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Dear Friend,
We are at a pivotal moment for our district, our state and our country. Jobs have come back to Minnesota, inflation is at its lowest level in two years, and the share of working-age Americans in the workforce is the highest it’s been in twenty years. Minnesota made history this past legislative session—passing universal school meals, mandatory paid sick time, major funding for childcare, historic investments in housing, drivers’ licenses for all, legalized cannabis, restored the vote, and so many more transformational bills.
But far too many Minnesotans still struggle to pay the bills. We have a shortage of affordable housing, rent continues to rise, and the climate crisis promises to wreak havoc on our state for generations to come. The Supreme Court’s shameful decision to overturn Roe v Wade has led to a nationwide assault on reproductive rights from far-right conservative legislatures. What’s more, we are seeing the acute impacts of our failed foreign policy. The attacks by Hamas on innocent Israelis have claimed over 1,200 lives, and as of this writing, the Israeli siege on Gaza has displaced a whopping 2 million people and killed nearly 20,000–70 percent of them women and children—much of it using U.S. weapons..
As the Representative for Minnesota’s 5th District, I have sought to face these challenges with courage, compassion, and conviction. In Congress, I advocated for and helped pass the most historic piece of climate legislation in history—and continue to support bold efforts like a bill to end all fossil fuel subsidies and a Green New Deal for Public Schools. I carry the Homes for All legislation, which seeks a historic investment in public and affordable housing to transform our housing market and end homelessness. I’ve also brought over $700 million in Federal grant funding for critical services like improving pedestrian safety, childcare, and combatting hunger. In addition, I’ve fought for $41 million to Minnesota in the form of direct appropriations for community projects—including an affordable housing facility for veterans in Robbinsdale that I toured earlier this month, the expansion of Native American Housing in South Minneapolis, an affordable housing project in St. Louis Park, a new Nature Center in Richfield, and more. As a leader of the House Budget Committee and Progressive Caucus, I’ve continued to fight for the progressive values Minnesotans sent me to advocate for—whether it’s fighting to codify Roe v. Wade into law, addressing the opioid crisis or fighting for an assault weapons ban. Together we’ve been able to achieve a lot, including the passage of my bill, the MEALS Act, a bill I wrote and passed to feed 30 million students during the pandemic, and a landmark public safety bill I negotiated to secure major investments in local departments and real common sense accountability and reforms.
This year alone I secured $24,720,224 in appropriations through the government funding package for the 5th Congressional District of Minnesota. This funding directly responds to some of the most urgent needs faced by vulnerable communities across the district. It has enabled dozens of vital organizations to continue serving residents, including a food shelf at Southern Anoka Community Assistance (SACA) in Columbia Heights, expansion of the Southside Village Boys and Girls Club of the Twin Cities, a Northside Youth Greenhouse, affordable housing through Avenues for Youth Housing, expansion of services at the Native American Community Clinic, clinic expansion at Cedar Riverside People’s Center, expansion of services at Shiloh Cares Food Shelf in North Minneapolis, and countless others. None of this would have been possible without constant meetings and engagement with the communities we represent to hear their needs. To that end. I’ve held over 20 town halls and roundtables throughout the district and opened a new District Office at Sabathani Community Center.
Beyond this funding, the climate crisis remains one of the gravest threats facing future generations. While the Inflation Reduction Act I voted for and helped passed last year was historic, bold ongoing action is still required to curb emissions and transition our economy. That’s why I introduced the End Polluter Welfare Act—to cancel the $20 million in corporate handouts we give to the fossil fuel industry every year. I will continue pushing to end wasteful fossil fuel subsidies while incentivizing growth in clean energy jobs. We are already seeing more of these roles emerging in Minnesota. In fact, during President Biden's recent Minnesota manufacturing tour, I joined him at the Cummins plant in Fridley. The Inflation Reduction Act that Congress passed last year is spurring major renewable energy investments like those at Cummins. What Minnesota is achieving has the potential to serve as a model for climate progress across America.
Moreover, Minnesota recently became the first state to establish a dedicated office for missing and murdered Black women and girls. The initial results were extremely promising. So I worked with the local advocates behind the bill to introduce the Brittany Clardy Missing and Murdered Black Women and Girls Act at the federal level to address this nationwide crisis and alarming disparity in violence victimization. I am proud to say that the bill now has over 80 cosponsors, including nearly every Member of the Congressional Black Caucus. Creating a national office will not only provide more resources and attention to solving these cases, but also reaffirm our societal commitment to ensuring every Black life is valued and protected equally under the law.
In foreign policy, promoting peace and accountability for human rights violations has defined my efforts in Congress. Over this past year alone, I have conferenced with numerous diplomatic delegations and NGOs regarding crises around the world, and sought accountability for human rights abuses in India, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Pakistan, Iran, Qatar, Central America and many more. I also founded the U.S.-Africa Policy Working Group, which has served as a critical forum for advancing our engagement with the African continent, something critically important to communities in the 5th District. Most recently, I pushed US and international leaders to secure an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, release civilian hostages, halt weapons sales enabling war crimes, and allow impartial investigations into reported atrocities. We have worked day and night to secure the evacuation of multiple constituents out of Israel and the Gaza Strip. While entrenched conflicts often appear intractable, the international community must persistently demand accountability, dialogue, and good-faith efforts towards peace.
While I’m incredibly proud of the legislation passed and funding secured this year to aid vulnerable communities across Minnesota's 5th District, I recognize there is still an immense amount of work ahead. The priorities and needs expressed in your impassioned letters and phone calls directly guide my efforts in Congress. Regularly engaging with city council members, mayors, county officials and other local leaders throughout the district is also invaluable for aligning our priorities and harnessing our collective political capital for the betterment of all residents.
As we close out 2023, I wish to express my deepest gratitude for your support and civic participation over the past years. Our district is fortunate to have many visionary grassroots leaders helping shape public discourse and drive social change. I could not effectively represent the 5th without your critical insights and feedback. Please enjoy the upcoming holidays and new year with friends, family, and loved ones. I eagerly look forward to connecting with you all soon and continuing our shared mission of creating a more equitable and prosperous Minnesota in 2024. There are still many crucial fights ahead of us, but our district has proven its resilience time and again when we work strategically and stand united. Onward to another productive year of fighting for the 5th!
In Service,
Ilhan Omar
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