April 19, 2024

Dear Fourth District Constituent,

If you missed it, a quick note that the Virtual Update originally scheduled for today will now take place on Thursday, April 25, at 1pm CT.

I am so excited to convene two of Minnesota's climate champions, Dr. Mark Seeley and Dr. Heidi Roop, for a conversation about the state of our climate, the work being done to adapt and become resilient, and how we can all help create a greener future. Don't miss it! Register here. 

Celebrate Earth Day

Earth Day celebrations, community cleanups, and activities are happening all over the Fourth District this weekend and Monday. Check out some of them here.

Saturday is also the kickoff of National Parks Week! Enjoy the wonderful nature we have access to here in the Fourth District, including the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, and plan how to do you your part to protect our environment. 

NEW: Legislation to Ban Nonessential PFAS

This week, I introduced bicameral legislation with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) to end most uses of PFAS "forever chemicals" that harm human health. The Forever Chemical Regulation and Accountability Act, H.R. 8074, provides a reasonable 10-year phaseout for manufacturers, and commissions a study on essential uses, like those with national security and medical implications, so our nation can do this thoughtfully and practically. 

I am proud to say this legislation builds on the leadership of Minnesota's advocates and elected officials who enacted Amara's Law in our state to protect the health of our communities. Everybody in every community deserves clean and safe water to drink, and with this bill, I'm bringing these Minnesota values to the national level. 

D.C. Update

I had a chance to see Woodbury Mayor Anne Burt and Community Relations Manager (and former Team McCollum staffer!) Shelly Schafer in my D.C. office this week to discuss how we are addressing PFAS in the East Metro as well as infrastructure improvements we're investing in to keep residents safe.

Fiscal Year 2025 Appropriations hearings are underway. The Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, where I serve as the top Democrat, met to examine the Pentagon's budget request this week. Sec. Austin, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. CQ Brown, and I agreed that more aid is urgently necessary for Ukraine in order to beat Putin and defend democracy.

And it is always great to welcome my friend, Secretary Deb Haaland, to Capitol Hill as the Appropriations Committee heard about the Department of the Interior's budget priorities for the upcoming year to invest in our public lands and waters, and work to meet our trust and treaty responsibilities to tribal communities.

Stay in touch! Voice your policy opinion, ask for help with a federal agency, or find all of my recent statements at mccollum.house.gov.

As always, thank you for being an informed and engaged constituent. 

Sincerely,

Betty McCollum
Member of Congress