Al in the News
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Floor Statement Urging Colleagues to Present a Replacement Plan That Will Keep ACA Protections that Have Saved Minnesotans’ Lives
Click here to read Senator Franken's remarks urging his Republican colleagues—who are currently trying to repeal the law, including its life-saving protections—to show the American people their replacement plan.
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KARE: Veterans Day in Inver Grove Heights
Since joining the Senate, Sen. Al Franken has worked hard to ensure that we keep our promises to the men and women who serve in the military.
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KIMT: US Senator Al Franken is hoping to improve the farm bill
As a member of the Senate Energy Committee, Senator Al Franken is committed to promoting energy initiatives that create jobs, help Minnesotans, and protect the environment.
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Northland News Center: Resolution honoring Jacob Wetterling family introduced to Senate
Recently, Senators Franken and Amy Klobuchar introduced a Senate resolution to both honor the life of Jacob Wetterling and recognize the strength of the entire Wetterling family, who continue to advocate for child safety.
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Minneapolis Star Tribune: Does it matter that Pokemon knows where you go -- and much more about you?
As the top Democrat on the Privacy, Technology and the Law Subcommittee, Senator Al Franken believes that everyone has a fundamental right to privacy, and that people should have control over when—and with whom—their information is shared.
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Sen. Franken's Statement on Stabbing in St. Cloud
Click here to read Senator Al Franken's statement in response to the stabbing of nine people in St. Cloud.
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KSTP: St. Croix River Crossing Project Moves on to Next Phases
Senator Franken recently joined fellow Senator Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin to see progress on the Stillwater Bridge construction project, which will link Minnesota with Wisconsin and support new economic development.
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WCCO: Labor Secretary Tours U.S. Bank Stadium
Senator Al Franken, a member of the Senate Education and Labor Committee, has made it a top priority of his to close our nation's workforce "skills gap," where businesses are unable to fill millions of open jobs because they can't find workers with the right skills.
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Duluth News Tribune: Community breaks ground on new Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School
Sen. Al Franken took part in the ceremonial groundbreaking for the new Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig High School with Reps. Betty MCollum and Rick Nolan. Sen. Franken was honored to be at the start of the construction of a new building that will help students in Indian Country reach their full potential in a safe learning environment.
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International Falls Journal: Hard work pays off
Inspired by Sen. Al Franken's Rural Health Tour, leaders at Rainy River Community College in International Falls have opened a new nursing lab and created an innovative new position to recruit talented health care professionals in Koochiching County. Sen. Franken dropped by Rainy River to see the school's work firsthand and to talk with workers and staff about meeting the region's health care needs.
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KEYC: Franken visits FarmFest to Hear from Agriculture Leaders
With one in five Minnesota jobs tied to agriculture, Sen. Al Franken has made his state's farmers, ranchers, and rural communities a top priority. He understands the importance of ag producers and rural businesses, not only to Minnesota's economy, but also to our way of life.
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Tri County News: Sen. Franken Tours Watkins Tornado Damage
Senator Franken recently toured Watkins, Minnesota, where he met with residents, local officials, and emergency first responders to assess the damage from a recent tornado that hit the area.
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Worthington Daily Globe: Franken Pushes Bills to Help Rural Health
Sen. Al Franken, Co-Chair of the bipartisan Senate Rural Health Caucus, is committed to improving rural health care in Minnesota and across the country.
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Tech Crunch: Sen. Al Franken questions Niantic over Pokeprivacy policy
Sen. Al Franken, top Democrat on the Senate Privacy and Technology Subcommittee and a strong advocate for consumer privacy, pressed app developer Niantic to explain how it collects Pokemon GO users' digital data and what it does with that information.
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Sen. Franken's Statement on Death of Philando Castile
Sen. Al Franken made the following statement in response to the death of Philando Castile:
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Mankato Free Press: Officials: State, feds needed to fix infrastructure
Investing in the nation's infrastructure is key to creating jobs and prosperity in Minnesota and across the country, and in rural communities, it's critical to supporting local business and economic development.
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KSTP: Senators Urge FDA to End Discriminatory Blood Donation Policy
Following the tragedy at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, thousands of community members lined up at blood banks with the hopes of saving the lives of friends, family, and strangers in need of blood, but due to an outdated and unscientific federal policy, many gay and bisexual male donors found themselves turned away simply because of their sexual orientation.
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KEYC Mankato: Senator Franken Looks to Help Guard And Reservists Receive Benefits
After hearing Minnesota National Guard and Reservists had been denied hard-earned benefits when they returned home from serving overseas, Sen. Franken has been working hard to get them the benefits they deserve.
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West Central Tribune: Sen. Al Franken appears at Willmar Senior High School graduation
A member of the Senate Education Committee, Sen. Al Franken recently paid a visit to Willmar High School's 2016 graduation at the invitation of Muna Abdulahi, who last year served as a U.S. Senate Page in Washington, D.C. after being appointed by Sen. Franken.
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Rochester Post-Bulletin: Sen. Franken praises Kingsland for college in the schools
This year, Kingsland High School students celebrated their last day of school with a visit from Senator Franken.
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KEYC Mankato: Ag-state Senators Cool to EPA's Proposed Renewable Fuel Standards for 2017
As a member of the Senate Energy Committee, Sen. Al Franken has been a champion for greater investments in biofuels during his time in the Senate. He has repeatedly fought to raise RFS targets directly pressing President Obama, the head of the EPA, the White House Chief of Staff, and the federal agency that helps oversee the budget.
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Star Tribune: Threat of Zika Cases in Minnesota Draw Calls for Prevention
Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar convened a panel of top doctors, researchers, and public health officials to discuss how to combat the Zika virus.
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Northlands News Center: Minn. lawmakers face off in hot dish competition - who came out on top
On the 158th Anniversary of Minnesota becoming a state, Sen. Franken brought the entire Minnesota Congressional Delegation together for a true Minnesota tradition: hotdish.
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KAAL Rochester: Bill to Ensure Benefits to MN National Guard and Reserve Soldiers
Sen. Al Franken and Sen. Amy Klobuchar recently introduced legislation to ensure Minnesota veterans receive benefits they've earned.
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Star Tribune: Sen. Franken measure to get loans to Indian Country garners bipartisan love
Sen. Al Franken, a member of the Senate Energy and Indian Affairs Committees, has long been fighting for smart investments in energy infrastructure in Indian Country. And after years of pushing, the Senate finally adopted his bipartisan measure that will make funds available for new investments in energy projects on Minnesota tribal lands.
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MPR: Proposed water bill to replace lead pipes, boost Iron Range economy
The water crisis in Flint, Michigan brought to light dangerous amounts of lead in the public water systems of communities across the country. In response, Sen. Franken went to work to ensure children and families have safe drinking water.
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CBS Minnesota: Frankens Bill Gives Incentives To Zika Vaccine Makers
A bipartisan bill written by Sen. Al Franken to help speed up the development of vaccines and treatments against the dangerous Zika virus has passed Congress and is going to be signed into law.
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KVRR: Sen. Franken Pushes Bill to Support Veterans Who Worked at Nuclear Sites
Sen. Al Franken, a member of the Senate Health Committee and strong supporter of veterans, introduced a bipartisan bill that would give service members who helped clean up nuclear testing sites in the Marshall Islands the care they deserve.
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Star Tribune: Franken urges state funding for Southwest Corridor light rail
Sen. Al Franken recently joined local business and government officials to urge the Minnesota State Legislature to provide the final portion of funding for the Southwest Light Rail Transit (SWLRT) project and take advantage of this opportunity.
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The Hill: Franken presses for privacy info on Oculus Rift
Sen. Al Franken, top Democrat on the Senate Privacy and Technology Subcommittee, believes that privacy is a fundamental right for all Americans, which is why he is pressing the makers of the Oculus Rift—a new virtual reality technology—to explain how they plans to protect users' data.
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MinnPost: Leech Lakes Bug school gets $12M for repairs
Sen. Al Franken, a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and Senate Education Committee, has been fighting to fix the Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig High School on the Leech Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota for the better half of a decade.
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KVRR Fargo-Moorhead: Franken Impressed by Supreme Court Nominee Merrick Garland
Sen. Al Franken has been a leading voice in urging his colleagues in the Senate to fulfill their constitutional duty and consider President Obama's Supreme Court nominee, Judge Merrick Garland.
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Minnesota Daily: Save money, lives with prevention
Type 2 diabetes affects more than 30 million Americans and kills two of them every five minutes. That's why Sen. Franken—a member of the Senate Health Committee—teamed up with Sen. Richard Lugar (R-Ind.) to establish the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP), which enrolls people with prediabetes in a regimen of healthy eating and physical activity.
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The New York Times: Merrick Garland Visits Capitol as G.O.P. Digs In Against Vote
In the past weeks, Sen. Franken has put the pressure on Senate Republicans to fulfill their constitutional duty by considering President Obama's nominee for the Supreme Court.
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Austin Daily Herald: Seniors vent prescription drug concerns
Sen. Al Franken recently kicked off his "Prescription Drug Cost Listening Tour," where he and his staff are holding meetings across the state to hear from Minnesotans that have been hit hard by prescription costs.
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Star Tribune: Sen. Franken to TSA: Fix long waits at MSP
Sen. Al Franken pressed the head of TSA to get the screening process moving more quickly, and shortly after, he also called on the Senate's top funding negotiators for additional resources to hire more TSA agents and reduce wait times.
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Star Tribune: Franken presses Senate Republicans to consider Supreme Court nominee
After the passing of Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia last month, Sen. Al Franken has taken a leading role in working to fill a now vacant seat on the highest court in the land.
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Star Tribune: Franken-Walz Bill would help shorten VA backlog
Sen. Al Franken and Rep. Tim Walz (D-MN) introduced the bipartisan "Quicker Veterans Benefit Delivery Act" in both the House and Senate.
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The Washington Post: Google responds to Sen. Franken privacy inquiry
Sen. Al Franken believes that privacy is a fundamental right of all Americans, and he recently pressed Google to explain how it is using data collected from students in Minnesota and across the country who use the company's education products.
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Duluth News Tribune: U.S. Senate finally OKs ambassadors to Norway, Sweden
Minnesota is home to the largest Scandinavian population in the country. So when ambassador appointments to two close allies—Norway and Sweden—were delayed in the Senate, Sens. Al Franken and Amy Klobuchar did whatever they could to get the nominations through.
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Star Tribune: Put politics aside and expedite response to the Zika virus
The Zika virus is rapidly spreading across South and Central America, and Sen. Al Franken, a member of the Senate Health Committee, believes we should be taking all proper steps to combat its spread, as well as to discover a vaccine and treatments.
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Star Tribune: Minneapolis sick-leave supporters meet with U.S. Sen. Al Franken
Sen. Al Franken, a member of the Senate Health and Labor Committee, has been fighting for working Minnesotans since he got to the Senate.
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Duluth News Tribune: Franken talks rural health care woes
Sen. Al Franken, Co-Chair of the bipartisan Senate Rural Health Caucus, is committed to improving rural health care in Minnesota and across the country.
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The Huffington Post: Lawmakers Push White House To Repair Neglected Native American Schools
Sen. Al Franken and a group of bipartisan Minnesota lawmakers are calling on the White House to help support repairing and rebuilding Native American schools.
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Lillie News: Sen. Franken Visits Central Park Elementary to Support STEM and Early Childhood Education
As a member of the Senate Education Committee, making sure students receive the best education possible has been a priority for Sen. Al Franken since he got to the Senate.
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International Falls Journal: Time to get tough
Sen. Al Franken has fought tirelessly to ensure that workers in Minnesota and across the country are protected from illegal practices used by foreign competitors to undercut American businesses.
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WCCO: Franken Working to Change How The Justice System Deals With the Mentally Ill
Sen. Al Franken has been fighting to fix how the justice system deals with the mentally ill since he got to the Senate, and after years of advocacy, his bipartisan Comprehensive Justice and Mental Health Act passed the Senate.
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Website Outage Alert
Our website messaging services were disrupted on Tuesday, December 22, 2015 from 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. CST. If you or someone you know sent a request or message during this time, please resend your correspondence.
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Op-Ed: Our New Education Law Will Help Minnesota Students and Schools
Click here to read Sen. Franken's op-ed on his work to reform No Child Left Behind.
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St. Cloud Times: Franken scores win on schools overhaul
Sen. Al Franken was thrilled to join President Obama at the signing of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). This law—which replaces NCLB—gives states and school districts more flexibility in creating curriculums, setting academic standards, and educating students.
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Star Tribune: Finally, Congress is set to adopt replacement for No Child Left Behind
Sen. Al Franken has been fighting to make sure that students in Minnesota and across the country have access to a world-class education.
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Star Tribune Op-Ed: Our food supply is reason enough to act on climate change
Sen. Al Franken co-wrote an op-ed for the Star Tribune with Cargill CEO Dave MacLennan on why we must address climate change before it's too late.
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Sen. Franken Calls New Renewable Fuel Standard Targets Not Strong Enough
Sen. Al Franken has for years been working hard to protect investments in renewable energy and to support Minnesota's ag economy.
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Duluth News Tribune: Klobuchar, Franken push anti steel-dumping bill
Sen. Al Franken is working on several fronts to address unfair foreign trade practices that are hurting Minnesota's Iron Range.
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Star Tribune: Wisconsin derailments highlight need to press on for rail safety improvements
Sen. Al Franken has been working hard to improve railroad safety for people in Minnesota and across the country.
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Sen. Franken fights to protect consumers right to sue
As one of Congress' most vocal advocates for consumers, Sen. Al Franken has been working hard on behalf of Americans whose rights have been threatened by giant corporations.
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Sen. Franken continues fight to ban stalking apps
As the top Democrat on the Privacy, Technology, and the Law Subcommittee, Sen. Al Franken has been fighting to protect the fundamental privacy rights of people in Minnesota and across the country.
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Franken: Solar energy 'good for Minnesota farmers'
Sen. Al Franken has been working hard to help Minnesota farmers reduce energy costs and boost renewable energy production. As a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, he has been fighting to cut energy costs for farmers and rural businesses in Minnesota and across the country.
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Pioneer Press: Minnesotans leading overhaul of No Child Left Behind education law
Sen. Franken - a member of the Senate Education Committee - has long fought to make sure that every student has access to a world-class education. That's why he has been pushing to overhaul the outdated No Child Left Behind act (NCLB), which has governed federal education policy for the last thirteen years.
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Sen. Franken Fights to Ban Unconscionable Stalking Apps
Sen. Franken has been working hard during his time in the Senate to protect the fundamental privacy rights of people in Minnesota and around the country. He has led the charge against "stalking apps" - smartphone applications that an abuser can use to secretly to track a victim.
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Duluth News Tribune: Sen. Franken Says End Unfair Trade Practices that Harm Iron Range Workers, Great Lakes Shippers
Sen. Franken is fighting back against unfair trade practices by other countries that have harmed workers and businesses in Northern Minnesota. The dumping of foreign steel at anti-competitive prices into American markets has shook the Northland, causing several mines to idle this year and forcing hundreds of Minnesotans out of work.
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KQDS: Sen. Franken Works to Address Violence Against Transgender Community
Sen. Franken recently pressed the nation's top law enforcement officials to address the alarming increase in discrimination and violence against transgender and gender non-conforming people. He urged the Department of Justice and the FBI to crack down on crimes targeting the transgender community, and he also asked them to work with state and local officials to more accurately report these hate crimes.
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Star Tribune: Franken stumps to end forced arbitration
Sen. Franken, one of Congress' most vocal advocates for consumers, has worked hard on behalf of Americans whose rights have been threatened by giant corporations. On a conference call this week, he underscored why he's fighting to ban forced arbitration clauses.
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The Column: Franken calls on Dept. of Justice to address epidemic of violence against trans people
After a startling increase in violence against transgendered and gender non-conforming people, Sen. Franken wrote top law enforcement officials at the Department of Justice and FBI to express his deep concern about the trend. He pressed both agencies to bolster collaboration with local authorities to crack down on crimes targeting the transgender community, and to increase accurate reporting of hate crimes.
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Senator Franken Announces Bill to Save Minnesota Students Money on College Textbooks
With the cost of college continuing to skyrocket, Sen. Franken—a member of the Senate Education Committee—has been working hard to find ways to help make college more affordable for students and families in Minnesota and across the country. That's why he recently introduced the Affordable College Textbook Act, which would expand access to free online textbooks.
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The Hill: Sen. Franken Urges Close Scrutiny of Proposed Time Warner-Charter Merger
Sen. Franken, one of Congress' most vocal advocates for consumers, wants to ensure that Minnesotans-particularly those living in rural areas-have access to affordable high-speed Internet. That's why he has expressed concerns about a proposed merger between Time Warner Cable and Charter Communications, which if approved by federal regulators could affect the ability of Minnesota consumers to access and pay for cable and Internet services.
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WCCO: Sen. Franken Discusses Bill to Close Employment Skills Gap
Sen. Franken has introduced legislation to create partnerships between two-year colleges and businesses to train Americans for jobs in high-demand industries, such as health care, clean energy, and information technology. Click here to read the story from WCCO.
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St. Cloud Times Editorial Board: Career training bill deserves funds
Sen. Franken recently visited St. Cloud Community and Technical College to discuss his legislative proposal to help local business close the "skills gap." Click here to read an editorial by the St. Cloud Times in support of Sen. Franken's legislation.
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The Minnesota Daily Editorial Board: Net Neutrality Remains Essential
Since arriving in the Senate, Sen. Franken has been leading the fight to protect net neutrality-the principle that all content on the Internet should be treated equally and delivered at the same speed. Sen. Franken wants to ensure that the Internet remains an open marketplace for ideas and innovation, which is why he was pleased when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved strong protections for net neutrality earlier this year.
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WCCO: Franken Interviews Minnesota Vet To Start Veterans History Project
Click here to read WCCO's report as Sen. Franken interviewed a Minnesota veteran about her personal military experiences.
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WJON Radio : Sen. Franken Discusses Healthcare Skills Gap
Sen. Franken led a roundtable discussion on the healthcare "skills gap"-where jobs go unfilled because businesses cannot find workers with the right training and skills-with St. Cloud healthcare leaders. Click here to read the full story from WJON Radio.
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KIMT: Sen. Franken Pushes for Greater Transparency in Higher Education Costs
Sen. Franken, a member of the Senate Education Committee, recently introduced two bills that would give students and their families better information about the costs of college. These bills reflect Sen. Franken's strong commitment to making college costs more affordable and transparent for Minnesota students and their families. Click here to KIMT TV's story.
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Detroit Lakes Tribune: Sen. Franken launches project to record MN veterans memories
Click here to read more about the Veterans History Project, a joint effort from Sen. Franken and the Library of Congress to collect and preserve the personal accounts of Minnesota war veterans.
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Duluth News Tribune: Broadband 'as important as textbooks'
Click here to read the Duluth News Tribune's report on a meeting Sen. Franken called to discuss how to expand access to broadband Internet in Minnesota.
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The Great Minnesota Get-Together
Going to the Minnesota State Fair? Click here to read about Sen. Franken's favorite things to do at the Great Minnesota Get-Together and where to find his booth.
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Mesabi Daily News: Northern Minnesota Taconite Company Idles Production
Sen. Franken is deeply concerned about the well-being of the workers and families who are being affected by the idling of Cliffs iron ore mine in Eveleth. Click here to read coverage from the Mesabi Daily News.
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MPR: Sen. Franken Urges Federal Agencies to Investigate New Apple Streaming Service
Sen. Franken believes that competition is hugely beneficial to consumers-it means more choices, lower prices, and better customer service. That's why when Apple launched is streaming music service, Sen. Franken wrote to federal regulators raising concerns about the potential anticompetitive advantage Apple has over competitors, many of who rely on devices like iPhones and iPads. Sen. Franken wants to ensure that, as the digital music market evolves, consumers benefit from legitimate competition.
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WCCO: Sen. Franken Pushes to Overhaul No Child Left Behind
For years, Sen. Franken, a member of the Senate Education Committee, has been pushing for a long-needed overhaul of the nation's No Child Left Behind law, so that federal education policy works better for Minnesota schools and students.
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MPR: Franken: Schools need more mental health counselors
Recently, Sen. Franken wrote a provision in the Every Child Achieves Act--a key piece of legislation in overhauling the federal education system--that specifically addresses how to improve and expand mental health services in schools around the country. The Every Child Achieves Act, which was passed with bipartisan support in the Senate, will reinstate federal funding to establish and improve school counseling programs. These counseling programs will ensure that students, with and without disabilities, have access to the mental health services they need.
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MSNBC: Sen. Franken Speaks on LGBT Progress and the Student Non-Discrimination Act
Sen. Franken spoke with MSNBC about a measure he's been working on for years to help stop the bullying of LGBT children in schools. Click here to watch his interview with Chris Hayes.
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CNN.com: Editorial by Sen. Franken: Congress Must Act to Protect LGBT Kids
Sen. Franken co-wrote an op-ed for CNN.com with President Randi Weingarten of the American Federation of Teachers that discusses legislation to protect children from discrimination based on their actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.
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Duluth News Tribune: Sen. Franken Believes Rural Health Issues Deserve Action
The Duluth News Tribune wrote an editorial about Sen. Franken's work on rural health and echoed his call for action.
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Rochester Post Bulletin: Minnesota Should Expand Mental Health Referrals in Schools
The Rochester Post Bulletin recently wrote an editorial praising Sen. Franken's work on mental health issues and agreeing that his bill is important to the success and well-being of students.
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WCCO: Sen. Franken Speaks Out Against Payday Loans in St. Paul
During a recent meeting with financial and consumer advocates in St. Paul, Sen. Franken spoke about the dangers of payday loans. He also talked about his press to get the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau-the nation's top consumer agency-to come out with new rules that crack down on payday loans. WCCO writes about the new rules.
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Star Tribune: Sen. Franken Welcomes Home Soldiers
Recently, Sen. Franken welcome home a group of nearly 200 Minnesota National Guard soldiers who have been serving in Iraq and Kuwait. Sen. Franken was privileged to attend their welcoming home celebration in Anoka, and is grateful for their sacrifices to protect our nation. Click here to read the Star Tribune writes about the welcome home ceremony.
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Star Tribune: Franken, Stanek: Inmates with mental illness are societys dirty little secret
Click here to read the Star Tribune's coverage of a meeting with Sen. Franken, Hennepin County Sherriff Rich Stenek, and several local law enforcement officials to discuss his bipartisan legislative proposal to reform how mental illness is handled in the criminal justice system.
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Star Tribune: Senator Franken Calls for Information on FBI Planes Flying Over Minnesota
With recent reports that FBI spy planes have been conducting surveillance over the Twin Cities and other cities across the country, he pressed the nation's top law enforcement agencies to explain more about the scope and legality of these programs. Going forward, Sen. Franken will continue to fight to protect the privacy rights of Minnesotans.
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International Falls Journal: Sen. Franken Pushes for Improved Rail Safety
Sen. Franken is committed to protecting communities all across Minnesota that come into contact with trains transporting highly volatile, flammable fuel like crude oil. Click here to read the International Falls Journal's editorial praising Sen. Franken's work.
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Star Tribune: Sen. Franken Works to Ban Non-Compete Agreements for Low-Wage Workers
Sen. Franken recently took legislative action to remove unfair barriers that can prevent workers from finding jobs. Click here to read more from the Star Tribune.
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St. Cloud Times: Sen. Franken Sees Economic Opportunities for Minnesotans in Cuba
Sen. Franken recently traveled to Cuba to explore ways that the U.S. and Cuba can expand trade and tourism opportunities that would benefit Minnesota. Click here to read more about his trip from the St. Cloud Times.
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Klobuchar, Franken, Nolan Announce Nearly $3 Million to Improve Infrastructure at Cook County-Grand Marais Airport
Senators Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken, along with Representative Rick Nolan, today announced that the Department of Transportation has awarded the Cook County-Grand Marais Airport $2.9 million to extend its runway.
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Star Tribune Editorial Board Commends Sen. Franken for Leadership on Tribal Schools
Click here to read how the Star Tribune's Editorial Board recently praised Sen. Franken for his work on behalf of children in Indian Country who have to go to school in rundown, dilapidated buildings that negatively affect their learning.
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KVRR TV: Sen. Franken Presses for More Rail Safety Regulations
Click here to read KVRR TV's reports on how after Sen. Franken pressed for new measures to address the serious issue of rail safety, the Department of Transportation announced new standards for trains carrying highly flammable fuels like crude oil from the Bakken region of North Dakota.
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Northland News Center: Sen. Franken Supports Neglected Tribal Schools
As a member of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, Sen. Franken been fighting for years to bring more resources to American Indian communities throughout Minnesota and the entire country, including at neglected Bureau of Indian Education schools like the Bug-O-Nay-Ge-Shig School on Leech Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota
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KMSP TV: Sen. Franken Visits Willmar To Help Fight Avian Flu Crisis
Minnesota have been hit this spring by an outbreak of avian flu that has hurt farmers and communities. Click here to read about how Sen. Franken has been working on several fronts to help our producers deal with the crisis and get back to work as quickly as possible.
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Star Tribune: After press from Sen. Franken, new standards to ensure safety of Bakken crude oil trains
After Sen. Franken's press for new measures to address the serious issue of rail safety, the Department of Transportation has just announced new safety standards for trains carrying highly flammable fuels like the crude oil that passes through Minnesota communities after being shipped out of the Bakken region of North Dakota. Sen Franken said that, while these new rules are a step in the right direction, more action is needed to address the pressing issue of rail safety.
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KSTP: Sen. Franken Introduces Bill to Protect Consumers Private Information
As the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology and the Law, Sen. Franken is one of the strongest advocate for protecting consumers' private information. He recently helped introduce new legislation that would increase accountability for data brokers-companies that collect personal information, including home addresses and medical data , and sell it to third parties without your knowledge. Sen. Franken believes people should have greater control over both whether their information is shared and with whom.
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Bemidji Pioneer: Pioneer Editorial Board recognizes Sen. Frankens work on the Comprehensive Justice and Mental Health Act
The Bemidji Pioneer's Editorial Board recognized Sen. Franken for his work in the Senate to address the serious need to improve mental health care in our criminal justice system.
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Minnesota Daily: Editorial Board Praises Sen. Franken for Education Amendments
The Minnesota Daily's editorial board recently praised Sen. Franken for his work to help reform our country's federal education policy-commonly known as No Child Left Behind-and for his efforts to make sure that every student has access to a quality education. The editorial board writes.
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Duluth News Tribune: Op-Ed Level Playing Field for Minnesota Steelworkers
Sen. Franken is continuing his fight to level the playing field for U.S. steel and taconite producers by ending the unfair dumping of foreign steel that is pushing down ore prices and stealing jobs from Minnesota. In response to the layoffs, Sen. Franken-along with Sen. Klobuchar and Rep. Nolan-discussed their efforts in a Duluth News Tribune column.