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Dear Friend,

I'm excited to announce that I'll be hosting a town hall meeting to kick off 2024. This will be a great opportunity for us to come together as a community to discuss the issues that matter most to you in the new year. I'll provide updates on my work in Congress and priorities for the new year—including addressing the climate crisis, protecting our democracy and protecting reproductive rights. Most importantly, I want to hear directly from you – your concerns and hopes for our district in 2024. To attend, please register for the event location details.

Register Here.

Visiting Food Shelf in East Phillips

I had the pleasure of visiting Community Emergency Services (CES) in East Phillips, a nonprofit providing food and other aid to our community. I met with CES staff, took a tour of their facility, and spoke with the people they serve daily through their food shelf.

CES assits our most vulnerable residents. I'm thrilled that their efforts recently received a boost through a federal AmeriCorps VISTA grant of up to $67,770. This funding will support additional VISTA volunteers at CES to expand their community outreach and maximize their impact in combating food insecurity.

I will continue working to direct federal resources toward local organizations making a real difference in people’s lives here in Minnesota.

Interview with Esme Murphy 

I spoke with Esme Murphy of CBS News Minnesota to provide updates on my work in Congress, as well as my continued calls for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. This conflict has been devastating for civilians, especially children – who make up 40% of those killed by Israeli airstrikes. UNICEF is calling this a “war on children” given the appalling child death toll.

As long as I have a voice, I will speak out against the killing of innocent children and all civilians.

Remembering January 6th 

It’s been three years since the horrific attack on our Capitol and democracy itself on January 6, 2021. As we reflect on that dark day, we remember the violence, destruction, and lives lost in an attempt to overturn a free and fair election.

While it has been three years, the threats that motivated that insurrection – white supremacy, disinformation, and authoritarianism – remain very real and present dangers. Our democracy is still fragile. Now more than ever, we need to come together as a nation to rebuild trust in one another and our institutions and re-commit to the democratic principles this nation was founded upon.

I believe we can overcome the forces that seek to divide us, but it will take all of us standing up for justice, speaking truth in the face of lies, and fighting to protect voting rights, civil liberties, and the marginalized among us. 

Standing up for Reproductive rights

The recent Supreme Court decision has allowed Idaho’s abortion ban to be enforced, this is putting women’s health and lives at risk. 

Even in cases of medical emergency, doctors in Idaho can no longer provide abortions without facing criminal charges. This is an attack on women’s constitutional rights. The fact that such an extreme law is permitted is chilling. The only solution is to codify Roe V. Wade into federal law to restore reproductive rights nationwide.

In Congress, I will continue to support legislation affirming the right to abortion care free from medically unnecessary restrictions. Women’s health should never be subject to the whims of hostile state legislatures or justices. 

Commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. Day 

This Monday, I’ll be in Minneapolis joining constituents and community leaders to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. There are few better places to celebrate his life and activism than right here in our city, which has been shaped by both the light and shadow of progress towards racial equality.

The Fifth District has seen incredible grassroots organizing for civil rights over decades, from the Northside to South Minneapolis and beyond. But our work towards justice is far from finished. As Dr. King said, "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." MLK Day is a time to reflect on how far we've come and how far we have to go to build a society of true equity.

I look forward to commemorating this day with you all.

In Service,

Ilhan Omar