APRIL 17, 2026

Dear Fourth District Constituent,

It was a dark week in Washington as the Republican Majority in the U.S. Senate voted to strip away protections for the Boundary Waters. H.Res. 140 will allow a foreign-owned mining company and serial polluter to begin a sulfide acid mine in the headwaters of the Boundary Waters. 

The BWCA is not only a beautiful place for Minnesotans to explore, it is also a national treasure. Its pristine lakes and rivers must be protected for the benefit of future generations of Americans. As a nation, we have decided to protect Yellowstone, Yosemite, Zion, Acadia, Glacier, and many other revered national parks. As our nation's most-visited wilderness area, the Boundary Waters deserves the same protections. Click here to read my full statement. 

The Boundary Waters faces the most serious threat in its history.

I want to thank the thousands of Americans who have supported our effort, as well as national organizations including Sierra Club, Backcountry Hunters & Anglers, Teddy Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, League of Conservation Voters, The Wilderness Society, and the National Wildlife Federation. While H.Res. 140 will likely be signed into law by President Trump, our fight to protect the Boundary Waters will continue in the courts. I will also continue to fight for my legislation, the Boundary Waters Wilderness Protection and Pollution Prevention Act (H.R. 588), to permanently protect the Boundary Waters from toxic sulfide ore mining. 

To stay up-to-date on my work to protect the Boundary Waters, please follow me on my social media accounts: Twitter/X, Facebook, Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, and YouTube. 

WASHINGTON, D.C. UPDATE

Receiving the Trailblazer Award from the Trust for Public Land

I was honored to receive Trust for the Public Land’s Trailblazer Award earlier this week for my work in Congress to protect our parks and public lands. The Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) has been a top priority for me during my time in Congress. While I was Chair of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee, I worked for the passage of the Great American Outdoors Act of 2020 which brought full, mandatory funding for the LWCF. The LWCF has been used around our district and state to preserve some of the places we value most: William O’Brien State Park, Tamarack Nature Preserve, Midway Peace Park, Hause Park, Groveland Park, Tony Schmidt Park, Voyageurs National Park campgrounds, and more.

Congresswoman McCollum accepts the Trust for the Public Land’s Trailblazer Award for her work in Congress to protect our parks and public lands.

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon Testifies before Congress 
On Thursday, Secretary of State Steve Simon appeared before the House Committee on Administration to testify on election eligibility verification and voter list maintenance. I want to thank Secretary Simon for traveling to Washington to inform my colleagues on Minnesota's impressive history of fair and secure elections. Under Secretary Simon's tenure leading our elections system, Minnesota has consistently boasted the highest voter turnout in the country. Minnesotans are proud to actively participate in the Democratic process and I'm glad he was in Washington this week to tell that story. 

Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon testified before the U.S. House Committee on Administration on Thursday.

Defense Appropriations Hearings: U.S. Army and National Guard & Reserve Budgets
The House Appropriations Committee held hearings on the Fiscal Year 2027 Budget requests for the U.S. Army and the National Guard & Reserve forces. As the lead Democrat on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, part of my Congressional duties involve scrutinizing the President’s annual budget request and conducting oversight on how taxpayer dollars have been allocated to our national security priorities. Budget hearings with senior military leadership are an important part of the process to hold the Trump Administration accountable to Congress and the American people. Click here to listen to coverage of the hearing from NPR Radio.

Congresswoman McCollum led House Democrats in questioning Army Secretary Dan Driscoll and Army Vice Chief of Staff General Christopher LaNeve as they testified on the Army’s budget for fiscal year 2027.

Questioning U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz

The Chief of the Forest Service Tom Schultz testified Thursday before the House Interior Appropriations Committee. As part of my oversight duties, I asked Chief Schultz why 74% of the Forest Service research stations, including stations in Ely and Grand Marais, will be closed under President Trump's reorganization plan. It's a huge mistake that on the brink of wildfire season, President Trump decided to uproot the Forest Service, cut its workforce, and dismantle essential research.

Congresswoman McCollum questioned U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Schultz at a hearing of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Environment.

Holding the President Accountable: Impeachment & the 25th Amendment

I want to thank all of you who've talked to me in person and contacted my office with calls, voicemails, emails, and letters to ask about impeachment and the 25th amendment. As a social studies teacher, I'm taking this as an opportunity to discuss what Congress can do to hold President Trump accountable. Democrats are working to make sure that President Trump answers for his and his administration's chaos, cruelty, and corruption, while Republicans in Congress have completely failed in their oversight responsibilities. Click here to learn more.

In her most recent video, Congresswoman McCollum explains how Congress can hold the president accountable through impeachment and the 25th amendment. 

Meeting with Leaders from the Minnesota Vikings
It was great to welcome Lester Bagley and Ronika Carter from the Minnesota Vikings to discuss the path forward for the Vikings organization, opportunities to host major events including the NFL draft, and the emerging dangers presented by unregulated prediction markets. I look forward to cheering on the Vikings this fall and working with the Vikings as they prepare for the 2026 season. 

MINNESOTA UPDATE

Saint Paul Art Crawl Opens This Weekend – Featuring Art From Local High Schoolers
The Saint Paul Spring Art Crawl is happening now through April 26th! The Art Crawl is a free, citywide event where you can enjoy a wide range of creative work and meet local artists. Be sure to stop by the Atrium gallery, where visitors can view the MN-04 Congressional Art Competition, showcasing artwork from 62 high school students from across the east metro. The Schmidt Artist Lofts is one of the major stops, featuring dozens of working artists, live demonstrations, and activities throughout the historic Schmidt Brewhouse. For complete information, visit the Saint Paul Art Collective website. 

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Long-term Highway Closure
Highway 280 from I-94 to Hwy 36/I-35W is closed through April 13th through late August for construction and maintenance work. Drivers should plan for detours and allow extra travel time, especially during peak hours, as traffic will be rerouted to nearby roads. For more information, visit MNDOT.

Important Update for U.S. Citizens Traveling Abroad
Before traveling internationally, the State Department strongly recommends that people sign up for the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive updates from the U.S. embassy on any security threats, potential natural disasters or civil unrest. You can receive alerts for the duration of your choosing and unsubscribe at any time. It’s also important to check your destination’s entry requirements, including passport validation date and visa requirements. Many countries require your passport to be valid for 6 months beyond your travel dates.

As a reminder, to fly within the U.S., passengers need a REAL ID-compliant document to enter the screening checkpoint. More info here.

I WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

If you are impacted by the actions of the Trump Administration or Republicans’ policies, including cuts to health care and 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