Newsletter Archives

Monday, January 23, 2012

North Star Newsletter | January, 2012

Sen. Franken Dropped the Puck at the Woodbury-Roseville Hockey Game on Jan. 12th

Looking Ahead to the New Year

As we start a new year, I would like to take a moment to say how amazingly proud and humbled I am by this opportunity to serve Minnesota. I love this job, and I’m so happy that I’ve been able to serve this great state and help make a difference in people’s lives. It has been wonderful traveling around Minnesota talking to and meeting people from different walks of life and from different political perspectives. One of the things I’m most proud of has been the opportunity to bring so many of Minnesota’s great ideas to Washington D.C. Whether it’s health care reform, the importance of investing in renewable energy, or education policy, I’ve learned so much from talking with people around the state, and know that Minnesota has a lot to teach Washington. Thank you.

Working to Improve Education

I’m proud to announce that this year Minnesota received a $45 million Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge (ELC) grant from the Department of Education. The Race to the Top ELC is a competitive grant given to states that are leading the way with ambitious plans for implementing comprehensive early childhood education reforms. We were one of 9 states to receive the grant and the Minnesota Department of Education plans to use this money to develop a better system of effective early childhood education. This is great, because as we’ve shown previously in Minnesota, investing in early childhood education is one of the smartest investments a state can make. This system will help narrow the student achievement gap, improve school readiness, and lay the groundwork for job creation and economic growth.

Visiting Schools and Manufacturers

Over the last few weeks, I’ve taken the opportunity to visit manufacturing facilities and schools across the state as part of my ongoing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education tour. Many manufacturing jobs now require high-tech skills, and some companies I’ve spoken to have vacancies, but cannot fill them because there are not enough qualified applicants. That’s why I’m such a strong advocate for STEM education and even authored a bill that would encourage schools to hire more STEM teachers. We need to encourage STEM education to prepare the next generation to work and compete in the 21st century economy.

Keeping Down Energy Costs

Last month, I wrote about my fight to keep adequate funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). In the current struggling economy, more and more Minnesotans have come to rely on LIHEAP funding to keep their heat on during the winter. And expected record energy costs are going to make it that much harder for Minnesotans to stay warm. That’s why I’m so pleased to announce that Sen. Klobuchar and I helped secure $14 million in critical heating assistance for Minnesota seniors and families. This crucial aid will prevent families from being left out in the cold and will make sure that everyone has the support that they need.