MARCH 27, 2026

Dear Fourth District Constituent,

For 42 days, President Trump has allowed Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents to go without pay. No one should be surprised. Trump has repeatedly attempted to dissolve TSA agents’ union contracts, in line with Project 2025’s proposal to privatize the TSA.

The long lines, travel delays, and financial hardship Americans are experiencing never should have happened. Trump has always had the authority to pay TSA salaries from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) slush fund that Republicans created in their billionaire tax cut and spending bill (the Big Ugly Law). Now he’s finally issued that executive order, but it will still leave other crucial employees at DHS without pay. 

I’m calling on Speaker Johnson to allow the House to vote on the bipartisan legislation that unanimously passed the Senate early this morning. That bill will provide a full year of funding to pay our TSA agents, to fund the disaster relief work at the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and to fund the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the agency that provides cybersecurity support to local governments and businesses. What it won’t do is provide any more money for the illegal and harmful activities of ICE and Border Patrol agents. Their $75 billion slush fund is already too much.

Let me be clear: I will not vote for another dollar of funding for ICE or Border Security Operations until we have guarantees that their agents will stop violating Americans' rights and assaulting our communities and will start to comply with the same standards our local law enforcement follow. Democrats will not stop fighting for policy changes to bring essential oversight and accountability to ICE and Border Patrol.

Speaker Johnson and House Republicans should bring the bipartisan funding bill for the rest of DHS to the floor now and stop the pain and suffering they are inflicting on federal workers and the American people.

WASHINGTON, D.C. UPDATE

Meeting with Saint Paul Mayor Kaohly Her
On Wednesday, I met with newly inaugurated Saint Paul Mayor Kaohly Her to discuss a range of important issues impacting the city and areas where we can work together to improve the quality of life for Saint Paul residents. Mayor Her and I talked about how, in my role as a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, we can invest in the assets that make Saint Paul such a wonderful place to live: parks, libraries, access to clean water, and infrastructure. Mayor Her and I are aligned in working to keep the Wild and our high school state tournaments in Saint Paul. Mayor Her and I also talked about how Operation Metro Surge has not only inflicted trauma on our community, but has had a profound financial impact on Saint Paul: $129 million in losses for small businesses, $118 million in income lost for immigrant residents, and $250,000 in overtime expenses for our Saint Paul police officers working to keep our community safe. I look forward to partnering with Mayor Her to bring federal investment to our capital city and deliver for our residents.

Congresswoman McCollum and Saint Paul Mayor Kaohly Her met in Washington, DC on Wednesday.

Meeting with Woodbury Mayor Anne Burt

On Tuesday, I met with Mayor Burt to discuss how we can continue to address the public health and safety of Woodbury residents. We strategized about how the federal government can partner with the city to upgrade water infrastructure and protect water quality for Woodbury’s 82,000 residents and local businesses. Woodbury’s water infrastructure challenges have been compounded by widespread PFAS contamination. In response, Woodbury is constructing one of the largest PFAS treatment facilities in the U.S. to ensure the safety of their residents. Communities in the East Metro and across the nation that have been impacted by PFAS contamination need federal support to have access to clean drinking water. That is why I reintroduced the Forever Chemical Regulation and Accountability Act (H.R. 8016) last week, a bill that would address the excessive use of PFAS within the U.S. supply chain. I look forward to continuing to work with Mayor Burt to deliver for our shared constituents.

Congresswoman McCollum meets with Woodbury Mayor Anne Burt in her Washington, D.C. Office.

Fostering Global Connections to Advance Wildlife Management and Conservation

This week, through my role as co-chair of the International Conservation Caucus in the House, I spoke at an event hosted by the International Conservation Caucus Foundation to discuss the importance of sustaining bipartisan support for conservation and wildlife management across the globe. The Foundation is a nonpartisan group of public and private partners who care about the future of our planet and fostering peace and stability in areas of conflict. For the sake of our children and grandchildren, I’m committed to continuing to advance policies that are good for the planet, but also support economic and community growth around the world.

Congresswoman McCollum addresses members of the International Conservation Caucus Foundation during their visit to Washington, D.C.

Celebrating Sixteen Years of the Affordable Care Act

Health care should be a right, not a privilege. On Monday, we celebrated the sixteenth anniversary since President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act, guaranteeing coverage for Americans with pre-existing conditions and helping millions of Americans afford health care. These days, the Affordable Care Act is under enormous threat from Republicans in Congress. As you know, millions of Americans, including over 40,000 of our fellow Minnesotans, lost their health care coverage this year because Republicans in Congress refused to extend tax credits that help Americans afford health care. Know that I'll keep working to protect and expand the Affordable Care Act so that all of us can see the doctor or visit the emergency room without breaking the bank.

Congresswoman McCollum celebrated sixteen years since President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act in a video address on Monday.

Meeting with Twin Cities Public Television (TPT)

Last year, Washington Republicans defunded the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), ending all federal support for PBS, NPR, and over 1,500 local public media stations. On Thursday, I met with representatives from PBS and TPT Twin cities to hear more about how the dissolution of CPB has impacted the public broadcasting that you and your family rely on. While the Twin Cities programming is continuing on for now, some of our smaller stations in Greater Minnesota face an existential threat as soon as this summer. This means that large swaths of our state will no longer have access to public journalism – things like specialized weather and safety updates, school board decisions, city council meetings, and so much more. I voiced my opposition to this move in a letter to President Trump last year, and I will continue to fight for the return of CPB and for full funding to local media. 

Meeting with Egyptian Ambassador Motaz Zahran

On Thursday I had the opportunity to host the Ambassador of Egypt to the United States, Ambassador Motaz Zahran. During our meeting, we discussed the longtime partnership between the U.S. and Egypt and how our two countries can continue to work together to promote peace and stability in the region. I appreciated hearing from Ambassador Zahran on the pressing issues impacting the Middle East, including the lack of humanitarian assistance for Gaza, violence in the West Bank, and our shared concern for the devastation that we are seeing as a result of Israel's bombing campaign in Lebanon. Egypt plays an important role in bringing peace and prosperity to the Middle East. I look forward to continuing to work with the Ambassador and other partners in the Middle East to find ways we can achieve peace and prosperity together.

Congresswoman McCollum met with Egyptian Ambassador to the United States Motaz Zahran on Thursday. 

One Month of President Trump's War in Iran
Tomorrow will mark one month since President Trump along with Israel launched an attack Iran. The president doesn't call it a war, but we know it is. I was there last week in White Bear Lake as we laid to rest Master Sergeant Nicole Amor. Twelve other service members have lost their lives and hundreds more have been reportedly injured. Americans tourists continue to be stranded in the Middle East because the President started this war without a plan to get them home. Civilians across the region have been killed and put in harm's way, including at the hands of a U.S. bombing of a girls school in Iran. 

Why are we doing this? What is this for? Depending on the day, Trump says he seeks regime change, or to end the threat of Iranian nuclear weapons. But just last summer, the President declared that his missile strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities eviscerated the nuclear threat posed by the Iranian regime.  

It is time for this war to end. We must not send anymore of America's military into harm's way. The President has requested an additional $200 Billion to wage his illegal war. The Pentagon has more than enough money. Let me be clear: I will not vote for another blank check to make war in the Middle east. Visit my YouTube Channel to watch my watch my full statement on the war in Iran. 

MINNESOTA UPDATE

Americans are Struggling Economically due to President Trump's Actions

President Trump and Congressional Republicans are leading Americans into bleak economic times of higher health care costs, dogged inflation, and gas prices driven up by the Iran War. Mortgage rates in the United States have gone up four consecutive weeks since the war in Iran started. A dismal 28% of Americans have confidence in the job market. This is the first time in the history of this Gallup poll that more U.S. workers say they are struggling in their lives (49%) than thriving (46%). The poll, which was taken prior to Trump’s war of choice in Iran reflects the growing negative economic impact of the Trumps reckless tariff policies, which have driven up inflation, as well as the Trump-Republican billionaire tax cut and spending bill that strips away health care and SNAP food assistance for millions of families while handing out $2.3 TRILLION in permanent tax cuts to the ultra-wealthy top 10 percent of Americans.

NEWS YOU CAN USE

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

Thousands of Americans still remain 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 home. If you or a family member is still stuck in the Middle East because of the war, please call my office at 651-224-9191 or contact me here.

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? 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.

U.S. Service Academy Information Night at Mounds View High School 
Interested in applying to a US Service Academy? My office will be hosting an event at Mounds View High School on Tuesday, April 14th at 6:30 pm with Academy Representatives to discuss the programs, opportunities, and what life is like at the academies. There will also be discussions on the Congressional nomination process. Learn more here.

Good Luck to the Golden Gophers in the Women's Basketball Sweet Sixteen!
Don't forget to tune in tonight! The Golden Gophers had a spectacular victory last weekend to advance to the Sweet Sixteen, and tonight they'll take on the UCLA Bruins at 6:30 PM tonight in Sacramento. The game will air live on ESPN. Ski-U-Mah! 

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