November 13, 2023

Dear Fourth District Constituent,

I invite you to join me for a virtual update from Washington this Wednesday, November 15, at 11:30am CT. Many of you have contacted me in recent weeks regarding the mounting unfinished business facing Congress that requires urgent action. Later this week, funding for the federal government expires. 

Domestic emergency assistance is needed for disaster relief, shoring up our child care system, and border security. Additionally, emergency assistance is needed to address for Ukraine and humanitarian aid to address the crisis in Gaza. Congress must act quickly, and I look forward to updating you about these matters. Please register and submit your questions here. 

You can find all of my recent public statements on the war along with resources and guidance for American citizens in the Middle East here.

Chaos Caucus's Continuing Resolution is No Solution

Instead of working with Democrats on a bipartisan solution to keep the government open and working for the American people, Speaker Johnson and extreme MAGA Republicans are playing political games and pushing their radical funding bills.

Last week, Republicans were even forced to pull two of their bills from consideration on the House Floor at the last minute last week after realizing they did not have the votes to pass them, resulting in a waste of yet more legislative time—after a 22-day delay in electing a new Speaker. 

Speaker Johnson’s proposal of an untested, so-called ‘laddered Continuing Resolution’ only continues the chaos and extends the profoundly unserious way that Republicans have governed the House of Representatives this Congress. By splitting funding for the federal government into two parts with different expiration dates, the Speaker’s proposal would set up a two-tiered shutdown crisis early in 2024. My constituents expect the entire federal government to be funded in a responsible way, something House Republicans have utterly failed to do. The Speaker’s proposal does not include any emergency security assistance for Ukraine or humanitarian aid to address the crisis in Gaza, nor does it include any funding to address our domestic emergencies, including disaster relief, shoring up our child care system, and border security.

As I said in September during the last House Republican-manufactured shutdown crisis, it is long past time for Republican leadership to stop listening to the extremists in their Conference. The only path forward to funding the entire government for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2024 is to work with House and Senate Democrats in a bipartisan fashion.

Veterans Day 

On Saturday, I joined the State of Minnesota Veterans Day Program to honor all those who have served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marines.

These Americans deserve our gratitude, and that's why it’s important that our actions reflect our appreciation. I have worked to expand the availability of high quality, affordable health care, including passing the PACT Act to ensure veterans receive all the benefits they are entitled to, and protecting GI education benefits and workforce training opportunities. 

Working in partnership with Ramsey County Commissioner and Veteran Trista Martinson and the National Association of Counties, I am also promoting Operation Green Light for Veterans, an initiative connecting veterans with county support services. If you noticed any buildings illuminated in green last week, it was to highlight this important initiative!

Read my full statement honoring Veterans Day here. 

As always, don’t hesitate to reach out if you need assistance with a federal agency or to voice your policy opinion. Thank you for being an informed and engaged constituent.

Sincerely,

Betty McCollum
Member of Congress