. Nolan also said he was introducing legislation that would place a five year moratorium on the import of foreign steel. The moratorium, according to Nolan, would allow the steel industry to return to 100 percent production capacity. With seven of 11 Minnesota mining operations closed or planning to close, steel production across the nation is operating at just 70 percent of capacity, yet steel imports increased by 36 percent last year. Foreign steel, Nolan said, is flooding the U.S. market and since it is subsidized by governments, it can be sold cheaper than U.S. mills can produce it. ""I'm leading the charge on the moratorium and also leading the charge on meeting with the president in cooperation with Klobuchar, Franken, Gov. Dayton and the Iron Range delegation,"" he said. ""We don't want a meeting with his trade representative or any of his cabinet officials. We've done that. We want a meeting with him. ""I will continue to press for that until we get it. He's the one that has the executive authority."" Nolan also said he wants to work with Klobuchar, Franken and his colleagues to defeat the Trans-Pacific Partnership supported by an ""unholy alliance"" of the president, Republicans and 600 of the largest multinational corporations in the world. ""We're going to leave no stone unturned in our efforts to defeat it,"" Nolan said. Back in Lake County, schools and business owners are focusing on the short term problems and hoping the shutdown doesn't go past the first quarter. Both Lake Superior School District superintendent Bill Crandall and Rick Osbakken, owner of Agate Electric in Two Harbors, expressed optimism the plant would resume normal operations after the end of the first quarter of 2016, but the threat of an extended shutdown weighs on both their plans. ""It's a trickle down effect for both businesses and schools as well,"" Crandall said. ""We end up getting a skeleton crew as well."" Osbakken said Agate has been with Northshore Mining for about six years with two or more electricians at the mine full time over the past two or three years. He said his electricians will need to be out of the mine by the end of the month, just like the plant employees. ""Fortunately we're busy so we do have plenty of work,"" Osbakken said. ""There's a little bit of labor shortage for electricians right now, but everything else we are doing is contract work. Northshore Mining was our steady, we always had guys there and it was a big part of our business."" Osbakken also noted other companies, like Jamar Co. in Duluth, that will lose business because of the shutdown. ""Even the vendors that supply the nuts and bolts and tools and pop, so much more than people realize there,"" he said. Crandall stressed the willingness of the schools to support the students affected by the job losses. He said families with income drops can apply for free or reduced lunch so the kids can eat at school and not be an income burden on their families. ""We are here if there is anything we can do to support the kids and families,"" Crandall said. ""We will definitely be there for them.""",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/mesabi-daily-news-rep-nolan-s-proposal-sends-right-message,Mesabi Daily News: Rep. Nolans proposal sends right message,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Rick Nolan,N000127,nolan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Does U.S. Rep. Rick Nolans legislation calling for a five-year ban on steel imports have a chance of congressional passage and support from President Barack Obama? Very unlikely in Congress. As for the president, forget it. Barack Obama has shown himself to be anti-mining. We believe he has only gone once to a mining operation since hes been president and that was for a memorial service for a tragedy in coal country. He seems to not care one hoot that the countrys ore and steel industries, which have forged its basic foundation and have been the backbone of our national security, are in a freefall. Thats shameful. Regardless the outcome of the steel import ban, the message needs to be sent about what is a crisis situation in this country, and we give Congressman Nolan very high marks for doing just that. Why arent more people outraged that the cheaters those countries that are flooding the U.S. with illegally subsidized steel products are being allowed to win? Why is the national media ignoring this issue that indirectly affects all of us, and directly impacts millions of working Americans, hundreds of companies and thousands of communities? We hope Nolans bill, which he plans to introduce after the Thanksgiving congressional break, receives plenty of national attention, and support in Congress. And that includes from Minnesotas two U.S. Democratic senators, Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken. Half-measures and appeals to the Obama administration fall on deaf ears at the White House. Its definitely time for a more drastic and dramatic measure, and also for unrelenting bipartisan pressure to be put on the president on this issue that should not carry any political party label.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/mesabi-daily-news-top-state-officials-stress-urgency-for-obama-meeting-on,Mesabi Daily News: Top state officials stress urgency for Obama meeting on illegal imports,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Rick Nolan,N000127,nolan.house.gov,,,legacy,"ST. PAUL Minnesotas highest elected officials want a face-to-face meeting and soon with the president to impress on him the urgency of action for the devastation that is happening to the ore and steel industries. And they want Democratic President Barack Obama to implement similar actions taken by former Republican Presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush on illegal steel imports. Gov. Mark Dayton, U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan, U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, and state Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk of Cook will lobby hard for such a meeting with the president. We want to meet and press action with the administration, Dayton said in an informal news discussion with reporters following Bakks annual fundraiser in the Twin Cities for Iron Range food shelves on Monday. Dayton specifically cited steps taken by Bush in June 2001 under Section 201 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1979, which gave the president authority to impose temporary trade barriers, known as safeguards, to protect domestic industries that have been injured or threatened by increased imports. That made a difference, Dayton said of Bushs Section 201 action. Illegally subsidized steel imports have been noted for more than a year now as causing pain for ore and steel producers and forcing layoffs and plant closings, including on the Iron Range. Dayton said he is considering talking with other Midwest governors whose states are impacted by the illegal steel imports, and Sen. Klobuchar will be talking with her Michigan counterpart in the Senate on the issue. Dayton said Sen. Bakk said the countrys steel industry is near being tipped over the brink, and if that happens it could be virtually impossible to bring it back. There are currently only three of six taconite plants operating on the Range Minntac in Mountain Iron, ArcelorMittals facility north of Virginia, and Hibbing Taconite. In addition, Mesabi Nugget near Hoyt Lakes and Mineral Resources in Chisholm have been shuttered, perhaps for good, and Magnetation has closed a plant and filed for bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Steelworkers with Cliffs Natural Resources and ArcelorMittal are working under expired contracts and no new negotiations have been scheduled. Several steel plants around the country have also been closed.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/star-tribune-dayton-other-minn-leaders-request-meeting-with-obama-on,"Star Tribune: Dayton, other Minn. leaders request meeting with Obama on foreign steel dumping",2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Rick Nolan,N000127,nolan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Top Minnesota political leaders have requested to meet with President Obamato urge him to combatthe dumping of foreign steel on the U.S. market now afflicting Minnesota's steel industry. Gov. Mark Dayton and Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, said Monday at a charity fundraiser for Iron Range food shelves that they hope the White House grants their request. The meeting would also include Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Sen. Al Franken and U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan, Dayton said. State leaders are reacting to turmoil in the country's steel industry, which has struggled to compete amid a glut of foreign steel they say is being unfairly underpriced by China and other countries. In Minnesota, hundreds of Iron Range miners are jobless after the idling of more than half of the state's taconite mines, Bakk said Monday. For some, unemployment benefits are ending this week, further adding to their economic plight. ""It's not just about a meeting,"" Dayton told reporters. ""We want [Obama] to take action,"" under a provision of the U.S. Trade Act of 1979. Under that provision of federal law, the president can impose trade safeguards, such as tariffs on imports, while federal authorities conduct an expedited investigation of unfair trade practices. Dayton, who like Bakk, has called for a special legislative session to extend unemployment benefits for idled miners on the Iron Range said federal officials need to act quickly. ""This is a very precarious situation and if we tip this industry over the brink, it will be virtually impossible to bring it back,"" he said.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/star-tribune-rep-nolan-pushs-on-two-fronts-to-try-to-protect-american-steel,Star Tribune: Rep. Nolan pushs on two fronts to try to protect American steel,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Rick Nolan,N000127,nolan.house.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON Democratic U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan is forging two paths on behalf of the American steel industry. The first and arguably the slowest is a proposed measure introduced in the House of Representatives that would immediately halt imports of foreign steel for five years. This would assuage U.S. manufacturers and steelworkers saddled with mass layoffs and job slowdowns due to dumping into the U.S. market from foreign countries. The second and most likely the quickest is to urge President Obama basically to do the same thing by executive order, a measure that has been used before. In 2002, President George W. Bush used his authority to basically impose high, but temporary, tariffs and duties to foreign steel. That pretty much halted imports and allowed American steel producers time to recover from massive layoffs at the time. Ultimately, the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled that the action was illegal, and Bush lifted the tariffs a year later. Even though steel demand is higher than in previous years, American steel is in the grips of another crisis: More than 9,000 people have been laid off nationally, including nearly 2,000 workers on the Iron Range, representing more than 40 percent of the regions mining workforce. Cliffs Natural Resources has idled two of its Minnesota-based iron-ore operations just in the past six months. In August, 420 unionized United Taconite workers were laid off, and just a week ago, the company announced another 500 layoffs at Northshore Mining. Thats not only devastating for those workers and their families, its devastating for the community, its devastating for the entire Range and its devastating for the national economy, Nolan said. Nolan, Democratic U.S. Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar, and DFL Gov. Mark Dayton have applied steady pressure on the Obama administration to do more about the illegal dumping of low-cost steel from foreign countries. Last week, the same four leaders sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Labor asking officials to expedite benefits for recently laid-off steelworkers at Magnetation Inc. And Dayton has proposed a special legislative session to extend state jobless benefits to hundreds of laid-off steelworkers. In the past year, there have been 157 determinations of illegal dumping, mostly from Asia. Nolan said this is proof that something bolder needs to be done. He, the senators and the governor have requested a meeting with Obama to take up the matter. Thats probably the only way the measure will go anywhere. Nolan is not likely to have much luck in the GOP-controlled House, where free-trade bills have reigned and proposals to protect U.S. companies have not generated much enthusiasm. If a couple of big time free-traders like [President Ronald] Reagan and Bush can take that kind of action, there is no reason President Obama cant do the same thing, Nolan said. We need to do it right now before its too late.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/wdio-nolan-proposes-five-year-ban-on-steel-imports,WDIO: Nolan Proposes Five-Year Ban on Steel Imports,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Rick Nolan,N000127,nolan.house.gov,,,legacy,"With more than 1,700 Iron Range miners on layoff, Rep. Rick Nolan (D-Minnesota) says he plans to introduce a bill that would ban steel imports for five years. Nolan says the layoffs are a result of imports of low-grade steel subsidized by foreign governments. He says steel imports are at an all-time high but U.S. steel mills are only running at about 70 percent capacity. ""Once and for all, it's time for this Congress and this Administration to stand up for American workers and American jobs jobs being destroyed and stolen due to illegal steel dumping by China, India and other Southeast Asian nations. My bill would place an immediate moratorium on imports of foreign steel for five years, so our domestic industry will have time to return to 100 percent of production capacity and so thousands of American workers who have lost their jobs in our mining, iron ore and steel industries can return to work as quickly as possible,"" Nolan said in a press release. Nolan said he may introduce the measure as soon as Nov. 30, when Congress returns from its Thanksgiving holiday. He said he also plans to introduce a companion bill to a Senate proposal by Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken to allow import taxes in more situations.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/nolan-safety-measure-to-permit-logging-trucks-to-use-i-35-around-duluth,Nolan Safety Measure to Permit Logging Trucks to Use I-35 Around Duluth Added to Final Conference Report,2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Rick Nolan,N000127,nolan.house.gov,,,legacy,"Just in time for winter, a House-Senate conference committee has added to the final conference report an amendment by Congressman Rick Nolan to permit heavy logging trucks to avoid Superior Street in Duluth and instead use a 24-mile stretch of Highway I-35 from north of Duluth to south of Scanlon. Both the House and Senate are expected to approve the final transportation bill and send it to President Obama to be signed into law. Nolan, the only Minnesota Congressman now serving on the House Transportation Committee, authored the amendment and shepherded it through the committee and onto the House Floor, where it passed as part of the House version of the landmark 5-year surface transportation bill. Minnesota Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken joined Nolan in urging the conference committee to accept the measure. This is such good news for all the pedestrians and drivers who navigate Superior Street through the winter months when the pavement gets icy and snow piles up high along the sides. Its good news for the businesses that depend on pedestrian traffic. And its good news for the logging truck drivers who will no longer be diverted into the city at risk to their safety and everyone elses, Nolan said. Federal regulations currently prohibit logging trucks weighing more than 80,000 pounds from using I-35. Nolans amendment would permit logging trucks that have a gross vehicle weight of no more than 99,000 pounds and has no less than six-axles to operate on a 24-mile stretch of I-35 including Highway 210 via Exit 235. In remarks a month ago during debate on the House Floor, Nolan cited support for the measure from Duluth Mayor Don Ness, Police Chief Gordon Ramsay, the Greater Downtown Duluth Council, area citizens and logging truck drivers. These trucks are known to, on occasion, tip and spill their logs on sharp turns. Its happened before. And sooner or later, if we dont pass this simple fix, someone is going to be killed or seriously injured. Passing this life-saving amendment will make travel safer for the truckers, and safer for the drivers and pedestrians who live, work and do business in the city of Duluth, Nolan said at the time.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=fa9095af-3600-4724-9a4d-6bce6af344db,"Klobuchar, Bipartisan Group of Senators Introduce Bill to Strengthen Security of Visa Waiver Program",2015-12-02,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC Senator Amy Klobuchar and a bipartisan group of senators introduced legislation to strengthen the security of the Visa Waiver Program to help prevent terrorists from entering the United States. The Visa Waiver Program Security Enhancement Act would help prevent foreign fighters from using the program, require additional biometric information and electronic passports to participate in the program, and increase information sharing between countries. Protecting our nation from those who would do us harm is the first and most important responsibility of Congress, Klobuchar said. While wehave increasedthe security measures accompanying the Visa Waiver Program, there are ways we can make it even more secure. That is why I worked with members from both sides of the aisle, including Senator Feinstein and Senator Flake, to introduce this bipartisan bill to help strengthen the Visa Waiver Program and protect our national security. The Visa Waiver Program Security Enhancement Act would improve the security of the Visa Waiver Program by doing the following: Require individuals who have traveled to Syria or Iraq in the past five years to acquire a traditional tourist visa instead of traveling without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program. This process requires an in-person interview with an American consular official and the submission of the travelers biometric information. Require travelers using the Visa Waiver Program to submit biometric information, in the form of fingerprints and a photograph, before they travel to the United States. Require all visa waiver travelers to use an electronic passport, which is more secure and harder to tamper with. Require increased intelligence-sharing between Visa Waiver Program countries and the United States. Klobuchar worked with Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Jeff Flake (R-AZ) to introduce the bill. The bill is also cosponsored by Senators Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND), Dan Coats (R-ID), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Mark Warner (D-VA), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Jon Tester (D-MT), Angus King (I-ME), Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT). ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://franken.senate.gov/?p=news&id=3323,Sen. Franken Calls New Renewable Fuel Standard Targets Not Strong Enough,2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Al Franken,F000457,franken.senate.gov,,,legacy,"A member of the Senate Energy Committee, Sen. Franken has for years been working hard to protect investments in renewable energy and to support Minnesota's ag economy. This week, the Obama Administration finalized rules that would scale back the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS), which sets the level of renewable fuelsthings like corn-based ethanol and biodieselthat are blended into our nation's fuel supply. Sen. Franken, a long-time supporter of the RFS, called the newly announced biofuel targets not strong enoughespecially for ethanol. He said he remains committed to protecting homegrown jobs and homegrown energy, and between now and when the new targets expire, he will continue fighting for more biofuel production.The Star Tribune reports: The 2016 corn-ethanol level is below the 15 billion gallons envisioned in the 2007 law and is about 1 billion gallons less than the annual capacity of the nation's 212 ethanol plants.Other ethanol industry leaders and supporters criticized the EPA's decision. The Minnesota Corn Growers called it a ""step backward"" and the Minnesota Biofuels Association, a state trade group, called it ""capitulation to the oil industry"" echoing similar comments from the Renewable Fuels Association, an ethanol trade group based in Washington.Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., said the EPA biofuel targets are too low, even though they are higher than the agency proposed earlier this year. ""[W]hile I'm glad they raised levels from what was proposed, these final numbers just don't cut it especially for ethanol,"" Franken said in a statement. To read the full article from the Star Tribune, click here.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://franken.senate.gov/?p=news&id=3324,Floor Statement on SAVE Benefits Act,2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Al Franken,F000457,franken.senate.gov,,,legacy,"(as prepared for delivery)M. PRESIDENT, we're just one month away from the New Year. 2016 will bring a lot of new things, but one thing it will not bring is a cost-of-living increase for seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities. Despite the fact that the costs of health care, prescription drugs, and housing are increasing, the size of a Social Security check won't go up one cent on January 1 - unless Congress acts.That's why my colleagues and I have introduced the Senior and Veterans Emergency Benefits Act - or SAVE Benefits Act. The SAVE Benefits Act gives a one-time payment to seniors and veterans receiving their earned benefits so they can better meet their basic living expenses.The stagnant level for benefits in 2016 and its damaging effects are part of a bigger problem - too many of our seniors are feeling the squeeze and just aren't secure enough in their retirement. Today's Social Security benefits are not enough to live on, and other retirement savings aren't filling the gap. You see, the share of private-sector workers with pensions has fallen precipitously in recent years, and yet, today, half of all Americans don't have retirement accounts like 401(k) plans or IRAs.So without sufficient pensions or retirement accounts, many seniors depend on Social Security. Social Security benefits comprise over 90 percent of income for the poorest 25 percent of retirees. And Social Security comprises 70 percent of income for the middle 50 percent of retirees. With the costs of things seniors have to spend money on increasing, the absence of a cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits is especially damaging.And I've heard from many Minnesota seniors who are deeply worried about the squeeze that no increase in Social Security will put on their budgets. Jeff from Minneapolis wrote, ""Food prices are up and my rent is up 4 percent in 2015 and will be up again in 2016."" He continues, ""I lost most of my IRA earnings in the 2008/2009 debacle and now I rely almost entirely on Social Security."" If we want Minnesotans like Jeff - and millions of Americans across the country facing similar situations - to have a secure retirement, we need to increase these benefits.And that's what the SAVE Benefits Act does. Under our bill, seniors and veterans get a 3.9 percent increase - the same percentage increase that CEO pay went up from 2013 to 2014. For the average beneficiary, a 3.9 percent raise comes to about 580 dollars over the year. While 580 dollars may not sound like a lot compared to the raises that CEOs are getting, 580 dollars can make a big difference to the average American. 580 dollars may cover several months of groceries or out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs for a senior on Medicare.Now, some may ask if we can afford to give seniors and veterans a raise right now. Too often, the ideas we've heard for quote-unquote ""fixing"" Social Security focus on cutting benefits - like reducing cost-of-living increases by using Chained CPI or raising the retirement age.But that's the wrong approach. We shouldn't cut our way to solvency. We need to strengthen our Social Security system by protecting and enhancing the benefits that seniors and veterans have earned. That means improving Social Security's finances.And a good place to start is by removing special provisions for the wealthiest Americans in our current tax code. Right now, individuals making millions of dollars still only pay payroll tax on the first 118,500 dollars of their income. Over the long term, that is the sort of thing we need to address in order to strengthen Social Security.And this bill proposes to pay for the one-time increase in Social Security benefits in the same spirit - rebalancing our tax code by ending a tax deduction for CEO pay that doesn't make sense and just allows corporations to avoid paying their fair share in taxes.CEOs and big businesses will still do just fine under this bill. At the same time, the SAVE Benefits Act will provide critical assistance to Americans struggling to meet their expenses. In fact, this increase in benefits will lift about 8,000 Minnesotans out of poverty, and thousands more in every state.Ultimately, the debate over this bill comes down to priorities. What's more important? Protecting high pay for the wealthiest Americans or ensuring that seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities have the income security that they need to pay for health care, prescription drugs, and housing?M. PRESIDENT, as this year comes to a close, it's time to get our priorities straight and stand up for our seniors and our veterans. They need a raise in 2016.Thank you.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://franken.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=3325,"In Senate Speech, Sen. Franken Pushes Bill to Provide Cost-of-Living Increase for Social Security Beneficiaries, Veterans, People with Disabilities",2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Al Franken,F000457,franken.senate.gov,,,legacy,"In a speech delivered today on the Senate floor, U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.)pressed for passage of the Senior and Veterans Emergency (SAVE) Benefits Actlegislation that would give millions of Social Security beneficiaries, veterans, retirees, and people with disabilities a cost-of-living increase in 2016.Despite rising health care, prescription drug, and housing costs, some 70 million Americans will not receive a cost-of-living increase in Social Security and similar benefits. The legislation would authorize a one-time increase that would help lift 8,000 Minnesotans out of poverty. The increase would be paid for by closing an existing tax loophole for CEO pay.You can download video of his speech here or read a copy of his remarks as prepared for delivery here.Whats more important? Protecting high pay for the wealthiest Americans or ensuring that seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities have the income security that they need to pay for health care, prescription drugs, and housing? said Sen. Franken. As this year comes to a close, its time to get our priorities straight and stand up for our seniors and our veterans. They need a raise in 2016. Floor Statement on SAVE Benefits ActSenator Al Franken(as prepared for delivery) M. PRESIDENT, were just one month away from the New Year. 2016 will bring a lot of new things, but one thing it will not bring is a cost-of-living increase for seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities.Despite the fact that the costs of health care, prescription drugs, and housing are increasing, the size of a Social Security check wont go up one cent on January 1 unless Congress acts.Thats why my colleagues and I have introduced the Senior and Veterans Emergency Benefits Act or SAVE Benefits Act. The SAVE Benefits Act gives a one-time payment to seniors and veterans receiving their earned benefits so they can better meet their basic living expenses.The stagnant level for benefits in 2016 and its damaging effects are part of a bigger problem too many of our seniors are feeling the squeeze and just arent secure enough in their retirement. Todays Social Security benefits are not enough to live on, and other retirement savings arent filling the gap. You see, the share of private-sector workers with pensions has fallen precipitously in recent years, and yet, today, half of all Americans dont have retirement accounts like 401(k) plans or IRAs.So without sufficient pensions or retirement accounts, many seniors depend on Social Security. Social Security benefits comprise over 90 percent of income for the poorest 25 percent of retirees. And Social Security comprises 70 percent of income for the middle 50 percent of retirees. With the costs of things seniors have to spend money on increasing, the absence of a cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits is especially damaging.And Ive heard from many Minnesota seniors who are deeply worried about the squeeze that no increase in Social Security will put on their budgets. Jeff from Minneapolis wrote, Food prices are up and my rent is up 4 percent in 2015 and will be up again in 2016. He continues, I lost most of my IRA earnings in the 2008/2009 debacle and now I rely almost entirely on Social Security. If we want Minnesotans like Jeff and millions of Americans across the country facing similar situations to have a secure retirement, we need to increase these benefits.And thats what the SAVE Benefits Act does. Under our bill, seniors and veterans get a 3.9 percent increase the same percentage increase that CEO pay went up from 2013 to 2014. For the average beneficiary, a 3.9 percent raise comes to about 580 dollars over the year. While 580 dollars may not sound like a lot compared to the raises that CEOs are getting, 580 dollars can make a big difference to the average American. 580 dollars may cover several months of groceries or out-of-pocket costs for prescription drugs for a senior on Medicare.Now, some may ask if we can afford to give seniors and veterans a raise right now. Too often, the ideas weve heard for quote-unquote fixing Social Security focus on cutting benefits like reducing cost-of-living increases by using Chained CPI or raising the retirement age.But thats the wrong approach. We shouldnt cut our way to solvency. We need to strengthen our Social Security system by protecting and enhancing the benefits that seniors and veterans have earned. That means improving Social Securitys finances.And a good place to start is by removing special provisions for the wealthiest Americans in our current tax code. Right now, individuals making millions of dollars still only pay payroll tax on the first 118,500 dollars of their income. Over the long term, that is the sort of thing we need to address in order to strengthen Social Security.And this bill proposes to pay for the one-time increase in Social Security benefits in the same spirit rebalancing our tax code by ending a tax deduction for CEO pay that doesnt make sense and just allows corporations to avoid paying their fair share in taxes.CEOs and big businesses will still do just fine under this bill. At the same time, the SAVE Benefits Act will provide critical assistance to Americans struggling to meet their expenses. In fact, this increase in benefits will lift about 8,000 Minnesotans out of poverty, and thousands more in every state.Ultimately, the debate over this bill comes down to priorities. Whats more important? Protecting high pay for the wealthiest Americans or ensuring that seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities have the income security that they need to pay for health care, prescription drugs, and housing?M. PRESIDENT, as this year comes to a close, its time to get our priorities straight and stand up for our seniors and our veterans. They need a raise in 2016.Thank you. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://mccollum.house.gov/press-release/mccollum-remarks-american-architectural-foundation-oculus-award-luncheon,McCollum Remarks to the American Architectural Foundation Oculus Award Luncheon,2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Betty McCollum,M001143,mccollum.house.gov,,,legacy,"Good afternoon. Thank you, Mr. Ayers for the kind introduction. I appreciate all that you and your staff are doing to keep Congress working while you are restoring our beautiful Capitol dome. Thank you for your leadership. I am thrilled to be here today! The American Architectural Foundation is playing an important role in driving an agenda that places cultural heritage, historic preservation, and architectural restoration at its forefront. I want to commend the vision and tremendous work of AAF President and CEO Ron Bogle, along with Mr. Thom Minner, Director of AAFs Center for Design and Cultural Heritage. Ron and Thom are working with me to get Congress re-engaged as a partner in protecting and restoring our countrys historic treasures, treasures that unite communities and connect the past to the future. We are here today to honor a company for more than 50 years of accomplishments in historic preservation. Congratulations to Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates on receiving the 2015 Oculus award. WJE has a long record of contributing to projects across the U.S. and around the world. They have an office in Minnesota, but I was surprised to learn how often we worked at the same places. In the early 1970s my first full-time job was in downtown St. Paul in the First National Bank building. Later, WJE worked on the First National Bank building. As a Minnesota state legislator, I spent eight years working in our beautiful Cass Gilbert designed state capitol building. WJE has worked on the capitol. And, one of my proudest accomplishments in Congress has been to help secure the funding for the renovation of St. Pauls historic 1920s era train station Union Depot. The Depots $250 million restoration was completed in 2013 and, again, WJE worked on the project. Again, congratulations WJE on your tremendous record of success! At the beginning of this year I became the lead Democrat on the Interior-Environment Appropriations Subcommittee. Each year our subcommittee produces a bill that provides over $30 billion to fund the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of the Interior, the U.S. Forest Service, the National Endowments for the Arts and Humanities, the Smithsonian museums, and a number of other federal agencies. It is an important portfolio that funds hundreds of millions of acres of federal land, our national parks, tribal nations, and many of Americas most important historic sites. Over the past months my office has been engaged with federal stakeholders and AAF to review the federal governments role in historic preservation. It is absolutely clear that without leadership from Congress and the Obama Administration our nations most vulnerable treasures are at risk of being lost to time, decay, or neglect. Unfortunately, Congress and the Administration are neglecting our nations treasures and this political apathy is costing the American people our cultural heritage. In the 2016 House and Senate Interior-Environment appropriations bills, approximately $61 million is allocated to the Historic Preservation Fund primarily to support historic preservation offices in states, territories and tribal nations. This amount represents less than half of the $150 million authorized funding level and it is nearly $20 million less than was spent on historic preservation in 2010. This abandonment of historic preservation runs counter to the desires of our constituents. States, local communities, non-profits, the foundation community, and the private sector want the federal government to be a real partner. All across our country communities come together and identifying endangered historic and cultural assets that uniquely reflect local character and identity. It may be a historic building, a church, an archeological site, or a collection representing a moment in a communitys history that exemplifies a unique piece of our American history. And, communities are asking for help both technical and financial because they want their valued asset to be preserved, protected, and restored for the next generation. From 1999 to 2010 help was available. During those years, Congress provided modest, but critical funding for a program called Save Americas Treasures. $318 million in federal funding was appropriated for SAT grants over twelve years that is less than $1 per American for a decade of investments. Those grants required a dollar-for-dollar match which leveraged over $400 million in additional funds. But, since 2011, Congress has not provided a single dollar to Save Americas Treasures. During SATs twelve years, more than 1,200 grants were awarded to restore 327 historic properties; 247 projects to restore collections, artifacts, artistic works, and documents were funded; and, 341 National Historic Landmarks were preserved. The treasures saved include: the restoration of Rosa Parks bus; restoring Little Rocks Central High School; saving Ansel Adams prints, negatives and equipment; restoring an 18th century South Carolina plantation house; preserving the ruins at Colorados Mesa Verde National Park; and repairing and preserving the 1812 flag that flew over Fort McHenry that inspired the Star Spangle Banner. In my Minnesota congressional district, a $150,000 SAT grant matched by community contributions helped to fund a sprinkler system in the longest serving Czech-Slovak Hall in the U.S. build in 1879. This grant saved the Sokol Hall while other ethic halls have been lost to fire. On Saturday Ill be attending an event at the Sokol Hall and it is a wonderful center of community activity. SAT has been an example of a public-private partnership that keeps history, culture, identity, and democracy vibrant and sustainable in towns and cities all across America. In my view SAT grants have acted as venture capital that sparks a community into action. It is an investment that inspires a community and donors to invest time, money, volunteer support all to the benefit of the project. A good project with an SAT grant becomes a great project. Without that federal support many projects will never get done and national treasures are now being lost forever. I am passionate about restoring federal funding for SAT because I have a partner that shares my enthusiasm. That partner is the American Architectural Foundation. The National Park Service is SATs lead federal agency while AAF is SATs official non-profit partner. Other federal partners include the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services. They all have valuable technical capacity to contribute if federal funds are made available. In 2016 our nation will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. Next year also marks the 100th anniversary of our National Parks. As citizens who care about historic preservation, now is the time to get organized and energized. Working together, we need to get Congress investing once again in Saving Americas Treasures! I am thrilled to be working with AAF and other partners who share the vision that preserving Americas past helps to build Americas future. It has been wonderful being here with you. Thank you AAF for the invitation to be here today. Thank you. ####",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://mccollum.house.gov/press-release/mccollum-statement-world-aids-day,McCollum Statement on World AIDS Day,2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Betty McCollum,M001143,mccollum.house.gov,,,legacy,"The AIDS epidemic continues to be the most pressing global health issues of our generation. 35 million people of all ages are living with HIV and AIDS today. On World AIDS Day, we remember those who have lost their lives, support those who continue to be affected by the virus, and renew our support for those working to cure it. The 2015 theme for World AIDS Day is Getting to Zero. This theme should serve as a reminder of the work that is being done by those pursuing both better methods of prevention and cures for the AIDS virus. As we continue fighting to find a cure, those who are leading that research deserve the support of elected officials here in Washington. Congress must continue to fund work to prevent the spread of this disease here and around the world today and lay the groundwork for a future with a cure for the AIDS virus.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=44ff921e-3480-4b77-9eb5-baf4a1d444d9,"Klobuchar, Lee Announce Hearing Date for SABMiller Acquisition by Anheuser-Busch Inbev",2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Mike Lee (R-UT), the ranking member and chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, today announced the committee will hold a hearing on Anheuser-Busch Inbevs proposal to purchase SABMiller. The hearing will examine how the proposed merger of the worlds two biggest beer producers would impact competition and consumers across the country. This hearing will allow us the opportunity to examine this deal closely,including theproposed divestitures, to see how it will impact the price of beer for consumers and if it will harm the craft brewers that are creating jobs and economic growth across the country, said Klobuchar. We must ensure competition in the $100 billion a year beer industry remains on tap. ""This hearing will provide an opportunity to publicly examine the impact of the so-called 'beerhemoth' merger on consumers and for the Antitrust Subcommittee to continue its oversight of potentially anticompetitive market consolidation, Lee said. I look forward to a productive and informative discussion."" The hearing is scheduled for Tuesday, December 8 at 10:00 a.m. EST in Dirksen Senate Office Building 226, and will stream here.Witnesses include: Carlos Brito CEO, Anheuser-Busch InBev Mark Hunter President & CEO, Molson Coors Bob Pease CEO, Brewers Association Craig Purser President & CEO, National Beer Wholesalers Association J. Wilson Minister of Iowa Beer, Iowa Brewers Guild Diana Moss President, American Antitrust Institute ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=56e506d1-d487-4a5e-93f2-273112adb4c6,"In Light of New Report on Profit-Driven Prescription Drug Pricing, Klobuchar Continues Call for Congress to Immediately Pass Her Legislation to Lower Drug Prices for Consumers",2015-12-01,2015,2015-12,Democrat,House,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Senate Finance Committee members released a report today detailing an 18-month investigation that revealed a pharmaceutical company priced and marketed Hepatitis C drug Sovaldi in order to maximize profits at the expense of consumers Klobuchar has introduced bills that would empower Medicare to negotiate for best possible price of prescription medication, allow the safe import of prescription drugs from Canada, and crack down on deals that prevent affordable generics from reaching the market WASHINGTON, DC In light of a new report on profit-driven prescription drug pricing, Senator Amy Klobuchar is calling on Congress to immediately pass legislation that will help lower drug prices for consumers. Senate Finance Committee members released a report today detailing an 18-month investigation that revealed Gilead Sciences marketed Hepatitis C drug Sovaldi in order to maximize profits at the expense of consumers. The $1,000 per pill price tag is limiting the number of patients who can access the treatment and has already cost Medicare and Medicaid billions of dollars. It is as clear as ever: we have an urgent problem with the cost of prescription drugs in our country, Klobuchar said. This report presents yet another example in which a drug manufacturers first priority is how much money it can squeeze from consumers with no regard for what it means for the Americans who need its treatment. This is an alarming trend that we cannot allow to continue. We need to pass legislation to protect consumers from the unjustified inflation of prescription drug prices. Klobuchar is a leader in the Senate on addressing the high cost of prescription drugs, authoring multiple pieces of legislation that would protect American consumers. The Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act would empower Medicare to negotiate for the best possible price of prescription medication for Americas seniors who are enrolled in Medicare Part D. Current law only allows for bargaining by pharmaceutical companies and bans Medicare from doing so. The bill would help cut costs for more than 37 million seniors and boost Medicare savings. The Safe and Affordable Drugs from Canada Act would help Americans access safe, affordable prescription drugs from Canada by requiring that the Federal Drug Administration establish a personal importation program that would allow individuals to import a 90-day supply of prescription drugs from an approved Canadian pharmacy. The Preserve Access to Affordable Generics Act would expand consumers access to the cost-saving generic drugs they need, increasing competition and choices for consumers by helping put an end to the sweetheart deals in which brand-name drug manufacturers pay their generic competitors to keep more affordable generic equivalents off the market. Klobuchar has taken on drug price hikes in the past, including calling for an investigation last month into whether Turing Pharmaceuticals is illegally preventing generic entry to protect its 5,000% price increase on Daraprim. Also last month, she sent a letter with Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Mike Lee (R-UT), and Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT) urging the Federal Trade Commission to investigate possible illegal collusion by manufacturers connected to IV solution shortages. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://emmer.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/emmer-host-second-twitter-town-hall,Emmer to Host Second Twitter Town Hall,2015-11-30,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,MN,Tom Emmer,E000294,emmer.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. Congressman Tom Emmer (MN-06) announced today that he will be hosting his second Twitter town hall on Monday, December 7 at 2:00 PM Central Time. To ask a question, post on his Facebook page, tweet to @RepTomEmmer with the hashtag #AskTom, or submit a question on his website, and he will answer the questions live on his YouTube channel. I really enjoy hearing from the wonderful people of Minnesotas Sixth District and I think it is incredibly important that everyone in the district has the opportunity to voice their concerns and opinions, said Emmer. Twitter town halls are a different and often more convenient way for constituents to ask me questions about the issues that are most important to them. I am looking forward to hearing from everyone. This is Emmers second Twitter town hall. Additionally, Emmer has held twelve town halls including Twitter town halls, tele-town halls and at least one in-person town hall in every county he represents. For more information, visit: Emmer.house.gov/AskTom ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=04d2a987-a3dc-4f13-bb56-826225ec4c86,Klobuchar Statement on Final RFS Rule,2015-11-30,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,,,legacy,"WASHINGTON, DC U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) today issued the following statement upon the Administrations release of the final RFS rule that sets biofuels Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) for 2014, 2015 and 2016, and sets the RVO for biodiesel for 2017. The Renewable Fuel Standard has helped create American jobs, drive innovation, and boost local economies across Minnesota and the country, all while reducing carbon emissions. That is why after a very disappointing proposed rule was put forth, I led bipartisan efforts to improve the final rule. While we have clearly made some progress in strengthening the rule, it still falls short, which is why Ill continue to call on the Administration to promote biofuels to the extent that Congress intended in the law. Ill also continue my work in the Senate to create policies that generate economic gains across rural Minnesota, including the Farm Bill energy programs I helped put in place that are supporting critical biofuels research, innovative projects, and infrastructure development. Klobuchar has been a national leader in advocating for the expansion of renewable fuels. Last month, Klobuchar convened a meeting in her office between 13 of her colleagues and White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough to push for the release of a strong final Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) rule that supports homegrown ethanol production. This meeting followed a bipartisan meeting of 16 senators that Klobuchar convened in December of 2013 with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy to call for changes to the proposed RFS 2014 rule. The senators have also sent multiple letters to McCarthy to urge changes to the administrations proposed 2014 RFS rule and call for an increase in the proposed volumes that the EPA has set for biodiesel production in future years. As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and 2014 farm bill conferee, Klobuchar supported authorization of biofuels programs, and this year advocated for the Biofuels Infrastructure Partnership (BIP) with USDA on the State of Minnesotas behalf. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://paulsen.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=22&itemid=1773,Paulsen-authored Military Working Dogs Legislation Signed Into Law,2015-11-27,2015,2015-11,Republican,House,MN,Erik Paulsen,P000594,paulsen.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington, D.C. A provision authored by Congressman Erik Paulsen (MN-03) to require the Department of Defense to return all military working dogs to the United States after their service is complete was signed into law by President Obama. The legislation was included in theNational Defense Authorization Act,which passed both houses of Congress with bipartisan support. Paulsen introduced the bill, the Military Working Dog Retirement Act, in June. Military working dogs are often retired overseas despite a list of over 1,200 people, including many veterans and active duty troops, waiting to adopt them. Service members often must spend their own money and resources to be reunited with dogs they served next to. There shouldnt be unnecessary hurdles to reuniting our brave troops and the military working dogs they served alongside, said Paulsen. Now we guarantee that military working dogs will be retired and returned to the United States, making it easier and less expensive for them to be adopted. Paulsen spoke on the House floor about this legislation earlier this year.Video of that speech is available here. While military working dogs have served in our military since WWI, there has been renewed focus on the plight of these dogs with the release of the motion picture,Max, this summer. AnArizona Republic articledetails the difficulty that some members of the military have when trying to bring these dogs home. The Star Tribune published an editorialsupporting the legislationin July. Congressman Paulsen, a champion of small business and advocate of free enterprise, entrepreneurship, and innovation, serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, the bicameral Joint Economic Committee, and is co-chair of the Congressional Medical Technology Caucus. For more information on Congressman Paulsens work in Congress visitpaulsen.house.gov. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://collinpeterson.house.gov/rep-petersons-newsletter-11252015,Rep. Peterson's Newsletter 11/25/2015,2015-11-25,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MN,Collin Peterson,P000258,collinpeterson.house.gov,,,legacy,"Hunting Game, US Capitol Dear Friends, During the Thanksgiving holiday, we gather with loved ones to reflect upon and express our gratitude. In that spirit, I thank my constituents for their friendship, hard work, and commitment to the 7th District. As we celebrate, we also remember our dedicated service members and veterans whose sacrifice allows us to enjoy the holiday season. Sincerely, Congressman Collin C. Peterson Minnesota 7th District Minnesota Farmers Union Doug Peterson (President, Minnesota Farmers Union) The Minnesota Farmers Union held its 74th Annual Meeting over the weekend in Minneapolis. I had a good discussion with delegates about a variety of issues, including voluntary Country of Origin Labelling, the Trans- PacificPartnership, Waters of the U.S., and wolf delisting. I have always appreciated working with the Farmers Union on agriculture policy, and am proud to be a multiple recipient of the organizations Golden Triangle Award, given to members of Congress for support of family farmers and ranchers. Minnesota Farm Bureau State 4-H Ambassadors Laura Wyatt (Anoka County), Jake Brekke (Scott County), Anna Brekke (Scott County), Lucia Davila Alvarez (Ramsey County), and Martin Novacek (Roseau County) The Minnesota Farm Bureau held its annual meeting last weekend in Bloomington. I work closely with the Minnesota Farm Bureau in shaping farm policy, so I was grateful for the opportunity to speak at the organizations award luncheon on Saturday.We had a good discussionon issues such as Waters of the U.S., the Renewable Fuel Standard, crop insurance, and GMO labelling. Emerging Leaders Program Luke Stuewe (Minnesota Department of Agriculture) Luke Stuewe, a soil scientist and hydrologist with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), was recently selected to participate in the Emerging Leaders Program. Over the next five months, Luke will interview leaders to build a deeper understanding of effective leadership. It was an honor to meet with him and provide my input and perspective, and I wish Luke the best as he completes the program and moves into leadership roles within his own career. Newsstand Thanksgiving Food Safety The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) releasedsafety suggestionsto help families properly and safely prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday. Included in the guidelines are steps to follow when selecting, thawing, and cooking a turkey, as well as consuming leftovers. Food safety precautions have proven to help keep families healthy over the holidays by protecting against foodborne illness. National Organic Farming Handbook The Department of Agricultures Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) released a handbook this week to help its conservation planners and agriculture professionals work with current and prospective organic producers. Ten member organizations from the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition collaborated with NRCS to develop the handbook as part of a multi-year Conservation Innovation Grant project. Visitors from the District Jerry and John Swartz (HENNING) The Mayflower Compact, US Capitol",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://ellison.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-keith-ellison-statement-on-shooting-at-fourth-precinct-protest,Rep. Keith Ellison Statement on Shooting at Fourth Precinct Protest,2015-11-25,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MN,Keith Ellison,E000288,ellison.house.gov,,,legacy,"Washington Rep. Keith Ellison released the following statement in response to the shooting at the Fourth Precinct protest on Monday night: Mondaynights shooting at the peaceful protest in front of the FourthPrecinctwas appalling. I pray for the victims, and hope their recovery is quick.Idemand theshootersbe brought to justice, and Iam relieved thatthreesuspects have been arrested.The shooting of five black men at a protestfocused on racial equityshould beinvestigatedas a hate crime. I attended Jamar Clarks funeral today, and I join in the communitys mourning for Jamar Clark and for all of the Jamar Clarks who propel the protestors to demand meaningful change. Since the occupation of the FourthPrecinct, Black Lives Matter Minneapolishas achieved a great deal. They asked for and received an independent investigation by the state and federal governments. They asked for and receivedtherelease of theofficersnames.They met with Assistant Attorney General Vanita Gupta, Governor Mark Dayton, and lawyers from the Department of Justice. They also received a commitment that the tapes of Mr. Clarks shooting will beshared with the family andmade public as soon as it will not impede the investigation. I stoodbehind Black Lives MatterMinneapoliswith these requests and have echoed them at every opportunity. Theyalsoheld animpactfulcommunity march yesterday to raise awarenessand show solidarity forjustice. I understand the power of exercising First Amendment rights. This activism has sparkeda long overdue conversation aboutissues facingBlack Minnesotans, which Iknow intimatelyas aNorth Minneapolisresident.As we continue our workon thesecriticalissues,the safety of everyone at the FourthPrecinct must be our highest priority.Mondaynights shootings are not the fault of the victims or theBlack Lives Mattermovement, which is committed to non-violence. But given the events of this week, theres no denying that conditions are unsafe. Protestors and activists should continue to push for systemic change in Minnesota, butits time fortheprotest occupying the FourthPrecinct toevolve beyond the encampment. The changes we seek will likely take years, not weeks or months.But together, asa community, we can move forward to ensure thatwe all have an opportunity to live in an equitable, just, peaceful society.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=7878e585-015e-4d58-8ad7-93ef1ff73e31,Klobuchar Statement on ISIS and U.S. Counterterrorism Policy,2015-11-25,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Last week we woke to news of yet another senseless terrorist attack on innocent civilians. The Radisson Blu Hotel in Mali is part of Minnesota-based Carlson Companies. Although the victims -- both employees and guests -- are miles and miles away from our state, this hit close to home. Having spoken with their managers, I know that Carlson is grieving the loss of life. And the heartbreaking story of the American aid worker killed in that attack -- a kind woman who devoted her entire life to helping others and raising her young son -- reminds us that the victims of these massacres will never be limited to one nationality or one ethnicity or one religion. This attack came barely a week after the horrific terrorist assault on Paris that left 130 people dead. Lastweek I worked with my Senate colleagues and attended numerous meetings and strategy briefings to get the facts about the Paris attack. I believe that it is critical that we take additional steps both at home and abroad to combat Islamic extremism -- and ISIS in particular -- to keep our country safe. As you read this, remember that the actions we take over the next weeks and months ahead must enhance and support our community and our shared American values. We must be strong. And being strong means not only going after those who want to destroy us, but also standing by the innocents among us. When I was a prosecutor we had one straightforward goal: convict the guilty and protect the innocent. To me, that simple mission still holds true. We must make our world safer by rooting out the evil in our midst while still protecting the rights ofpeople whomean no harm. That American aid worker killed in Mali, those innocent families whose plane exploded over Egypt, and those young people lying maimed in hospital rooms throughout Paris deserve nothing less. I have laid out a course of action below, and I hope you will consider these proposals with your friends, family and colleagues. This is a complex problem and the solutions are never easy. I welcome your thoughts. First, we must take out this evil at its roots. We must increase our efforts to build and lead an international coalition against ISIS that includes our European allies in NATO as well as our Arab partners. More and more countries are being victimized byjihadists bent on killing innocents to demonstrate their disdain for peace and basic human dignity. Their goal is to destroy democracies that allow for freedom of religion and speech and equal rights. ISIS and other extremist groups pose the most serious threat to the countries of the Middle East and North Africa, occupying territory to serve as bases to spread their terrorism further. That's why the forces and resources needed to combat these terrorists cannot be secured from just a few nations. One thing is certain: we will not be successful in this fight against ISIS and other extremist groups unless countries in the region are a major part of the coalition. To be clear, I am not advocating for the large-scale deployment of American troops, but I do support intensified air strikes with our allies, and the deployment of American Special Forces to help support local forces combating terrorists. In the end we need strong local and regional troops on the front lines to make real progress. The success we have seen in retaking previously ISIS-held territories in parts of Syria and Iraq is due to the fact that our military was able to work in conjunction with motivated and capable Kurdish forces on the ground. In addition to these coordinated efforts, I would also like to see a no-fly zone in Syria that would protect civilians. Years ago I called for a no-fly zone after visiting the region and I still believe it must be considered in order to help our partners in Syria who are standing up to ISIS. Hitting ISIS in its own territory will certainly not solve all our problems--the group claiming credit for the attack in Mali, was, for example, an al Qaeda affiliate--but it will make a major difference. It is also critical that we intensify our efforts to track and cut off the sources of thejihadists' money, as well as the infrastructure that allows them to transfer fighters and resources through networks across the world. I also strongly believe that Congress should debate and pass a new Authorization of Military Force instead of relying on an old one passed at a different time andunder different circumstances. Second, as we undertake these efforts overseas, we must also keep our country safe through smart security strategies and intelligence sharing. While much of the news has been dominated by the refugee issue, I believe we must consider security measures that are arguably more difficult on the political and policy front, but provide a more comprehensive way to enhance our nation's security. These measures include: (a) Targeted changes to the VISA waiver program to strengthen security protections Currently people who hold European and certain other passports are allowed to enter our country with limited screening through the important visa waiver program -- a program that allows people in 38 nations to visit our country without getting a special visa. While wehave greatly increasedthe security measures accompanying that program (including terrorist watch lists), there are ways we can make it even more secure. Current procedureswould have prevented, for instance, most of those engaged in the terrorist attacks in France from coming to the U.S. But at least one of the suicide bombers in France was not on those lists and could have potentially been allowed entry. Senators are working on focused and targeted changes to the visa waiver program. We are hopeful that this will be a bipartisan effort in the Senate. (b) Continued and updated airport security The bomb that ISIS claims took down the plane over Egypt -- senselessly killing 224 people, most of them Russian families -- reminds us that our country needs a continued and updated focus on airport security. Thanks to those protecting us on the front linesevery day, our airport checkpoints and overall air security are much better than what we see in many other countries, including at the Sharm el-Sheikh airport, which was the point of departure for the planethatexploded over Egypt. Yet recent reports still found gaps in our own airport security, which means that we must never rest on our laurels. We must be continually updating and improving our methods. For those traveling over the Thanksgiving holidays, remember the reason there are lines. The TSA workers are there to protect you. Please be patient. This is for everyone's security. (c) Closing the loopholethatallows suspected terrorists to legally buy guns in the U.S. Incredibly, current U.S. law does not prevent individuals who are currently on terror watch lists from purchasing guns. A total of 2,233 people on the watch list have tried to buy guns in the past decade, and 2,043 91 percent of them have succeeded, according to a report by the Government Accountability Office. I am a cosponsor of Senator Feinstein's bill to close this loophole,and Republican Representative Peter King of New York has long advocated for this change. Now would be a good time to make it. (d) Not allowing technology to limit our intelligence agencies' abilities to pursue terrorism investigations when done legally under court order There must always be a balance between protecting privacy and security. In our country one of the ways we have struck that balance is by requiring a court order before law enforcement can access certain communications of and data on suspects. Law enforcement used to be able to track suspects under court order, but technology installed by communications providers has made it increasingly difficult for local law enforcement to investigate both domestic cases such as murder and rape, and terrorism cases. Of course a court order for accessing communications should always be required, but as I have learned during many hearings and in several meetings with FBI and local law enforcement, getting the order isn't the problem when the case is strong. Instead, new technology installed by the phone companies and other communications companies has made it technologically impossible to access communications of and data on many of the terror suspects. It is imperative to our national security that companies responsible for promoting this type of encryption work with law enforcement to ensure that legitimate counterterrorism investigations are not unduly hindered. (e) Rooting out terrorist recruiting here at home Thanks toour state and federal law enforcement and our hard-working U.S. Attorney Andy Luger, Minnesota is a state that is taking the lead in rooting out home-grown terrorists in our own country. The U.S. Attorney's Office currently has more than a dozen ongoing cases involving ISIS recruiting. Much of this recruiting has occurredonline. We must aggressively pursue these cases across the country. Our Muslim community has worked in partnership with our law enforcement to stop kids from being recruited into these networks in the first place. Muslims in our community serve as police officers and on the city councils and school boards. While we must do everything to combat extremism and go after those who pose a threat, we must remember all the law-abiding Muslims who live in our own state and in our country. We are proud to have the largest population of Somalis in the U.S. right here in Minnesota. Putting law-abiding citizens on lists based only on their faith orpreventingthose of certain faiths from being part of a refugee program (like permitting only Christian refugees as suggested by some) is not the answer. Those ideas are,in fact,the antithesis of America's long-standing fundamental belief in religious freedom. (f) Making sure that resources are available to vet refugees so that program can continue There is a lot of misinformation out there on our refugee program. Keep in mind that of the less than 2,000 Syrian refugeeswhohave been admitted to the U.S. since the Syrian conflict began, nonehasbeen arrested for or suspected of terrorism. The post-9-11 vetting process takes up to two years and is extensive. You can read more about the processhere.The Syrian refugees here in our country are mostly families, and several are victims of torture. They are in fact people who are fleeing terrorists like the ones who bombed buildings and killed innocent people in Paris. While I believe we can handle an increased number of Syrian refugees so long as the resources allow for the appropriate vetting, we only accept a small number of peoplewhowant to come to this country in the first place. While most of us have not met the seven Syrian refugees currently in our state, we all have had many good experiences with refugees from other countries. It is a rare Minnesotan who has not met one of our Hmong residents or someone from Liberia or Somalia. You meet them at your workplace, you see them in our hospitals and coffee shops, and in our schools and businesses. They arean importantpart of our economic and cultural life in Minnesota. Finally, Congress has a lot of work to do in December. I am pleased that we reached a bipartisan budget deal last month and thus averted a shutdown. Now we have to finish that budget, and from a homeland and national security perspective, make sure our first responders and military have adequate funding. But one other thing we need to do is this: fill the vacant positions that hamper our abilityto protect our country and work with our allies. Non-controversial nominees for key positions in our militaryand Treasury and State Departments still need to be confirmed. A number of non-controversial judicial nominees (including one in Minnesota) must be confirmed. How can we have the front line people in place to handle terrorism cases if we don't confirm the people nominated for these positions? And two of our best allies in Europeand countries key to our fight against extremism -- Norway and Sweden -- are without U.S. ambassadors. Both nominees for those ambassadorships made it through committee with both Republican and Democratic support and with no objections. Our nominee to Norway is a Minnesotan -- Sam Heins -- and that key European ally has now been without an ambassador from the United States for nearly 800 days! At this time of great international upheaval, Senators should not be holding upStateDepartment nominees for reasons completely unrelated to the position sought or the credentials of the particular nominee. Non-controversial nominees should be allowed to serve in these positions before the year ends. Our allies -- and our enemies -- need to see a united and functional American frontline. I do have one request of you:As you see friends and family over Thanksgiving,be thankful for them and for those who protect us, but also remember those in the community around us. We give thanks for our family and friends at Thanksgiving, but we also should give thanks for our neighbors close by andfarther away. They are part of the fabric of life in our community.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://nolan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/nolan-bill-would-impose-5-year-ban-on-foreign-steel-imports,Nolan Bill Would Impose 5-Year Ban on Foreign Steel Imports,2015-11-24,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MN,Rick Nolan,N000127,nolan.house.gov,,,legacy,"(DULUTH, MN) U.S. Rep. Rick Nolan said today hell introduce legislation to immediately halt imports of foreign steel for a period of five years, giving the domestic steel industry time to return to 100% of production capacity. The measure could come as soon as November 30, when Congress returns after the Thanksgiving holiday. Nolan's bill comes on the heels of the announcement last week that Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. will lay off several hundred workers in the Babbitt and Silver Bay areas due to a glut of steel in the U.S. market brought about by the continued dumping of millions of tons of low-grade, foreign government-subsidized steel. Once and for all, its time for this Congress and this Administration to stand up for American workers and American jobs jobs being destroyed and stolen due to illegal steel dumping by China, India and other Southeast Asian nations. My bill would place an immediate moratorium on imports of foreign steel for five years, so our domestic industry will have time to return to 100% of production capacity and so thousands of American workers who have lost their jobs in our mining, iron ore and steel industries can return to work as quickly as possible, Nolan said. Nolan noted that while steel imports increased by 36% last year and captured their highest share of the U.S. market on record, American steel mills are still only running at 70.5% of capacity because the domestic market is glutted with low-grade, foreign government-subsidized steel. In 2001, Minnesota iron production bottomed out. In the Eighth District alone, 1,400 workers lost their jobs, with thousands more losing their jobs across the country. When President Bush implemented tariffs on a number of steel products, the iron mining and our steel industry began to recover much of which was credited to those tariffs. Today, we find ourselves in almost exactly the same situation, with roughly 1,750 workers in the 8th having lost their jobs and more than 9,000 layoffs of steelworkers across the country. Nolan added that he plans to introduce a companion bill in the House to legislation by U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken to toughen U.S. trade enforcement policies and impose high duties on foreign imports causing injuries to U.S. manufacturers and workers. As I have repeatedly pointed out, the United States has proven itself incapable of enforcing trade agreements and incapable of stopping illegal dumping of foreign steel once it reaches our shores, Nolan continued. So we need a moratorium on foreign steel. Beyond that, we need to defeat the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement that will cost us millions more jobs and the loss of thousands of additional manufacturing facilities. And we need to go back and reexamine every single trade agreement beginning with NAFTA. That disaster alone sent millions of good jobs overseas and contributed to the loss of some 57,000 U.S. manufacturing facilities.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://www.klobuchar.senate.gov/public/news-releases?ID=e893887e-50a3-4228-8d63-31147a528982,Klobuchar Statement on Shooting in Minneapolis,2015-11-24,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MN,Amy Klobuchar,K000367,www.klobuchar.senate.gov,,,legacy,I condemn these acts of violence and urge peace throughout our community. We cannot let the actions of a few represent the many. Our thoughts and prayers are with the North Minneapolis community today.,1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://franken.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=3317,Sen. Franken Leads Bipartisan Effort to Fund Loan Program That Would Help Minnesotas Tribal Economies,2015-11-23,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MN,Al Franken,F000457,franken.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Today, U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) and five colleagues urged top Senate budget negotiators to fund a federal loan program that would help create jobs and ensure access to reliable energy on tribal lands in Minnesota and across the country.The Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program (TIELGP) will help bring power to the most remote parts of Indian Country by providing loan guarantees to tribes and tribal organizations to support electricity generation projects. But despite being authorized a decade ago, the program has yet to receive any funding. The bipartisan letter, also sent by Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), and Martin Heinrich (D-NM), called on budget negotiators to provide $11 million for the Department of Energy program, which would help more than $50 million worth of projects get off the ground. TIELGP not only helps provide reliable and resilient energy, it also supports high-quality, good-paying jobs and promotes economic growth in Indian Country.""There is great need and great potential for electricity projects on tribal lands,"" said Sen. Franken. ""But unfortunately, a key program to help support more of these projects has sat unfunded for the past decade. That's why I'm urging Senate budget negotiators to fund the Tribal Energy Loan Guarantee Program this year. It will help stimulate economic growth, provide dependable energy, and improve the standard of living for tribal communities in Minnesota and across the country.""Sen. Franken, a member of the Senate Energy Committee and Senate Indian Affairs Committee, is a strong supporter of energy investments in Indian Country. By encouraging borrowers to cooperate with private entitiessuch as utility companiesthe program will leverage private investment with local needs. The Department of Energy expects strong interest from borrowers who deploy the loan.You can read the letter by clicking here. ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z http://franken.senate.gov/?p=press_release&id=3318,Sen. Franken and Bipartisan Group Press for Increased Flexibility for Dairy Farmers in Transportation Bill,2015-11-23,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MN,Al Franken,F000457,franken.senate.gov,,,legacy,"Today, U.S. Senators Al Franken (D-Minn.) Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Kelly Ayotte (D-N.H.) and Angus King (I-Maine) called for flexibility for America's dairy farmers in the recently-passed Surface Transportation bill. The senators sent a letter to bipartisan leaders on the conference committee asking that the final bill allow bulk milk trucks to carry milk without being forced to offload portions, which increases food safety risks for consumers and costs for dairy farmers.""Each day, more than 12,500 bulk milk trucks pick up milk at farms across the country and move it to over 2,000 processing plants. The transportation of milk is an issue that affects businesses and consumers in every region and in every state,"" the senators wrote. ""We urge you to support language that was included in the House-passed version of H.R. 22, the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act, that would classify milk as a non-divisible load. This provision would allow states to issue special permits to bulk milk trucks, giving them more flexibility to ensure that milk is delivered in a timely manner and in compliance with federal and state food safety and security standards.""The language, offered by Rep. Elizabeth Esty (D-CT-5) and Richard Hanna (R-NY-22), was included in the House-passed version of the bill but was not included the bill passed by the Senate.Full text of the letter is below:November 23, 2015 The Honorable Jim Inhofe The Honorable Barbara BoxerChairman Ranking MemberSenate Committee on Environment Senate Committee on Environmentand Public Works and Public Works 205 Russell Senate Office Building 112 Russell Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510The Honorable John Thune Ranking Member Bill NelsonChairman Ranking MemberSenate Committee on Commerce, Senate Committee on Commerce,Science, and Transportation Science, and Transportation511 Dirksen Senate Office Building 716 Dirksen Senate Office BuildingWashington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510The Honorable Richard Shelby The Honorable Sherrod BrownChairman Ranking MemberSenate Committee on Banking, Senate Committee on Banking,Housing, and Urban Affairs Housing, and Urban Affairs304 Russell Senate Office Building 713 Russell Senate Office BuildingWashington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510The Honorable Orrin G. Hatch The Honorable Ron WydenChairman Ranking MemberSenate Committee on Finance Senate Committee on Finance104 Hart Senate Office Building 221 Dirksen Senate Office BuildingWashington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510Dear Chairs and Ranking Members,Each day, more than 12,500 bulk milk trucks pick up milk at farms across the country and move it to over 2,000 processing plants. The transportation of bulk milk is an issue that affects businesses and consumers in every region and in every state.We urge you to support language that was included in the House-passed version of H.R. 22, the Developing a Reliable and Innovative Vision for the Economy (DRIVE) Act, that would classify milk as a non-divisible load. This provision would allow states to issue special permits to bulk milk trucks, giving them more flexibility to ensure that milk is delivered in a timely manner and in compliance with federal and state food safety and security standards.By classifying milk as a non-divisible load, this provision acknowledges that milk cannot be easily divided or dismantled between farms and processing plants. Milk is a perishable product that must be sealed for safety and transported quickly. When milk truckers pick up bulk milk, they must load the entire stock of bulk milk that a farm produced that day - not just the amount of milk that would keep the trucker in compliance with state truck weight limits. This is problematic because the amount of milk produced at a farm varies from day-to-day, based on weather, feed, and other factors. As a result, milk truckers perpetually risk being overweight. While milk truckers can break the seal and offload a portion of the milk to bring their truck weight into compliance, doing so increases transportation time and compromises the safety and security of the milk.Current law already permits states to issue special permits for non-divisible loads, such as trees, boats, or any other products whose integrity would be compromised through division. Adding milk to the list of products that qualify as non-divisible loads would improve the safety and security of bulk milk. What's more, this provision would improve the stability of trucks loaded with fluid milk.As the Conference Committee deliberates which provisions will be included in the final version of the DRIVE Act, we strongly urge your support the inclusion of this important milk classification.Sincerely,Sen. Chris MurphySen. Ron JohnsonSen. Tammy BaldwinSen. Mike CrapoSen. Al FrankenSen. Jim RischSen. Patrick LeahySen. Kelly AyotteSen. Angus King ###",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z https://mccollum.house.gov/press-release/statement-record-honoring-november-native-american-heritage-month,Statement for the Record Honoring November as Native American Heritage Month,2015-11-23,2015,2015-11,Democrat,House,MN,Betty McCollum,M001143,mccollum.house.gov,,,legacy,"McCOLLUM of MINNESOTA: Each November, our nation recognizes the contributions of the First Americans during National Native American Heritage Month. Minnesota is home to eleven proud Ojibwe and Dakota nations, and those nations and their people are a vital part of our states heritage and our future. American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians are the source of Americas first participatory democracy and the population with the highest rates of service in our nations armed services. Their cultures and communities have endured despite centuries of violence, injustice, and discrimination. That legacy must never be buried or ignored, but I am committed to working with tribal leaders to move forward in a new era of respect and self-governance throughout Indian Country. The nation-to-nation relationship between our federal government and the 567 diverse, federally recognized tribal nations across the country has been strengthened tremendously under President Obama. I am proud to have worked with the President and my colleagues in Congress to pass major legislation to better meet our federal trust responsibility, strengthen tribal self-governance, and support Native families, like the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, the Tribal Law and Order Act, and the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. Investing in the health, safety, and education of Native youth, in particular, must be a priority for Congress. Native American youth deserve the same opportunities to shape their futures and succeed as any other child in America. Earlier this month, tribal leaders and Native youth joined President Obama and senior officials from throughout his Administration at the 7th Annual White House Tribal Nations Conference. I was incredibly proud to see young people representing their Native nations and sitting with our President, sharing their priorities and discussing their future. Whether standing against racism in their schools, advocating for opportunities in their communities, or preserving their languages and cultures, the powerful voices and actions of Native youth are helping to build a brighter future for all young people in this country. Yet even with the progress we have made, tremendous work remains to realize that future. As sovereign nations, tribal governments play an essential role in serving the needs of their tribal members and defending the rights of their Nations. We must follow through on our federal responsibility to Native Americans with greater and more meaningful consultation and withlegislative action that supports tribal self-determination, governmental parity, and significant investments throughout Indian Country. As we honor the heritage and resilience of our Native American brothers and sisters this month, we also commit to working together to build stronger communities and a stronger nation because when Indian Country is strong, America is strong.",1,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z,2026-03-30T12:14:52Z