MARCH 13, 2026

Dear Fourth District Constituent,

Two weeks into President Trump’s illegal and reckless war of choice against Iran, it’s clear he has no plan to deal with the escalating threats to peace and stability across the Middle East and rising economic costs at home and around the world.

Thirteen American service members have been killed. 140 have been injured. Thousands of Americans are stranded in the Middle East without adequate assistance from the State Department. Here at home, families are facing skyrocketing gas and energy prices amid attacks on energy infrastructure and cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Why did President Trump decide to take us into an unlawful war – without authorization from Congress and with no imminent threat from Iran? 

The Administration’s rationale for the strikes shifts nearly every day. First, it was about destroying Iran’s nuclear program, despite declaring last June that Iran’s nuclear facilities had been “totally obliterated” – a claim Trump repeated in February. Then it was about regime change. Then it wasn’t. Then it was because Israel was going to attack Iran first. Then it wasn’t. Then it was about destroying Iran’s ballistic missiles and military industrial base.

President Trump owes Americans answers. What are the objectives and the end game? What is the plan to help Americans deal with higher costs and lasting economic damage? I will continue to do everything in my power in Congress to get answers, rein in this administration, and end this war.

Congresswoman McCollum attended the dignified transfer of six American service members killed in Kuwait, including Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor from White Bear Lake at an official ceremony at Dover Air Force Base last the weekend.

MINNESOTA UPDATE

Our Community Continues to Respond to Increased Need Caused by Trump Administration’s “Surge” and “Big Ugly Law”
Thank you to President & CEO Adero Riser Cobb and the Keystone Community Services staff for hosting me at their Food Center on Wednesday to share updates on their vital work. Saint Paul city leaders estimate a staggering $118 million loss in income for the city’s foreign-born workers as a consequence of the Trump administration’s Operation Metro Surge. The Food Center on University Avenue has been working hard to respond to the overwhelming need by launching new initiatives such as curbside pickup, bulk deliveries with community partners, and other efforts to serve families at during a time of increased food insecurity.

Additionally, new SNAP limitations passed by the Republican majority in Congress and signed into law by President Trump in their "Big Ugly Law" will strip away food assistance for many families. These disruptions will add additional strain on community food pantries as they seek to ensure families can still access the food they need. I'm grateful for the dedicated staff and volunteers at Keystone who work every day to support our community.

Congresswoman McCollum visited the Keystone Community Food Center on Wednesday.

Meeting with Woodbury’s New City Administrator and Public Safety Director
On Thursday, I had the pleasure of meeting with Woodbury’s new City Administrator, Jeffrey Dahl and Public Safety Director Jason Posel. We discussed opportunities to partner on future drinking water and transportation projects, the city’s public safety efforts to engage the community during Operation Metro Surge, and other recent developments in the City of Woodbury. I look forward to continuing our work together on behalf of our shared constituents!

From left to right: Woodbury Community Relations Director Shelly Schafer, Congresswoman McCollum, Woodbury City Administrator Jeffrey Dahl, and Public Safety Director Jason Posel. 

Minnesota Paralympians Excel at Milano-Cortina Games

Congratulations to Sydney Peterson of Lake Elmo on taking home gold in Women's 10K Para Cross-Country Skiing and silver in the Women’s Classic Sprint. Minnesota Paralympians are off to a strong start at the Milano-Cortina Games!

Sydney Peterson celebrates her gold medal victory in women's 10km para cross-country skiing at the Milano-Cortina Paralympic Games.

Meeting with Minnesota State Representatives Shelley Buck and Meg Luger-Nikolai

Congratulations to Minnesota’s newest state legislators, Representative Shelley Buck (47A—Woodbury and Maplewood) and Representative Meg Luger-Nikolai (64A – Saint Paul), who won their special elections in January and were sworn in on February 3rd. It was a pleasure to meet with them today in my Saint Paul office to discuss our shared priorities. I look forward to working with both of them on behalf of our shared constituents!

Representative Meg Luger-Nikolai, Congresswoman McCollum, and Representative Shelley Buck.

Happy 114th Birthday, Girl Scouts!

This week, we celebrated 114 years since Juliette Low founded Girl Scouts to promote outdoor activities, public service, and skill-building for girls and young women. As a former Brownie and Girl Scout, I was glad to join over 2 million women and girls who are involved in Girl Scouts in celebrating this milestone this week. Visit my YouTube channel watch my video congratulating Girl Scouts of the USA on their important work empowering women and young girls to chase their dreams and achieve their full potential!

WASHINGTON, D.C. UPDATE
 

Trump Policies Lead to Mounting Job Losses and Higher Prices for Families

President Trump promised Americans an economic boom “the likes of which we’ve never seen.” Instead, Americans are losing their jobs at an astounding rate: 92,000 jobs were lost in February, and the unemployment rate climbed to 4.4%. The Trump-Republican “Big Ugly Law” delivered permanent tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires, but stripped away health care and food assistance for millions of Americans. Families are facing skyrocketing costs for health care, childcare, groceries, utilities, and much more as a result of Trump’s tariffs and war of choice in Iran.  

In just two weeks, oil prices have spiked and are expected to remain elevated until the war ends. The Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane in the Middle East, is closed as a result of ongoing attacks on oil tankers and cargo ships. Across the United States, gas prices are up about 20% in the two weeks since the U.S. and Israel conducted strikes against Iran. As the cost of gasoline and diesel climbs, so does the cost of transporting the goods that we rely on — and those costs are passed on to us in the form of higher prices for groceries, clothing, and household goods. Core prices rose 3.1% in January compared to the year before, indicating that inflation was already on the rise prior to the Trump administration's strikes on Iran.

We are seeing the economic reality of President Trump’s policies, and Americans need them to end before they harm more middle class families.

100% Scorecard Rating from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has been on the forefront of defending Americans' rights for decades. It's an honor to earn a 100% rating from the ACLU on their 119th Congressional scorecard. This rating came as a result of my support for the ACLU position on votes like opposing H.R. 6359, which required colleges and universities to disseminate information that seeks to limit students’ reproductive healthcare decisions, and H.R. 3492, which would punish doctors who provide gender affirming care for minors with hefty fines and a jail sentence of up to 10 years. You can read more about that scorecard here.

I'm especially honored to have earned a 100% score from the ACLU considering their leadership in protecting Minnesotans' civil rights during Operation Metro Surge. The ACLU played a key role not only in documenting the illegal actions of ICE and DHS agents, but in holding the department accountable in the courts. Recently, the ACLU sued the Trump administration to end DHS’s practice of suspicionless stops, warrantless arrests, and racial profiling of Minnesotans. The ACLU protects all of us, and I'm glad to stand side-by-side with them to defend our constitutional rights from the Trump administration's chaos, cruelty, and violence. 

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Update for U.S. Citizens Stranded in the Middle East

Hundreds of thousands of Americans, including my own constituents, are stranded across the Middle East as a result of President Trump's reckless decision to wage war against Iran. The Trump administration is failing its obligation to help our fellow Americans return to safety. If you or a family member is stuck in the Middle East because of the war, please call my office at 651-224-9191 or contact me here.

I-94 Public Comment Period 

The public has until Monday, March 23rd, to comment on two environmental review and scoping documents for the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) Rethinking I-94 study. Comments can be submitted here. Rethinking I-94 is an effort to engage the communities who live, work, and recreate along the I-94 corridor between I-35 E in Saint Paul and Highway 55 in Minneapolis, and study ways to improve safety, mobility, and connectivity. 

Free Tax Filing Assistance Sessions in Maplewood

Free tax assistance sessions are being held at the Maplewood Library and hosted by AARP on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays at 10:00 A.M. – 3:00 P.M. through April 14th. Call ahead to make an appointment. Preference will be given to seniors and those living on fixed incomes, more info here.

The IRS started phasing out paper tax refund checks on Sept. 30, 2025. The safest and fastest way to receive your refund is by direct deposit. Include your bank account information on your tax return to avoid delays in receiving your refund. More information here.

Eligible taxpayers can get help and file for free. For more information on filing federal tax returns, click here. For information about free tax preparation, click here. If you plan to use a tax professional to prepare and file your tax returns, the IRS encourages you to review tips for choosing a tax preparer. Be careful to avoid tax scams and people impersonating the IRS. Here are some tips to avoid scams.

Minnesota Heating Assistance
Struggling to pay your heating bill this winter? See if you qualify for Minnesota’s Energy Assistance Program. Homeowners and renters both qualify and are eligible based on household size and income. Applications must be received by May 31, 2026. For more information visit this link or call the Minnesota Department of Commerce at 800-657-3710.

Deadline for Student Entries for Congressional Art Competition is April 10th
The 2026 Congressional Art Competition is officially underway! I invite all high school students who live or attend school in the Fourth Congressional District to submit an entry. All entries will be displayed in the Atrium Gallery of the Schmidt Artist Lofts as part of the 2026 Spring Saint Paul Art Crawl, April 17-19, 2026. The winning entry from the Fourth District will be displayed as part of a national exhibit in the U.S. Capitol. Entries by the runners-up will be displayed in my congressional offices in Saint Paul and in Washington, D.C. For more details, visit my website.

I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

If you are impacted by the actions of the Trump Administration or Republicans’ cuts to health care, food assistance, I want to hear about it. Please contact my office directly at (651) 224-9191.

Your voice matters and empowers my vote in Congress.
I encourage you to share your stories with me.

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