SEPTEMBER 25, 2026

Dear Fourth District Constituent,

There is a lot of work to do in Congress to bring down the rising cost of living. I’ve been in Washington this week, even though House Republicans chose to cancel votes. As I shared last week, Republicans have canceled 20% of scheduled votes this Congress. They have totally failed to act on rising costs for you. In fact, policies passed by President Trump and Congressional Republicans have driven up prices. You’ve been telling me how President Trump’s illegal war in Iran, reckless tariffs, and the Republicans’ Big Beautiful Bill Act are causing big ugly cost increases for fuel, groceries, health care, housing, and more. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has released a report requested by House Democrats, showing that Trump’s war in Iran, which he began in April, directly cost the United States nearly $40 billion through August 1, 2026 — a figure that does not include certain facilities-related costs or debt-service costs that could push the total significantly higher.  

Close allies of President Trump in the fossil fuel industry are raking in record profits, while Americans are being forced to pay ever rising prices for everything that’s transported by diesel and gas.  Even though the Republicans in Congress won’t vote on legislation to help Americans afford the rising cost of living, I’m continuing to work with my fellow Democrats to highlight the costs of Republicans’ policies and unrig the system so hardworking families can get ahead.   

WASHINGTON, D.C. UPDATE

“It’s corruption. I don’t like it,” says Republican Senator as Trump Family Self-Dealing Grows  

Even some Republicans are waking up to the rampant corruption and self-dealing by President Trump, his family, and his close allies and wealthy donors.  This week, Senator John Curtis (R-Utah) said, “It just stinks. It’s corruption. I don’t like it,” regarding reporting that a Russian oligarch with close ties to President Vladimir Putin paid for Donald Trump, Jr.’s recent wedding, including renting private islands and fireworks show.  Curtis sent a letter to the Republican Chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee demanding that the committee investigate the matter. While I don’t expect many other Republicans to join Sen. Curtis in his call for oversight, Congress has a Constitutional duty to hold this administration and its wealthy allies accountable for their actions. My Democratic colleagues and I are committed to conducting the necessary oversight on behalf of the American people.

President Trump Praises Chinese President and Communist State-Controlled Media

as Judge Orders President Trump to Suspend Ban on Media He Dislikes   
Just days after he banned CNN, Politico, and MSNOW from the White House press corps, President Trump lavished praise on Chinese President Xi and called the country’s Communist-controlled media as the “friendliest press corps” during a state visit to the White House. Early Thursday morning, a Trump-appointed judge issued a temporary order suspending the ban, but not before President Trump launched his own news outlet “Trump TV” on Wednesday, a 24/7 YouTube livestream of the president as the administration tries to control the media coverage of his presidency and the actions of his administration.

Today is First Amendment Day, commemorating the anniversary of September 25, 1789, when Congress proposed the initial amendments—including the First Amendment—that became the U.S. Bill of Rights. As we reflect on the invaluable freedoms that the First Amendment gives Americans, we must speak out against Trump’s press ban as a clear violation. His ongoing attacks on the Constitution are just his latest attempts to erode our democracy. The White House belongs to the American people, not a president scared of news stories he doesn’t like. Congress has a duty to act against the president’s illegal attempts to silence voices that don’t pledge loyalty to him over the Constitution.  

Discussing Investments in Minnesota Transportation Infrastructure With MnDOT Commissioner 

On Tuesday, Commissioner Daubenberger visited my office to discuss transportation projects in the Fourth District. We discussed the road ahead in Congress for reauthorizing transportation programs, and grants that are finally moving forward after months of being slow walked by the Trump administration, which has been openly hostile to states like Minnesota that voted against the president in the past election. As MnDOT continues their Rethinking I-94 process, we also talked about the importance of investing in the Rondo community around I-94. ReConnect Rondo, the Rondo Community Land Trust, and local entrepreneurs have done great work to spur investment in the Rondo neighborhood. In Congress, I’ll continue to work to help catalyze investments in the community, especially as MnDOT continues to evaluate the future of the I-94 corridor.  

Congresswoman McCollum with (left to right) Erik Ruden, MNDOT Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger, Serge Phillips, and Ted Schoenecker

Introducing Legislation to Restore Land to Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe 
On Thursday, I introduced a bill to restore Reservation lands for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe that were wrongly taken by the federal government. The need for this bill arose in the implementation of a bill that I sponsored, the Leech Lake Reservation Restoration Act, which was signed into law in 2020. When implementing that law, it was discovered that more land than initially thought was illegally transferred from the Interior Secretary to the Forest Services—16,122 acres. The Leech Lake Restoration Amendments Act once again presents an opportunity for Congress to correct this historic injustice that robbed the Band of much of their Reservation land. Restoring the Reservation lands will enable the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe to address the housing needs of its citizens and improve access to wild rice beds and culturally significant areas of the Reservation. Senators Smith and Klobuchar have helped move forward this bill in the Senate, and I look forward to working with them to get this signed into law before the end of the 119th Congress. 

Meeting with Friends of the Boundary Waters

On Wednesday, I met with a group from Friends of the Boundary Waters to discuss the recent attacks on our public lands and the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The BWCA is America’s most visited wilderness area, containing over 20% of the fresh water in our entire National Forest System. Friends of the Boundary Waters and I know that this water is under attack yet again due to Trump administration priorities that put mining interests over the health of the ecosystem of the Boundary Waters. I’m thankful that Governor Walz had the foresight to ban mining in the headwaters of the Boundary Waters, but I’m going to keep fighting in Congress to pass my bill, H.R. 588, to permanently protect the Boundary Waters at the Federal level from toxic sulfide ore mining. 

Congresswoman McCollum with (from left to right) Katilynn Swanson (Save the Boundary Waters), Jaylynn Gough (Native Women’s Wilderness), Joel Delikowski (Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness), Anne Dal Vera (Great Old Broads for Wilderness), Betsy Foy (Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness), and Clayton Daughenbaugh (Sierra Club).

Visiting With Minnesota Members of the Breast Cancer Early Detection Coalition 

This week I was happy to greet members of the Breast Cancer Early Detection Coalition on the Hill as they advocated for funding and policies to advance accurate, early detection screening and improve research and patient care for all. Working together, we can help more women to be informed about their risk, get the resources to monitor their health, and ensure those diagnosed with breast cancer can survive and thrive for longer. 

Congresswoman McCollum with Breast Cancer Early Detection Advocates (from left to right) Katie Collings, Jamie LeMontagne, and Rhea Debussy 

MINNESOTA UPDATE

Securing Funding for Safe Local Drinking Water in the East Metro

We understand just how vital safe drinking water is to the health of our community in the East Metro.  For years, I’ve been working to bring in the federal government to partner with our communities. Last year, I worked with Senator Tina Smith to secure $1,092,000 for the City of Gem Lake as Community Project Funding in the FY2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act. On Thursday, the EPA formally awarded the funding to the city.  This federal investment will help protect the health of Gem Lake residents by providing them with safe drinking water.  

In recent years, I have also secured funding for other towns in the East Metro. This included funding for Stillwater Well #9 Water Treatment Plant and will be used for the construction of a new water treatment facility to provide safe drinking water to residents following the discovery of several per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

In Woodbury, I secured funding for the East Wellfield Manifold Pipe project. This funding will be used to connect three municipal drinking water supply wells to a single line and subsequent water treatment facility addressing contamination now and into the future.

A Sweet Minnesota Icon Closes its Doors
We all were sad to learn recently that Pearson's Candy Company will be closing its West Seventh Street Saint Paul factory at the end of September. I join all the Pearson's fans and employees in honoring the legacy of a Minnesota icon. Pearson's has existed for the last 117 years and had been making its famous Nut Goodie and Salted Nut Roll candies since 1957 in Saint Paul. To commemorate and honor this bedrock of our community, and favorite candy of trick-or-treaters, snackers, and sweet tooths of the world, I submitted a statement for the Congressional Record, to honor this special Minnesota institution. You can read my full statement here.  

Public Lands Day Events 

On Saturday, celebrate National Public Lands Day with Great River Greening at 9:00 AM at Hazelnut Park in Arden Hills for a morning of hands-on habitat restoration. Volunteers will plant native shrubs and wildflowers in areas where invasive buckthorn has been removed. Together, we’ll increase plant diversity, improve wildlife habitat, and support the long-term health and resilience of Hazelnut Park. No experience is necessary—training will be provided, and this family-friendly event is open to all! More information here.

Check out some of these events happening around the East Metro:

• Saint Paul Parks and Recreation is celebrating National Public Lands Day at Hidden Falls Regional Park! Enjoy fun and free outdoor activities from 1-4PM on Saturday Sept 26th.
• Celebrate with the National Park Service and Mississippi Park Connection by spending time with community, supporting the health and quality of our great river, and by learning more about conservation efforts. for more information click here. 

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Early Voting for Fall Elections is Underway

Minnesotans can cast their absentee ballots for the November general election. For more information visit here. Minnesota has long been a national leader in voter turnout, and we know that our elections are safe and secure. It is important to check your voter registration and make a plan to vote by Election Day Tuesday, November 3rd. 

New Tool for Preventing Scams From the Federal Trade Commission 

There are countless scams criminals attempt through texts, emails, calls, social media, and mail. Scams are often unexpected, urgent requests for you to pay or for your personal information. Here’s a tool from the Federal Trade Commission to prepare yourself when you may encounter scams – My Action Plan:  How I’ll Avoid a Scam  You can download, print, and personalize your action plan. The worksheet includes advice on how to recognize a scam and space where you can list contact information for those whom you can reach out to about a scam – trusted friends and family members, as well as companies you do business with if you’re concerned there may be a problem with your account. To report a scam, go to the Federal Trade Commission.  

Coming up in October: Congressional App Challenge
My office is excited to participate in the 2026 Congressional App Challenge! The Congressional App Challenge is a nationwide competition in which middle and high school students in the Fourth District can create an application or "app" for desktop/PC, web, tablet, mobile, or other devices. The competition is meant to inspire students and spark their creativity and potentially explore what careers in the STEAM field look like.

Students of all coding skill levels are encouraged to participate. Eligible participants must attend a school in the Fourth District or live within the district. Learn more about the rules and important deadlines here. Students who plan to participate may register online, and must submit their final app to CongressionalAppChallenge.us by October 26th, 2026 at 12:00 pm ET. Note: Apps created after October 30th, 2025, are eligible for entry to the 2026 App Challenge.

Coming up in November: U.S. Service Academy Nominations 
My office is still accepting applications for nominations to the U.S. Service Academies for the Class of 2031 until Monday, November 2, 2026. 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. 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.

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
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