JUNE 27, 2025

Dear Fourth District Constituent,

 

This week, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed a resolution introduced by Minnesota’s entire Congressional Delegation to honor Minnesota House Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband Mark, and to pray for the recovery of Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette. The resolution also condemns political violence, because violent rhetoric, threats and attacks rooted in political differences have no place in our country.  Only through civil exchange of ideas, open policy debate, and the commitment to progress can our democracy to survive.

 

Minnesota Congressional Delegation Leads House in Moment of Silence
On Monday night, Congresswoman Kelly Morrison led the Minnesota Delegation in a moment of silence to honor Melissa and Mark Hortman. Amid this painful tragedy, Republicans and Democrats must continue to stand together to condemn political violence in all forms.

 

The Minnesota Congressional Delegation united on the floor of the House of Representatives on Monday evening to honor Melissa and Mark Hortman with a moment of silence. 

 

Speaker Hortman was one of our nation's finest public servants. The targeted assassination of Melissa and Mark Hortman casts a long shadow of grief not only over Minnesota, but across our nation. Under her leadership, Speaker Hortman left the State of Minnesota better than she found it. She exemplified our values of hard work, respect, inclusion, and civil engagement. As we mourn the loss of Melissa and Mark, I join Minnesotans in praying for Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette as they recover. On Monday, I gave remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives to honor their service to their communities, our state, and our country. Click below to watch my remarks.

 

Congresswoman McCollum honored Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman, Mark Hortman, Senator John Hoffman, and Yvette Hoffman during a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives on Monday.

 

The grief that Minnesotans have endured in the days since this tragedy has been agonizing. As we come together as a community to heal, may we find comfort in the words of Melissa and Mark’s children: Hope and resilience are the enemy of fear.

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. UPDATE

 

Senate Republicans Rush to Pass Trump’s 'Big Ugly Bill' Before the 4th of July
Senate Republicans spent the week rushing through procedural steps, working around the clock behind closed doors, to advance their massive One Big Beautiful Bill Act (actual name). The ugly truth of their bill is that it hands out massive tax cuts to millionaires and billionaires, guts healthcare and food assistance for millions of Americans, and results in a Debt explosion of TRILLIONS of dollars!

In their haste, Senate Republicans are being forced to reckon with some of the sloppy policy and ugly truths of their Big Ugly Bill.  The Senate Parliamentarian – the body’s nonpartisan “referee” – has ruled out several key Republican cuts that they’re counting on to pay for their massive tax cut hand-outs for millionaires and billionaires. Despite this, Trump and Congressional Republicans are pushing forward, even threatening to ignore the Parliamentarian and pass the ugly bill anyway. Expect things to get uglier as Republicans race to make their deep cuts to Medicaid, SNAP, and other services that support American families. They want to get the bill back to the House for another vote, then to President Trump to sign by July 4th.

Republicans’ rush is understandable, the more Americans hear about the bill, the more they hate it – by margins of 2-1 in recent polling. Trump and Republicans are determined to pass a bill to reward their millionaire and billionaire mega-donors before more Americans catch on to their GOP Tax Scam. Whatever bad bill the Republican Senators send back to the House, I will be voting against it. I am doing everything in my power to oppose any efforts to cut the critical services that Minnesota families rely on.

 

President Trump Illegally Attacks Iran

I strongly oppose President Trump's decision to bomb three nuclear sites in Iran on Saturday without authorization from Congress. Just days before the attacks, I signed onto a bipartisan resolution reaffirming the War Powers Resolution and prohibiting U.S. military involvement in Iran without Congressional authorization. I believe the President’s action was unconstitutional because Iran did not pose an immediate or direct threat to the United States. This decision by President Trump has put U.S. forces in the region at grave risk of retaliation by Iran and its proxies. The American people do not want further escalation of hostilities in the Middle East or around the world. Now is the time for diplomacy, not further escalation.

 

Partnering with Metro State University to Build the Cybersecurity Workforce of the Future

This week, I met with representatives from Metro State University in my Washington office led by Dr. Faisal Kaleem, a leader at MNCyber, to discuss our shared priorities for cybersecurity investments to protect our infrastructure and small businesses in Minnesota. As Ranking Member of House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, I am focused on building the national security workforce of the future. A key component of that is cybersecurity, and Metro State is playing a critical role in that both in Minnesota and nationally. I'm proud to support their work with the Department of Defense in growing the cybersecurity workforce of the future at home in Saint Paul.

Dr. Faisal Kaleem (right) from Metro State University visited Washington, DC on Tuesday to discuss federal cybersecurity investments with Congresswoman McCollum along with Mr. Mark Gorak and Dr. Diba Hadi from the Department of Defense.

Meeting with Minnesota's Fire Fighters

On Tuesday I spoke with firefighters from the fourth district about the Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2025, a bill I am proud to cosponsor. Firefighters' exposure to cancer-causing chemicals in the line of duty has been well-documented for decades. Yet, firefighters who die of cancers directly linked to these chemicals are not eligible for line-of-duty deaths. Their families can't receive benefits. This legislation would update federal law to clearly state that the deaths of firefighters who die of cancers directly linked to these chemicals are classified as line-of-duty deaths, making their families eligible for benefits.

Congresswoman McCollum (center) met with Scott Vadnais, Jake Mellor, Julie Paidar, Kyle Thornberg, and Cody Thornberg--Minnesota members of the International Association of Fire Fighters on Tuesday.

MINNESOTA UPDATE

Visiting Jimmy Lee Recreation Center in Saint Paul 
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit with Saint Paul Parks & Rec Staff and the community members they serve at Jimmy Lee Recreations Center, which is a USDA Summer Food Service Program site in Saint Paul. The Summer Food Service Program provides free meals to children aged 18 and under in communities that meet certain eligibility requirements. These sites are located in safe public spaces where children gather during the summer months.

Congresswoman McCollum visits with children at Jimmy Lee Recreation Center.

Summer Food Service Program sites are open to anyone in the community under age 18—no registration or sign-up is required, so nutritious meals and snacks can be easily accessed, ensuring that no child has to go hungry. To find an SFSP site near you:

• Download the Free Meals for Kids app provided by Hunger Impact Partners to your phone or device.
• Call the 211 Hotline. From a cell phone – Twin Cities Metro Area: 651-291-0211, Greater Minnesota: 1-800-543-7709, TTY: 651-291-8440.
• Call the Minnesota Food HelpLine at 1-888-711-1151, available from Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Central Time.
• Text USDA to texting service. Text Summer Meals to 914-342-7744. Spanish speakers, text Verano to 914-342-7744.

HELPING YOU 

Rep. McCollum with constituents Carly Ogata and Max McCord at her St. Paul District Office

Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting with Carly Ogata and her husband, Max McCord to discuss assistance my office provided them to resolve a matter with  Social Security and learn about the difference it made for Carly and her family.

If you aren't able to get an answer from a federal agency in a timely fashion, or if you feel you have been treated unfairly, my office may be able to help resolve a problem or get you the information you need. While we cannot guarantee you a favorable outcome, we will do our best to help you receive a fair and timely response to your problem.  Residents of the 4th Congressional District can contact my office for assistance in dealing with federal agencies. 

THANK YOU
Thank you to the hundreds of new subscribers to my weekly newsletter! This update is designed to provide timely information about my work in Washington and Minnesota, and to provide resources that can be helpful to you. 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