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Dear Friend,
It’s been a busy couple of weeks but I was able to come back to the district in time to pay my respects on Memorial Day and engage with community members across our district. Here’s what I’ve been up to:
Memorial Day Program at the Minnesota Veterans Home
On Memorial Day, I had the honor of joining the Minnesota Veterans Home - Minneapolis, the 5th District American Legion, Senator Amy Klobuchar, and Commander Paul Hassing of the MN American Legion to pay tribute to our fallen heroes.
We owe a debt of gratitude to the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Each year, our communities come together to honor the fallen and support military families who have sacrificed so much. These occasions provide a powerful reminder never to take our hard-won liberties for granted.
Meet and Greet with Veterans
I hosted a veterans meet and greet at Uptown VFW in Minneapolis. I heard directly from local Veterans about the issues and challenges facing America's veteran community. From accessing high-quality healthcare and mental health services to securing good-paying jobs and stable housing after service, there is still work to be done to uphold our obligation to those who answered the call to defend our nation.
I want to thank Uptown VFW for hosting us and for their continued service to both the veteran community and the people of Minneapolis.
Questioning UCLA’s Chancellor at the Education & Workforce Committee Hearing
At the Education and Workforce Committee hearing: "Stopping Antisemitic College Chaos", I raised questions to UCLA Chancellor Block regarding the university's response to a pro-Palestinian student demonstration on campus. Specifically, I inquired about allegations of violence faced by demonstrators and the level of involvement from law enforcement during the incident. The full exchange can be viewed here.
Reintroducing George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
I joined my colleagues in re-introducing the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. This bill would ban chokeholds, end no-knock warrants, and require better de-escalation training. These policies can stop unjustified police killings in their tracks and uphold equal protection under the law. Cities like Minneapolis have made initial changes, but national standards are crucial. Through it, we can save other Black lives tragically cut short.
Watch my floor speech in honor of George Floyd.
Hmong Leaders Roundtable for AAPI Heritage Month
In honor of AAPI Heritage Month, I co-hosted a Hmong Leaders Roundtable alongside Representatives Fue Lee and Samantha Vang at CAPI USA.
The discussion covered key issues like ending the unjust deportation of Southeast Asian refugees and refugees' rights through bills like the Southeast Asian Deportation Relief Act that I have cosponsored. We also addressed the AAPI census misclassification issue that my office has raised with federal officials. Thanks to the feedback provided by attendees, we'll continue advocating for the Bureau to thoroughly engage stakeholders and implement proper classification for future censuses.
I'm grateful for the insights shared by Representatives Lee and Vang, along with the advocacy provided by organizations present.
Minnehaha Commons Senior Visit and Roundtable
This week, I had the privilege of visiting Minnehaha Commons, a senior living community in Minneapolis. My visit included meeting with seniors and participating in a roundtable discussion with senior care providers on several key issues impacting older Americans in our district.
The engaging roundtable covered the upcoming reauthorization of the Older Americans Act and the critical importance of providing trauma-informed care for our seniors. I listened intently as residents and providers shared their perspectives from the frontlines of senior care. I reaffirmed my commitment to being a champion for high-quality, deeply affordable care options that meet the needs of our growing older adult population. This includes robust policies and funding at the federal level.
Ensuring quality care for our older loved ones will remain a top priority for me in Congress.
Fridley City Council Visit
On Tuesday, I addressed the Fridley City Council and community members to provide an update on my work in Congress. I began by highlighting some of my recent local engagements, including a visit to the North Suburban Center for the Arts exhibition and a meeting with the creative young leaders of the Salam Club at Fridley High School before their summer break.
Over the past 3 years I secured over $54 million in Community Project Funding for our district. I hope to secure more funding for Fridley through the FY25 request I submitted in the latest round of appropriations that would provide $3 million for Fridley's Northtown Railyard Overpass Connector project to improve accessibility and trail connectivity.
In Service,
Ilhan Omar
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