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AUGUST 22, 2025
Dear Fourth District Constituent,
Donald Trump and House Republicans’ reckless economic policies are making seniors and families across the East Metro pay more for less. Their Big Ugly Law is cutting health care for millions of Americans and driving up costs for millions more, and Trump’s erratic tariffs are driving up the price of everything from groceries to clothing. Meanwhile, Trump and Congressional Republicans have given away massive new tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires.
Recent analysis of Minnesota’s Fourth Congressional District based on data from the Congressional Budget Office, the Joint Committee on Taxation, and The Budget Lab at Yale, and the Census Bureau's 2021-2023 American Community Survey finds that more than 280,000 households will have less money to spend as a result of Trump’s economic policies. On average, these East Metro families will lose over $2,040 annually under Trump’s economic policies. While working families are losing money, Republicans’ mega donors making over a million dollars a year are receiving more than $130 billion in new tax breaks.
New Nonpartisan Analysis Confirms Big Ugly Law Will Cut Medicare by More Than $500 Billion
Tens of millions of Americans get their health care through Medicare and Medicaid — and yet Donald Trump and House Republicans are forcing massive cuts to both programs that will take health care away from more than 15 million people. A new report published this week by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office finds that Donald Trump’s Big Ugly Law will force massive cuts to Medicare to the tune of $536 billion. Make no mistake: These cuts will make it harder for seniors to get the care they need and for health care providers to do their jobs.
Why are Donald Trump and House Republicans cutting Medicaid and Medicare by hundreds of billions? The answer is simple: They are taking away our hard-earned benefits so they can hand out tax breaks to their billionaire Republican donors. House Democrats believe we should be strengthening Medicaid and Medicare, not cutting them and taking away health care.
Union Representing Chemical Workers Opposes Trump Plan to Eliminate Safety Board
Earlier this month, President Trump announced plans to eliminate the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) by next year – handing a major win for the chemical and fossil fuel industry. This independent agency plays an essential role protecting communities, workers, and the environment through its mission to conduct investigations of chemicals used in industrial settings, including refineries located in our community.
A wall of smoke rose from the Husky Energy oil refinery in Superior, Wisconsin in 2018 (via Duluth News Tribune).
Following the catastrophic explosion and fire at the Husky Refinery on April 26, 2018 that impacted the Duluth Superior Metropolitan Area, I urged the CSB to hold hearings and investigations into the incident. The CSB responded by investigating the use of the dangerous, highly-volatile chemical Hydrogen Fluoride (HF) at this refinery – which is also used at the Marathon Refinery located on the Mississippi River near downtown Saint Paul Park. Thanks to the leadership of the CSB, members of the public, emergency management professionals and elected officials had the opportunity to learn more about this “near miss” HF incident and provide their input into the investigation. Here’s a link to the CSB Final Report: Husky Superior Refinery Investigation.
Recently, the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) wrote to Congress opposing the president’s plan to shut down the CSB. The Trump administration has already moved to cut and undermine other protections for communities and workers, and his plan to dissolve the CSB is yet another slap in the face to working women and men and the communities that host these facilities. I join my brothers and sisters in the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) in opposing Trump’s plan.
With chemical incidents occurring an average of every two days, the CSB is vital to protecting lives, health, and safety. I will be writing to the administration seeking the reversal of the president’s decision to close the CSB so that the agency can continue performing its essential work.
 The International Union of Operating Engineers wrote a letter opposing the Trump Administration's proposal to dissolve the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board by October 2026.
My Washington, D.C. Office is Always Open to You and Your Family
If you are planning a trip out to our Nation's Capitol, remember you can request tours through my office. My staff can lead you on a tour of the U.S. Capitol, you can sign up for a self-guided tour of the Library of Congress, and you can request a lecture in the Supreme Court Chamber. Read more about tours here.
IMPORTANT NOTE: White House tours have been canceled for September. The White House had not previously told us why they are cancelled, but on Wednesday we learned why through new reporting from the Washington Post: President Trump is pausing tours because he wants to begin construction on his new $200 million ballroom as soon as possible.
MINNESOTA UPDATE
This week my district office was visited by a group of Ukrainian teenage members of YouLEAD, a youth leadership engagement and development program based in Minnesota led by Global Synergy Group. The initiative was founded by MN-04 resident Irina Fursman. Irina moved to Minnesota from Ukraine in 2002 and has been working towards civil leadership development and engagement exchange between Minnesota and Ukraine since 2011. On August 6th, Irina reached out to my district office requesting assistance in dealing with a federal agency. A large portion of the Ukrainian children were unable to receive a visa interview with the U.S. Embassy in Warsaw, Poland. My district office’s senior constituent service representative sent an inquiry to the agency and was able to resolve the matter favorably.
They stopped by to express thanks and updated our office on all the amazing things they’ve seen in Minnesota and their state fair wish lists. If you are experiencing difficulty with a federal agency reach out to my office here.
THE GREAT MINNESOTA GET TOGETHER
The Minnesota State Fair is underway from now until Labor Day! It’s exciting to welcome Minnesotans and visitors from all over as they arrive to the Fourth District for the State Fair. With new rides, new attractions, new dishes, new exhibits, and new freebies, visitors will have plenty to explore this year at the Great Minnesota Get-Together. Tickets cost $20 per day for adults (ages 13-64), $18 per day for seniors (65+), and $18 per day for kids (ages 5-12). Children ages 4 and under can enter for free every day. Click here to purchase tickets online. Fairgoers have many options to get to the State Fair, and this free article from The Star Tribune provides an overview of your options to get there.
New Food Vendors and New Cuisine
The State Fair has eight new vendors and 33 new food items on offer this year. Among the new vendors you'll see at the fair this year are Chocolate Strawberry Cup, Greater Tater, Lumpia City, Magdalena's Chimney Cakes, Midtown Global Market's Irie Jamaican, Midtown Global Market's Oasis Grill & Hoyo Sambusa, and Urban Glow Mocktails. Click here for an exhaustive list of every new vendor and food item, and find more information about the new food vendors and dishes at Eater.
Voyageurs National Park 50th Anniversary Exhibit Among 2025 Attractions
Loads of new rides and exhibits await fairgoers, and you can learn more about them here. I'm most excited about two of them: The Voyageurs National Park Exhibit and the Journey to Space exhibit. As we mark 50 years of federal protections for Voyageurs National Park, Voyageurs Conservancy is hosting an exhibit celebrating the historic milestone for this iconic Minnesota national park. This family-friendly booth will offer kid-friendly activities and giveaways, but it will only be open from August 21-23. I'm also excited to visit the Journey to Space exhibit, which offers a hands-on glimpse into the history of space exploration and an opportunity for visitors to experience what it's like to be inside the International Space Station. For thrill-seekers, the Thunderbird offers an amazing view. The tallest portable swing in North America, this new ride lifts riders 180 feet off the ground for panoramic views of the fairgrounds and surrounding areas.
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Constituent Services Office Hours
In addition to serving constituents Monday through Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM at my Saint Paul office, my staff hosts neighborhood office hours at a variety of locations across the Fourth District. Members of my staff will be available to meet with constituents seeking casework assistance on Tuesday, August 26th at 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM at the Roseville City Hall, 2660 Civic Center Dr, Roseville, MN 55113.
Safe Storage of Cannabis Products Protects Children
According to recent reporting from the New York Times, cannabis poisonings are on the rise among children. In most cases, these incidents occur when young children get their hands on THC-containing sweets such as gummies and other edible products and unknowingly ingest large doses of THC. If you have young children in the home and you choose to use cannabis products, make sure to store them safely. Keep any cannabis products in their original child-proof packaging and store them in locked containers or cabinets out of the reach of children.
Check Your Passport Expiration if you Plan to Travel Internationally
If you have upcoming international travel, be sure to check your passport expiration date. Some countries require several months validity to enter. Learn about your destination’s entry requirements here. If your travel plans are within the U.S., REAL ID is now required to avoid delays at the TSA checkpoint. Learn more about accepted IDs here.
Service Academy Nominations
My office is now accepting applications for nominations to the U.S. Service Academies for the Class of 2030. Students interested in attending West Point, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy, or the Merchant Marine Academy must receive a congressional nomination to be considered. The deadline to submit a completed application packet is Monday, November 3, 2025. Students are encouraged to apply early and to also seek nominations from both U.S. Senators from Minnesota. Learn more and access the application here.
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
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