Al Franken's Blog, page 86
October 24, 2011
Star Tribune: Franken: In energy use, less is more — much more
When Scott County partnered with Honeywell to upgrade insulation, lighting, windows and energy-management systems in six government buildings, everybody won.
Honeywell earned another customer in its continuing push to grow the clean-energy industry here in Minnesota. The construction and manufacturing sectors got a boost. Building-trades workers — hit hardest by the recession — were put back on the job. Future energy use was significantly reduced, leading to less impact on our environment. And Scott County taxpayers are saving more than $185,000 a year in energy costs.
That's what retrofitting is all about. Making our buildings more energy-efficient protects our environment, saves money, improves real-estate values, creates jobs — and could be the next big thing for Minnesota's economy, with energy-service companies, leading windowmakers and other manufacturers headquartered right here in our state.
© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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Pine City Press: Home. Free.
With her son Shane Bauer finally back in the United States after two years of incarceration in Iran, Pine City's Cindy Hickey is experiencing something she hasn't felt since first hearing he had been taken prisoner.
"'Freedom' is my new word," Cindy said. "Shane, Sarah [Shourd] and Josh [Fattal] are free, but we're also free. Everything I've done since we arrived back on U.S. soil has had a different feel to it. My first cup of coffee tasted different, my first shower felt different, my first walk. Now I'm marking everything by Shane's freedom versus his detainment. It's overwhelming … it's definitely a new path in life, and I'm looking forward to a positive direction."
It had been two years of waiting for news, hoping for a phone call or a scrap of news, of writing letters, talking to government officials and organizing support for the three hikers. There were moments of hope which proved empty. Even on Sept. 21, waiting in Oman for news that her son had been released from prison, Cindy wasn't sure if this was truly it.
© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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October 21, 2011
Minnesota Independent: Franken amendment to test kids more accurately than NCLB passes
Arguing the current standard for student assessment is a "perversity" that leads to a "race to the middle," Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) successfully introduced an amendment that would better gauge student learning and knowledge. The proposal is part of the ongoing Senate debate over how to move the nation's major education law of the land beyond No Child Left Behind.
His amendment, one of a handful passed so far by the HELP committee as it undergoes a markup of the sweeping K-12 education bill authored by leading sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), would lift the restrictions that bar states from testing students based on their skill level.
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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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Star Tribune: Franken urges continued funding for heating assistance
With winter fast approaching and energy prices rising, U.S. Sen. Al Franken, DFL, Minn., called on administration officials to continue funding a critical program to help a growing number of seniors and low-income Minnesotans afford to keep their heat on when temperatures drop.
"At a time when our economy is in serious need of recovery and Minnesotans are struggling to make ends meet, the unprecedented rise in energy costs can force families across our state to choose between buying groceries and staying warm," Franken said in a prepared statement. "That should never happen, and heating assistance is a last resort for Minnesotans who otherwise can't afford to heat their homes. I urge Congress and the administration to work together to make these vitally important funds available."
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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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October 19, 2011
Domesticfuel.com: Senators to Address Algae Biomass Summit
U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Al Franken (D-MN) will address the 2011 Algae Biomass Summit October 25-27 in Minneapolis, according to the Algal Biomass Organization (ABO).
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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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Alexandria Echo-Press: Franken urges service members to claim retroactive Stop Loss pay
In a video message, U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) urged service members and veterans who had their military service involuntarily extended under the Stop Loss program between September 11, 2001 and September 30, 2009 to claim their retroactive stop loss pay. The deadline for applying is October 21st.
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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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October 13, 2011
Star Tribune: Released hikers enjoying better food, less sleep
After more than two years in an Iranian prison, it's all about enjoying the basics: Eating good food. Seeing the sunrise. And getting a little less sleep.
Shane Bauer and Josh Fattal, the hikers jailed for more than two years in Iran, traveled to Washington on Wednesday to thank those who worked to gain their release, and they shared some of the things they've enjoyed since they left Iran last month.
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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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CNET: Senators aim to cut through 4G baloney
The bill from Minnesota Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, along with Connecticut's Richard Blumenthal–all Democrats–is similar to the "Next Generation Wireless Disclosure Act," which was introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in June by Palo Alto Democrat Anna Eshoo.
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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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Fox9: Franken: Trapping Crucial Until Gray Wolf is Delisted
Sen. Al Franken wants U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to maintain funding of Minnesota's gray wolf management program until they are taken off the endangered species list.
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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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WCCO: Freed Hikers, Their Families Thank Senators
Two American hikers held for more than two years in an Iranian prison thanked U.S. senators on Wednesday for their help in pressing for their release.
Joined by family members who never stopped smiling, Joshua Fattal and Shane Bauer traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with Sens. Bob Casey, D-Pa., and Al Franken, D-Minn., to express their gratitude for their work.
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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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