Al Franken's Blog, page 89

Albert Lea Tribune: Franken named Rural Health Care Legislator of the Year

In recognition of U.S. Sen. Al Franken's continued efforts to ensure that Minnesotans in rural communities receive the quality medical care they deserve, the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health has named him the 2011 Legislator of the Year. Franken's selection was announced this week during the organization's annual conference in Denver.

"I firmly believe that everyone should have access to high quality health care, no matter where they live," Franken said. "Minnesota's rural communities face unique challenges when it comes to making health care available to their residents and it's important that we meet those challenges. I am honored to accept this award and will continue to work to ensure that all of our communities have the resources they need to provide quality care."

Franken is a member of three panels — the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions; Indian Affairs Committees and the Senate Rural Health Caucus — where he has advocated for rural health improvements. He has written and co-sponsored several important rural health bills.

© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |



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Duluth News Tribune: Minnesota political leaders assess Pagami Creek fire

Superior National Forest officials on Friday banned all types of outdoor fires across the entire forest as they expect an influx of campers and hunters this weekend for the opening days of the grouse hunting and archery deer hunting seasons.

All campfires and other wood fires and charcoal grills are banned until further notice, including in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Gas stoves and gas grills are allowed.

Meanwhile, outside federal lands in Cook, Lake, Koochiching, Itasca and northern St. Louis counties, campfires or recreational fires are allowed only in a designated fire receptacle at a home, cabin, campground or resort. Fireworks are banned in rural or forested areas of the Northeastern counties and no burning permits will be issued.

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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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Fox 21 News: Northland Airports Get Funding For Projects

Several Northland airports are getting some help with upcoming projects.

Friday Minnesota Senators Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar announced more than 2.5 million in funds to help the airports out.

The money will mostly be put to use for infrastructure improvements.

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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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The Advocate: Senate Addresses Antigay Bullying Epidemic

Student anti-LGBT bullying cases "are probably the largest growth area" on the U.S. Justice Department's Civil Rights Division docket, Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez told lawmakers Tuesday.

Testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee in a hearing chaired by Sen. Chris Coons of Delaware, Perez, who leads the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, briefed members on hate-crimes prosecution and investigations since the 2009 passage of the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. Perez also spoke on other key areas of the division's work, including law enforcement misconduct, fair housing, and voting rights — as well as the disconcerting rise in reports of antigay bullying across the country.

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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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KAAL: Albert Lea Municipal Airport Recieves $1.5M

U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, along with Representative Tim Walz, have announced more than $1.5 million for infrastructure improvements at Albert Lea Municipal Airport.

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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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Star Tribune: Politics trap trade pacts

Major trade agreements with South Korea, Colombia and Panama appear harder to enact than they were to negotiate, even though many corporate executives and economists insist they provide just what the U.S. economy needs: jobs.

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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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Duluth News Tribune: Airport gets another construction grant

A $4.7 million federal grant that will help pay for the new Duluth International Airport passenger terminal was announced on Thursday.

The money from the Federal Aviation Administration through the Department of Transportation was announced by the offices of U.S. Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar.

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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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Pioneer Press: Focus of telecom battle is on jobs, broadband

U.S. Sen. Al Franken, an early and vocal opponent of AT&T's $39 billion bid for T-Mobile, praised the Justice Department's decision Wednesday to try to block the deal, saying it would limit competition and drive up prices for consumers.

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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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DL-Online: Sen. Franken makes a stop in Park Rapids

U.S. Sen. Al Franken stopped in Park Rapids Monday afternoon to visit with Lamb-Weston RDO Frozen employees and take a quick tour of downtown.

"I'm visiting with manufacturers all over the state," Franken said. "Each facility has different specific issues I need to know about."

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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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FireDogLake: Franken: Rating Agencies "Fundamentally Flawed," Operating Same As Before the Crisis

When Dodd-Frank passed, I said that the legislation was not a bill but a plan to write a bill later. Dodd-Frank had dozens of studies and rules that would be written and implemented by regulators. The legislation would offer a rough guideline, but ultimately it would be up to the regulators to actually determine whether or not it would make a difference.

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© Al Franken - U.S. Senator, Minnesota, 2011. |
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