|
JULY 11, 2025
Dear Fourth District Constituent,
President Trump is illegally withholding funding from Minnesota schools
Less than one week after Trump signed into law the largest cuts to health care and food assistance in America’s history to give away tax breaks for billionaires in their Big Ugly Bill, the Trump administration is targeting another community cornerstone – our schools. The administration is withholding $70 million in federal funding from Minnesota schools in violation of the law and the constitution. As Dean of the Minnesota Congressional delegation, I led a letter this week demanding that this funding is delivered immediately. I invited all members of the Minnesota Congressional Delegation to sign onto this letter. Our Senators and the other three Democratic Representatives from Minnesota joined me. You can read the letter here.
The Trump administration is illegally withholding millions of federal dollars that are intended to support the education of our students in our local schools and community summer youth programming:
- Saint Paul Public Schools should receive $2,239,378 in Title II-A funding for supporting the recruitment, retention, and professional development of effective educators in public and nonpublic schools.
- North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale School District should receive $381,899 in Title II-A funding as well.
- Roseville Area Schools should receive $172,128 in Title III-A funding to support English language proficiency, ensuring all learners meet state academic standards.
- South Washington County Schools should receive $155,458 in Title III-A funds.
- Saint Paul Public Schools should receive $941,127 in Adult Basic Education funding which to improves reading, writing, math, and English language skills in order to support their career advancement and other goals.
Outside of shortchanging Minnesota schools, the Trump Administration's withholding of this funding hurts the ability of community-serving institutions like the Hmong Cultural Center to offer English language and citizenship classes and could result in the closure of ongoing summer programs at Boys & Girls Clubs.
Minnesotans Stand with the People of Texas
The devastating loss of life and damage from the flooding in Texas is heartbreaking. I'm grateful to first responders who took swift action to save lives and continue to search for survivors. Minnesotans stand with the people of Texas.
MINNESOTA UPDATE
Stay Cool Outside and Keep Your Cool on the Road
A recipe for road rage is brewing: Excessive heat, abundant road construction, and numerous highway closures. But with some planning and preparation, we can all avoid the temptation to become frustrated by these conditions. This weekend there will be more major road closures across the metro area. Please plan ahead while traveling around the cities this weekend:
- 1-35: Northbound I-35E will be closed between Minnesota 5 and I-94 from 10 p.m. Friday, July 11, to 5 a.m. Monday, July 14.
- I-94: Eastbound I-94 will close 10 p.m. Friday, July 11, through 5 a.m. Monday, July 14, between Minnesota 280 and I-35E.
- I-394: There will be overnight lane closures on eastbound I-394 between Penn Avenue and Dunwoody Boulevard from 5 a.m. Monday, July 14, to 5 a.m. Monday, July 28.
Read more about all the closures here.
It seems like you can't drive anywhere in the Twin Cities without encountering construction and you're not wrong to think this construction season is worse than a typical Minnesota summer. In November, 2021, when Democrats in Congress passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, there were 661 bridges and 5,000 miles of highway in poor condition in Minnesota. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law created an long-awaited infusion of federal funding to repair our roads and bridges and create safer infrastructure for decades to come. But this infusion of federal funding was meant to last for five years which means the State of Minnesota has needed to act quickly to deploy these funds before they expire in 2026. While it may be frustrating to find road construction signs at every turn, I hope you will remember: These improvements are being made using federal funds, which save Minnesota taxpayers tens of millions of dollars that we would otherwise be on the hook for in order to keep roads and bridges safe.
Celebrating America's Independence in Saint Anthony Park
America is special. We are the only nation in the world founded on an idea — the idea that all women and men are created equal, the idea that citizens are capable of governing themselves, and the idea that people from every corner of the earth can not only immigrate to America — they can also become an American. I love our country, and it's an extraordinary honor to be elected by my fellow citizens to uphold the values of freedom, justice, and equality that we hold dear.
Congresswoman McCollum greeted parade-goers during Saint Anthony Park's 78th Independence Day Parade.
Last weekend, Americans of all stripes united to celebrate 249 years of independence from an unelected king. Then and now, we must hold steady to the uniting principle that our country must never be governed by kings. I expressed my pride in our country by attending a local parade at Saint Anthony Park to celebrate the Fourth of July. What I heard from Minnesotans gave me great faith in our democracy. Minnesotans told me time and again that they were alert, attentive, and ready to take action to ensure that the Trump Administration does not further erode the rule of law and separation of powers. I wake up with a sense of optimism every day; it is thanks to my fellow Minnesotans that I feel a sense of hope for the future of our country.
Amid Unthinkable Tragedy, a Moment of Unbelievable Optimism
After a month of pain, agony, and grief following the targeted assassination of Melissa and Mark Hortman and the attempted assassination of John and Yvette Hoffman, we finally received some good news on Monday evening: Senator John Hoffman is out of the hospital and on his way to inpatient physical therapy.
Seeing the picture of Senator Hoffman departing the hospital brought a big smile to my face and I'm sure it brings one to yours as well. Despite unthinkable violence inflicted upon Senator Hoffman and his wife Yvette, both are in the midst of remarkable recoveries. I am so grateful to the medical staff who are caring for them, the community that supported them, and the unity displayed by Minnesotans amid this tragedy.
Senator John Hoffman's family shared a photo of him departing the hospital on Monday.
Visiting Summer Nutrition Programs across the East Metro
On Tuesday, I had the opportunity to visit Chelsea Heights Elementary and Children Defense Fund Freedom School to talk with students and faculty participating in summer activities. These schools participate in the USDA’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) which provides free meals to children aged 18 and under in communities that meet certain eligibility requirements.
.png "Untitled_design_(2).png")
Rev. Dr. Darcel Hill (left), Congresswoman McCollum (center), and Principal Duane Dutrieuille (right), discussing meal distributions at CDF Freedom School.
These sites for children are located in safe locations such as schools, parks, community centers, churches, and other public spaces where children gather during the summer months. One benefit to students participating in summer activities is that nutritious meals and snacks can be easily accessed, ensuring that no child has to go hungry. Summer Food Service Program sites are open to anyone in the community under age 18—no registration or sign-up is required. 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 the USDA texting service. Text Summer Meals to 914-342-7744. Spanish speakers, text Verano to 914-342-7744.
WASHINGTON, DC UPDATE
Ugly Truths from the Big Ugly Bill
Last week, President Trump and Republicans in the House and Senate forced through their Big Ugly Bill. A few Republicans joined every Democrat in both chambers in voting against the bill, but not enough to stop it. House and Senate Republicans hardly knew what was contained in the 940 page bill that barely passed. Now that the Republicans’ Big Ugly Bill is law, we are learning more about the many ways that the massive bill will hurt Minnesotans. Here are several articles shining a light on the negative effects from the Big Ugly Bill back home in Minnesota:
Every day Americans stand to lose healthcare, food benefits, education, affordable clean energy, and more. And for what? So that millionaires, billionaires, and the largest corporations can get massive tax breaks. Some of the more ridiculous tax breaks in this bill include tax write offs for private jets. This bill is the largest transfer of wealth from our communities to the top one percent in our country's history. The rich get richer and the middle class gets squeezed even tighter.
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
|
