JANUARY 24, 2025

Dear Fourth District Constituent,

This week, Donald Trump returned to the White House with a reprise of his angry “American Carnage” inauguration address from 2016.  His initial flurry of actions focus on settling scores and exacting retribution, which only weakens America, empower our adversaries, and embolden criminals who engaged in political violence on January 6, 2021. 

While Donald Trump remains focused on his own needs, I remain focused on the needs of Minnesota and our community: making life more affordable by cutting the cost of healthcare and prescription drugs, addressing income inequality, reducing the cost of college, and ensuring that everyone in our communities has the opportunity to get a good job with decent pay and benefits.

Condemning President Trump's Pardon of January 6 Rioters
I strongly condemn President Trump’s outrageous pardon of 1500 criminal insurrectionists, including violent right-wing extremists from the Proud Boys, Oath Keepers, and Three Percenters who violently assaulted police officers on January 6, 2021. Those who attacked the U.S. Capitol at the direction of President Trump attempted to subvert our democracy by preventing the peaceful transfer of power, and they were each found guilty by a jury. Pardoning these criminals is a reckless act.

More than 140 police officers were seriously injured and several lost their lives as a result of the traumatic events of that day. Nobody in America takes seriously those who claim to “back the blue” while supporting a felon President who pardons right-wing extremists who attacked cops.

Protecting our Nation's Greatest Wilderness Area

On Tuesday, I reintroduced the Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act, which I have championed for nearly a decade. This legislation would permanently protect the 225,504 acres of federal lands and waters within the Superior National Forest that make up the Rainy River Watershed for all Americans. While President Trump has made clear his intentions to allow copper mining in the Boundary Waters, I will never give up this fight. The Boundary Waters are among the most precious waters in our nation, and I will not stand idly by as Donald Trump tries to open it up to destruction in pursuit of corporate profits for a Chilean mining company that wants to ship the ore to China for smelting.

 

The Boundary Waters’ abundant wildlife, diverse ecosystem, serene quiet, and constellation-filled nighttime skies are a source of rejuvenation and adventure for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who’ve made it our nation’s most visited wilderness area. We cannot allow this natural sanctuary to be ruined by a Chilean mining company that has an abysmal record on similar mining projects. Some places are simply too precious to mine.

 

Stillwater Police Visit Washington, D.C.

Eight officers from the Stillwater Police department traveled to Washington, D.C. to be part of the security team for the Inauguration this past week. They spent sixteen hours outside in the cold along the route from the Capitol to the White House. I want to thank these brave officers for traveling to our nation's Capitol to help facilitate the peaceful transfer of power. On Tuesday, I met with this group of officers in my Washington, DC office and led them through the Capitol, including a stop in the Chamber of the House of Representatives.

 

 

Neighborhood Office Hours

In addition to serving constituents Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM, at my St. Paul office, my staff holds neighborhood office hours at a variety of locations across the Fourth District.

The next neighborhood office hours will take place in Woodbury on Tuesday, January 28, 2025, at Woodbury City Hall from 10:00 AM until noon.

If you need assistance with a federal agency, you can stop by or call my office to make an appointment. My staff and I are here to serve you, and we are happy to help you with any issues you may have that involve a federal agency.

 

Passport Renewal
If you plan to travel internationally this year, remember to check your passport expiration date. Some countries will not allow you to enter if your passport is not valid for six months past your travel date. Learn about your destination’s entry requirements and how to apply or renew your passport by visiting the Department of State website.

 

IRS Filing Opens January 27^th

The IRS announced Jan 27^th as the start of the 2025 tax filing season. Free file is now open! Visit the IRS website to see if you are eligible for other free preparation and filing options.

 

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