NOVEMBER 29, 2024

Dear Fourth District Constituent,

It's great to be back in Minnesota this week to celebrate Thanksgiving. I hope you and your family were able to enjoy some quality time together to celebrate the holiday and give thanks for the many blessings in our lives and communities. 

As we look ahead to the weekend, I'm wishing all our Hmong friends in the Fourth District and across Minnesota a happy Hmong New Year. Minnesota is the proud home of one of the largest Hmong diasporas in the U.S., and I'm grateful for the many contributions the Hmong community has made to our state. Nyob Zoo Xyoo Tshiab to all those celebrating!

East Metro National Security Tour

Thanks to a growing ecosystem of innovators in our small business and higher education community who are leveraging funding from the defense appropriations subcommittee, we’re building a strong community that is supporting our national security while growing our economy here in Minnesota. This industry is innovating, creating great jobs, and reducing our dependence on products sourced from authoritarian nations like China.

Congresswoman McCollum addresses attendees at a luncheon meeting of Minnesota-based companies involved in the burgeoning national security ecosystem in the East Metro.

Leaders from these organizations are accomplishing incredible things. Niron Magnetics is creating magnets sourced from clean, sustainable materials that are free from rare-earth minerals. Polar Semiconductor is building out a chip making industry in Minnesota. Inkit has created a first-of-its-kind secure document generation platform. Metro State University is leading on cybersecurity efforts to ensure that these companies have the proper systems in place to protect their ideas and inventions.

Congresswoman McCollum (left), State Representative Samakab Hussein (right), and State Representative Maria Isa (far right) listen to a presentation by Founder Brian Plourde and observe a demonstration of solar panel and electricity generator technology at LEMA Technology Systems in Saint Paul.

This week, I brought leaders from these groups and many more together with local legislators to learn more about the exciting innovation that’s happening here in the East Metro and to collaborate on next-generation technology development. Something big is happening here in Minnesota, and it’s not stopping anytime soon.

Gillette Children’s Visit

Last Friday I visited the newly renovated Specialty Center at Gillette Children's Hospital, which included Gillette’s newly unveiled Research Investigative Lab in Saint Paul. The reconfigured facility integrates in-patient research, expanding the capacity to discover new and better evidence-based care models while offering patients and their families an enhanced level of care that fits their needs.

 

Congresswoman McCollum (right) poses for a photo with Gillette Children's President and CEO Barbara Joers (left) during her visit at the hospital last Friday.

 

My office is proud to have worked with Gillette Children’s Hospital in securing $1.5 million in federal funds to help support this investment in improving the lives of children with complex medical needs.  

 

MNSure Open Enrollment 
MNsure is Minnesota's health insurance marketplace. Open enrollment for MNsure is currently underway, and will run through January 15th, 2025. This is the annual opportunity for Minnesotans to compare options, change plans, or sign up for coverage.

 

Thanks to Congressional Democrats and the Biden-Harris Administration, Minnesotans who have coverage through MNsure can continue to save money on health insurance next year. Minnesotans who receive tax credits through MNsure will save an average of $6,700 on health insurance premiums next year because of enhanced federal subsidies that were part of the Inflation Reduction Act. Visit mnsure.org for more info, to compare plans, and get covered.

 

Medicare Open Enrollment is Underway
Medicare Open Enrollment is underway until December 7th. Thanks to the Biden-Harris Administration and Congressional Democrats, enrollees will benefit from a new $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket costs and the opportunity to spread those expenses over a year. Visit Medicare.gov to learn more and compare plans.

 

As always, please 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.

 

Sincerely,

 

 

Betty McCollum
Member of Congress