Press releases
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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209 rows where party = "Democrat", state = "MN" and year = 2021 sorted by date descending
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| url | title | date ▲ | year | month | party | chamber | state | member_name | bioguide_id | domain | scraper | source | date_source | text | has_text | collected_at | updated_at |
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| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-announces-23-million-americorps-vista-projects-fourth-district | McCollum Announces $2.3 Million to AmeriCorps VISTA projects in Fourth District | 2021-12-16 | 2021 | 2021-12 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) celebrated the announcement that $2,327,046 will be awarded to eight organizations in Minnesota's Fourth Congressional District to fund AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) projects: "Minnesota leads the way in volunteerism, and I'm proud of the positive impact AmeriCorps VISTAs have made in our neighborhoods," Rep. McCollum said. "These federal funds willboost the capacity of eight fabulous local organizations to continue delivering vital services to strengthen our community – from increasing access to health care and nutrition, to supporting youth and improving literacy during this time of COVID. I'm proud to play an instrumental role in delivering these critical funds to our district as a member of the House Appropriations Committee." BACKGROUND: Created in 1965, AmeriCorps VISTA is a national service program designed to alleviate poverty in America. AmeriCorps VISTA members serve full-time for one year at non-profit organizations, schools, or local government agencies, multiplying their impact and building their capacity to carry out essential projects. AmeriCorps has made 12 AmeriCorps VISTA awards to organizations in Minnesota during the past quarter with an approximate value of the investment of $3,556,785. As a result of their service, the AmeriCorps members supported by these awards are eligible for up to $1,283,939 in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards. The list of organizations receiving AmeriCorps VISTA grants in MN-04 is as follows: Image Image Image | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z |
| https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-angie-craig-urges-minnesota-leaders-prioritize-local-projects | Representative Angie Craig Urges Minnesota Leaders to Prioritize Local Projects in the Second District with Federal Funding from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law | 2021-12-15 | 2021 | 2021-12 | Democrat | House | MN | Angie Craig | C001119 | craig.house.gov | craig | https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representative Angie Craig urged Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Transportation Margaret Anderson Kelliher to direct federal funding authorized by Congress as part of the bipartisan infrastructure package toward local projects in the Second District. Craig, who worked closely with local leaders to identify the projects that would have the most immediate positive impact on communities throughout the Second District, argued that the funding of these projects would create good-paying local jobs, improve the region's infrastructure and satisfy local demands. In November, Craig helped secure $6.8 billion in funding for infrastructure projects in Minnesota by helping to pass the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. "The projects I selected meet many of my communities' most urgent transportation needs, from Apple Valley to Wabasha. Completion of these projects will make our state safer, stronger, greener and more accessible," wrote Representative Craig. "Local leaders have gone above and beyond to demonstrate deep and wide-ranging community support for these projects, and to ensure they are technically sound and integrated with long-term state and regional planning." "My hope is that we can work together to include these projects on an amended State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) or through other means and direct the IIJA's generational federal investment to these projects in a timely fashion," Craig continued. Earlier this year, Craig submitted requests for millions of dollars in federal funding in surface transportation reauthorization legislation for projects in Minnesota's Second Congressional District. Craig selected those proposals after working closely with local leaders to identify infrastructure projects like the realignment of Levee Road in Red Wing and the Dakota County Veterans Memorial Greenway Project which would have immediate, beneficial impacts on local communities throughout the Second District. This summer, Craig secure… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-representatives-passes-combating-international-islamophobia-act | House of Representatives Passes Combating International Islamophobia Act | 2021-12-14 | 2021 | 2021-12 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON—Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed Rep. Omar and Rep. Jan Schakowsky's bill the Combating International Islamophobia Act, 219-212. Hours earlier, the Biden Administration announced the President's support for the legislation. The bill requires the U.S. State Department to create a Special Envoy for monitoring and combating Islamophobia, and include state-sponsored Islamophobic violence and impunity in the Department's annual human rights reports. The creation of the Special Envoy will help policymakers better understand the interconnected, global problem of anti-Muslim bigotry, and will establish a comprehensive strategy for U.S. leadership in combatting Islamophobia worldwide. "We are in the midst of a staggering of anti-Muslim violence and discrimination around the world," Rep. Omar said today in a floor speech. "At rise its worst, it is Uyghurs in concentration camps in China and a genocide against the Rohingya in Burma. But those atrocities are part of a deeper fabric of violence against Muslims and impunity for violence against Muslims at a global level. In India, Prime Minister Modi's government has moved to strip citizenship from millions of Muslims and has occupied Kashmir. In Sri Lanka, anti-Muslim laws and violence have imposed terror on the community. In Hungary, Belarus, and Poland, politicians have stoked fear of Muslim refugees and immigrants. In New Zealand and Canada, white supremacist violence has targeted Muslims, including at their places of worship. Earlier this year, the United Nations commissioned a report and concluded that Islamophobia has reached ‘epidemic proportions' and urged nations around the world to take all necessary measures to combat it. As a country that was founded on religious liberty, our leadership on international religious freedom depends on recognizing that Islamophobia is global in scope, and we must lead the global effort to address it. That's why Rep, Schakowsky and I have introduced this bill, to create a special envoy for monitoring and comb… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z |
| https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-angie-craig-leads-introduction-legislation-improve-maternal | Representative Angie Craig Leads Introduction of Legislation to Improve Maternal Health Care for Native Women | 2021-12-13 | 2021 | 2021-12 | Democrat | House | MN | Angie Craig | C001119 | craig.house.gov | craig | https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, DC —Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig (MN-02) led several of her colleagues in reintroducing the Native Women's Maternal Health Resolution, which seeks to create and improve access for Indigenous women to comprehensive and culturally competent maternal health care and family planning services. The resolution would continue to shed light on the maternal health crisis among Indigenous women in the United States and help to address the critical need to reduce the tragically high rates of mortality and morbidity among American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian women. Craig was joined in introducing the legislation by Representatives Pete Aguilar (CA-31), Sharice Davids (KS-03), Raúl M. Grijalva (AZ-03), Kai Kahele (HI-02), Ann Kirkpatrick (AZ-02), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01), Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-40) and Lauren Underwood (IL-14). Last Congress, the Native Women's Maternal Health Resolution was led by Representative Deb Haaland, who represented New Mexico's First Congressional District. Haaland now serves as the Secretary of Interior in the Biden Administration. "In the United States, Native women face significantly higher rates of death or serious illness during childbirth, a heartbreaking statistic that the federal government must take urgent action to reverse," said Representative Craig. "It's absolutely critical that we continue to shed light on this crisis and enact policy solutions that will ensure every woman in America has access to high-quality maternal health care and family planning services in their own communities. I am proud to reintroduce this important legislation and to carry on Secretary Haaland's incredible work to improve the lives of American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian women across this country." "The maternal mortality rate in the U.S. is, frankly, shameful – and the outcomes of American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian mothers are consistently worse than other groups. We must call attention to this … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-foreign-affairs-committee-passes-combating-international-islamophobia | House Foreign Affairs Committee Passes Combating International Islamophobia Act | 2021-12-10 | 2021 | 2021-12 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON—Today the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed the Combating International Islamophobia Act on a party line vote. The bill will be voted on by the full House of Representatives this coming Tuesday, December 14th. The legislation, authored by Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) seeks to address the rise in incidents of Islamophobia worldwide. The bill requires the U.S. State Department to create a Special Envoy for monitoring and combating Islamophobia, and include state-sponsored Islamophobic violence and impunity in the Department's annual human rights reports. The creation of the Special Envoy will help policymakers better understand the interconnected, global problem of anti-Muslim bigotry. It will also establish a comprehensive strategy for establishing U.S. leadership in combatting Islamophobia worldwide. "As the United Nations said this year, anti-Muslim hatred has reached epidemic proportions and every country must take action," said Rep. Omar. "I am excited for the opportunity to bring forth legislation to address this crisis alongside Rep. Jan Schakowsky. I want to thank Chairman Meeks for taking this bill up in the House Foreign Affairs Committee. And we look forward to it passing this bill and sending it to the President's desk." "I am pleased that the Combating International Islamophobia Act was marked up today and is swiftly moving through the House Foreign Affairs Committee," said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09). "I look forward to voting for it on the House floor. It is more urgent than ever that the U.S. do all it can to combat anti-Muslim hate. The creation of a Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Islamophobia is the first step to ensuring the U.S. dedicates the resources necessary to safeguard human rights and religious and cultural freedom around the world. We must also look inward as a nation and address this hatred at home, including in the halls of Congress. I look forward to continue working with my friend and colleague Rep. Ilhan Omar to ensure a sa… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-passes-amendment-house-protecting-democracy-package | Rep. Omar Passes Amendment in House Protecting Democracy Package | 2021-12-09 | 2021 | 2021-12 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON—Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Protecting Our Democracy Act, legislation to prevent presidential abuse, increase transparency and accountability measures between Congress and the Executive Branch, and protect our elections from foreign interference. The legislation passed includes an amendment sponsored by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) to require the extension of whistleblower protections to executive branch interns and fellows. "Today the House took much-needed steps to safeguard our democracy and signaled to the world that American democracy is worth fighting for," said Rep Omar. "This legislation will restore our system of checks and balances, protect our elections, and bolster congressional oversight. I am glad our amendment was also included to extend whistleblower protections and protect those often left behind—interns and fellows. As someone who survived civil conflict, I know personally that we should never take our democracy for granted. This bill is a critical step to preserve and protect our democracy." Click here for bill text. Click here for a fact sheet. Click herefor a section-by-section. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z |
| https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-angie-craig-call-house-leadership-deliver-supply-chain | Representative Angie Craig Call on House Leadership to Deliver Supply Chain Solutions | 2021-12-08 | 2021 | 2021-12 | Democrat | House | MN | Angie Craig | C001119 | craig.house.gov | craig | https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, U.S. Representative Angie Craig joined more than 20 of her Democratic colleagues in sending a letter to House leadership calling for additional action on legislation that would ease supply chain bottlenecks and help lower costs for their constituents. As the winter holiday season approaches, the letter urges House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer to turn the House's attention to passing additional legislation that will provide solutions to supply chain disruptions and complement the investments in infrastructure made in the bills already passed by their chamber. Representative Craig is a co-chair of the bipartisan supply chain caucus in Congress. "It is imperative Congress acts to address the needs of the nation through additional action to specifically address the supply chain and resulting higher prices experienced by families across the country," wrote the members. "We respectfully ask that the House swiftly considers the numerous bills written by our colleagues that will support domestic manufacturing and provide additional solutions to our supply chain crisis." The letter was signed by Axne, Lee, Wild, Carolyn Bordeaux (GA-07), Angie Craig (MN-02), Ed Case (HI-01), J. Luis Correa (CA-46), Antonio Delgado (NY-19), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), John Garamendi (CA-03), Josh Harder (CA-10), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Kathy Manning (NC-06), Lucy McBath (GA-06), Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01), Scott Peters (CA-52), Kathleen Rice (NY-04), Bradley Schneider (IL-10), Elissa Slotkin (MI-08), Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), and Haley Stevens (MI-11). The full text of the letter can be found below: December 2, 2021 Speaker Pelosi and Leader Hoyer, We are concerned about the ongoing disruptions to our nation's supply chain, which are causing delays and increasing inflation for our constituents. We are pleased that the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act has been signed into law by President Biden and encouraged by the continued work on the Build Back Be… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z |
| https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-angie-craig-senators-klobuchar-and-smith-applaud-biden | Representative Angie Craig, Senators Klobuchar and Smith Applaud Biden Administration’s Support for Minnesota Dairy Producers | 2021-12-08 | 2021 | 2021-12 | Democrat | House | MN | Angie Craig | C001119 | craig.house.gov | craig | https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig and U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith issued statements applauding the Biden Administration's approval of approximately $580 million in Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage payments, which will provide enhanced risk management to the small and medium-sized dairy farms still recovering from the COVID-19 public health and economic crisis. Earlier this year, Craig, Klobuchar and Smith to take this action on behalf of dairy producers in Minnesota and across the nation. "Minnesota's hardworking dairy farmers – who are a critical part of our state's agricultural economy – deserve fair and equal access to the federal funds necessary to emerge through this unprecedented and ongoing crisis," said Representative Angie Craig. "We are encouraged by the Biden Administration's announcement, which heeds our call to extend financial relief to the small and medium-sized dairy producers who are in greatest need of support at this time." "Minnesota's dairy farmers are key to keeping our rural areas strong and protecting our nation's food supply," said Senator Klobuchar. "I fought for this federal funding because it is crucial that they are able to recover from the pandemic and continue contributing to communities across the state. I'll keep working to ensure resources are distributed in a timely manner." "Minnesota's dairy farmers play a vital economic role in Minnesota and across the country," said Senator Smith. "Even before they were hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, dairy farmers faced extremely tight margins, market uncertainty, and unfair trade practices. This funding will help get them back on their feet as we emerge from this pandemic. I'll continue fighting for relief for Minnesota agriculture." With strong support from Representative Craig and Senators Klobuchar and Smith, Congress enacted the Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage program in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 to build on the Dairy Margin Coverage program enacted in the 2018 Farm … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z |
| https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-angie-craig-statement-president-joe-bidens-visit-minnesotas | Representative Angie Craig Statement on President Joe Biden’s Visit to Minnesota’s Second Congressional District | 2021-12-08 | 2021 | 2021-12 | Democrat | House | MN | Angie Craig | C001119 | craig.house.gov | craig | https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representative Angie Craig released the following statement in advance of President Joseph Biden's visit to Minnesota's Second Congressional District: "I'm honored to welcome President Biden to Minnesota's Second Congressional District to celebrate our once-in-a-generation investment in our nation's infrastructure. This long-overdue legislation will create millions of good-paying jobs that cannot be outsourced, create strong and sustainable economic growth in our local communities and rebuild Minnesota's crumbling roads and aging bridges – all while shoring up our national supply chain to bring down the cost of living for hardworking Americans. Today's event demonstrates that we're working tirelessly to make good on our promises, and that we're committed to working on a bipartisan basis to get it done." | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z |
| https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/representatives-angie-craig-and-cindy-axne-lead-statement-biden-administration | Representatives Angie Craig and Cindy Axne Lead Statement on Biden Administration Announcement on Renewable Volume Obligations | 2021-12-08 | 2021 | 2021-12 | Democrat | House | MN | Angie Craig | C001119 | craig.house.gov | craig | https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representatives Angie Craig and Cindy Axne led a group of House colleagues in releasing the following statement on the Administration's announcement regarding proposed changes to Renewable Volume Obligations (RVOs) under the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). Representatives Mark Pocan and Ron Kind joined Craig and Axne in releasing the statement. "After months of unnecessary delay, we are glad that the EPA has released the long-overdue Renewable Volume Obligations. The 2022 number sets the biofuels industry on the right path moving forward. And the end of the abuse of Small Refinery Exemptions – which provide relief to oil companies at the expense of family farmers – is welcome news. These decisions will help lower prices at the pump for hardworking Americans and accelerate the positive role that biofuels can and must play in our effort to decarbonize the transportation sector, tackle climate change and drive economic growth across rural America. However, the proposed decision to retroactively lower the 2020 RVO target does not reflect a sufficient commitment to renewable fuels and family farmers. As we have emphasized in repeated conversations with the Administration, now is the time to invest in renewable biofuels and the communities they support – not to prioritize the interests of fossil fuel companies that continue to ignore the law of the RFS. We look forward to conversations about changing the proposed 2020 RVO number to better reflect the role biofuels must have in our clean energy economy." Representatives Craig, Axne and Pocan are all Co-Chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Biofuels Caucus. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressional-progressive-caucus-leaders-urge-senate-block-weapons-sale-saudi | Congressional Progressive Caucus Leaders Urge Senate to Block Weapons Sale to Saudi Arabia and End Yemen War | 2021-12-07 | 2021 | 2021-12 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON — Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, and Ilhan Omar (MN-05), whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, released the following statement ahead of a Senate vote to block the sale of $650 million in Raytheon air-to-air missiles to Saudi Arabia: "After nearly seven years of war and roughly a quarter of a million people killed, Saudi Arabia continues to relentlessly bomb Yemen and impose a crippling siege on the country, depriving millions of civilians of adequate food, fuel and medicine. The Senate must block this weapons sale and send a clear message to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman: Congress will not tolerate Saudi impunity as it commits war crimes and starves the people of Yemen. "The world's largest humanitarian crisis is escalating. Last month, Saudi Arabia tightened its blockade on Yemen, permitting just 3 percent of the fuel the country needs into Yemen's major port. Saudi warplanes enforce a blockade on Yemen's airspace, threatening to shoot down commercial and humanitarian flights. This has almost completely halted medicine and medical supplies from entering the country, and has amounted to a death sentence for tens of thousands of Yemenis seeking lifesaving treatment abroad. "In 2019, President Biden promised to end the war in Yemen, make the Saudis ‘pay the price' for human rights abuses, and not ‘sell more weapons to them.' But over the past year, while the Biden Administration has publicly urged an easing of Yemen's port restrictions, the U.S. has continued logistical support essential to the deadly Saudi aerial blockade on Yemen. As the Saudis disregard the administration's appeals and restrict fuel imports even further, this unconditional sale of air-to-air missiles threatens to greenlight Saudi conduct and empower Saudi Arabia's offensive military campaign collectively punishing tens of millions of civilians. "We applaud the bipartisan effort to hold Saudi Arabia accountable and help bring the war in Yemen to an end, as w… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z |
| https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/representatives-angie-craig-john-joyce-lead-call-gao-review-direct-consumer | Representatives Angie Craig, John Joyce Lead Call for GAO Review of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising Practices for Medical Products | 2021-12-06 | 2021 | 2021-12 | Democrat | House | MN | Angie Craig | C001119 | craig.house.gov | craig | https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representatives Angie Craig (D-MN) and John Joyce (R-PA) led 17 of their colleagues in requesting a review of the regulation of Direct-to-Consumer (DTC) advertising practices for prescription medical products. Over the past several years, an increasing number of companies are selling prescription products, such as contact lenses and orthodontics, directly to consumers. While these companies have the potential to increase convenience and lower costs, reports of poor quality or adverse events have raised concerns among consumers and health care providers. In a letter to Comptroller General Gene Dodaro, Craig, Joyce and their colleagues requested that the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) perform a study on the current practices and regulation of this emerging market, which could inform future regulatory and legislative action if needed. "Although selling prescription medical products directly to consumers can create lower costs and increase convenience, the practices of new DTC companies have raised concerns about the safety and regulation of this industry," wrote the Members. "Doctors, former federal regulators and legal experts are concerned that these DTC companies are operating in a regulatory vacuum that could pose risks to public health." "The rise of internet marketing and the push toward a DTC model of healthcare delivery represents a major change within our healthcare system. We are concerned that with the rapid growth of DTC advertising, appropriate regulatory oversight may be falling behind," the members continued. Direct-to-consumer prescription medical products are typically marketed via television, social media, and the internet advertising and represent a shift in healthcare delivery. Within the federal government, these companies are generally regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC). However, neither agency has taken regulatory action against prominent DTC companies that sell prescription medical products tha… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/chair-mccollum-s-floor-statement-fy-22-continuing-resolution | Chair McCollum’s Floor Statement on FY 22 Continuing Resolution | 2021-12-02 | 2021 | 2021-12 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.), Chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, today delivered the following remarks on the House Floor regarding the Fiscal Year 2022 Continuing Resolution to prevent a government shutdown and extend funding until February 18, 2022 – more than four months past the start of the fiscal year: "Madam Speaker, we are here today to prevent the Republicans from shutting down the federal government tomorrow. Republicans in the U.S. Senate are holding the FY22 appropriations process hostage by refusing to do any work – let alone negotiate with Democrats. Rather than doing their job of funding the federal government, Senate Republicans want to kick the can down the road, wasting the first four and a half months of the fiscal year. "As Chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, it is clear that Republicans are undermining our national security. They are increasing waste and inefficiency. They are weakening our military readiness. And they are sending a signal to our troops and the millions of workers in the defense industry that their needs are not a priority. "The American people should be sick and tired of hearing Republicans in Congress talk about how we need a stronger national defense, while doing everything in their power to weaken our national defense. This is a time of instability in the world. Russia is knocking on the doorstep of Ukraine. China is at the doorstep of Taiwan. There are serious national security threats in the world. "When our adversaries look at Congress, they see Republicans playing political games, rather than investing in research and modernization. What kind of message does that send to our adversaries? What kind of message does that send to the men and women of our military, who we ask to do the toughest jobs while putting their lives on the line? "I am voting for this Continuing Resolution to prevent a Republican shutdown. But I must say, while this CR is necessary, I find it to be an unacceptable outcome. I yield back the balance of my… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-legislation-restoring-equal-access-tribal-homelands-passes-us-house | McCollum Legislation Restoring Equal Access to Tribal Homelands Passes U.S. House | 2021-12-01 | 2021 | 2021-12 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4352 to amend the Indian Reorganization Act of 1934, reaffirming the authority of the Secretary of Interior to take land into trust for all federally recognized Indian tribes, regardless of the date of their recognition. In the 2009 Carcieri v. Salazar decision, the Supreme Court ruled that the only tribes federally recognized prior to 1934 could have land placed into trust. This decision created a discriminatory two-tier system for the Department of the Interior's fee-to-trust process, and has resulted in inequality, uncertainty, and costly litigation. Since the 2009 opinion, members in both chambers of Congress have introduced bipartisan legislation to restore the original intent of the Indian Reorganization Act. Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04), who introduced H.R. 4352, released the following statement: "Tribal Nations should not be discriminated against because of their date of federal recognition," McCollum said. "That date has no bearing on their existence as sovereign nations – and so it should have no bearing on their right to reestablish their homelands. All federally recognized Tribal Nations must have the same right to place land into trust to support the needs of their communities and strengthen their self-governance. This bill affirms congressional intent that the Indian Reorganization Act authorizes the Secretary of the Interior to place land into trust for all federally recognized Tribal Nations, regardless of their date of recognition. As Members of Congress, it is our duty to honor the federal government's trust and treaty responsibilities, safeguard and empower Native American communities, and protect their treaty rights, lands, assets, and resources now and for generations to come. I thank my colleagues for joining me to finally fix this grave injustice." The President of the National Congress of American Indians, Ms. Fawn Sharp, added: "Carcieri has effectively created two classes of tribal nations, and has overburdened tribal, feder… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-remarks-islamophobia | Rep. Omar Remarks on Islamophobia | 2021-12-01 | 2021 | 2021-12 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | In case you missed it, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) provided remarks on Islamophobia yesterday at a press conference. You can view the remarks below. "Thank you all for being here. In the days following the tragic terror attacks of September 11th, a Muslim EMT with the New York Fire Department named Mohammad Salman Hamdani was reported missing. His mother Talat, desperate to find her son, appealed directly to the President of the United States for help. But instead of assistance or sympathy, she received suspicion. The CIA came to his family home and confiscated photos. The NYPD put up wanted flyers for him. Their Member of Congress interrogated them, saying Salman could be detained if found. The media swarmed their home, with one tabloid headline reading "Missing or Hiding?" under a photo of Salman. Six months later, Mohammad Salman Hamdani's remains and medical equipment were discovered at ground zero, Salman, it turned out, saw the smoke coming out of the towers and hurried to the scene to help victims on that tragic day. After 6 months, his name was finally cleared and he was recognized as the hero that he was. Not all of us are as heroic as Salman Hamdani, but nearly every Muslim American has experienced this type of suspicion in their lives. "Five years later, when the first Muslim-American, Keith Ellison, was elected to Congress, his Republican colleagues sent a letter saying America needs to quote--"wake up" or else there will "likely be many more Muslims elected to office." And he was told on live TV to quote— "prove …that you are not working with our enemies." "My own experience was similar. When I first ran for public office, I was told I had to take off my hijab if I ever wanted to win. It was too Muslim, the thinking went. When I did win, my colleague Steve King claimed another member said of my hijab: "Four pounds of c-4 under that would wipe out half of Congress. "The truth is that Islamophobia pervades our culture, our politics and even policy decisions. Cable news hosts and leading politicians in … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:37:48Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ilhan-omar-statement-conversation-rep-lauren-boebert | Rep. Ilhan Omar Statement on Conversation with Rep. Lauren Boebert | 2021-11-29 | 2021 | 2021-11 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON—Today, Rep. Ilhan Omar released the following statement after she spoke with Rep. Lauren Boebert. "Today, I graciously accepted a call from Rep. Lauren Boebert in the hope of receiving a direct apology for falsely claiming she met me in an elevator, suggesting I was a terrorist, and for a history of anti-Muslim hate. Instead of apologizing for her Islamophobic comments and fabricated lies, Rep. Boebert refused to publicly acknowledge her hurtful and dangerous comments. She instead doubled down on her rhetoric and I decided to end the unproductive call. "I believe in engaging with those we disagree with respectfully, but not when that disagreement is rooted in outright bigotry and hate. "To date, the Republican Party leadership has done nothing to condemn and hold their own members accountable for repeated instances of anti-Muslim hate and harassment. This is not about one hateful statement or one politician; it is about a party that has mainstreamed bigotry and hatred. It is time for Republican Leader McCarthy to actually hold his party accountable." Background: Rep. Omar is subject to routine death threats and plots on her life, often responding to anti-Muslim rhetoric. Anti-Muslim hate is on the rise both here at home and around the world. In 2019, a white supremacist opened fire at multiple mosques in New Zealand, killing over 50 people. This summer, we witnessed a deadly anti-Muslim attack wipe out three generations of a Muslim family in Canada. This year has seen over 500 incidents of hate in the U.S. This included a sudden rise in anti-mosque incidents in May and June involving cases of vandalism and an attempted stabbing, and several physical assaults targeting Muslim women wearing hijabs. In October, Rep. Omar introduced the Combating International Islamophobia Act, legislation to address the rise in incidents of Islamophobia worldwide that requires the State Department to create a Special Envoy for monitoring and combating Islamophobia. Rep. Boebert has demonstrated a clear pattern … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z |
| https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-angie-craig-urges-president-biden-tap-strategic-petroleum | Representative Angie Craig Urges President Biden to Tap into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve | 2021-11-23 | 2021 | 2021-11 | Democrat | House | MN | Angie Craig | C001119 | craig.house.gov | craig | https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, U.S. Representative Angie Craig and a group of her House Democratic colleagues sent a letter to President Biden urging him to tap into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) and reinstate a ban on crude oil exports to bring down high gasoline and fuel prices in the United States. In the letter, Craig and her colleagues argued that a ban on oil exports coupled with a release from the SPR could boost domestic supplies and further lower energy prices for consumers. "We write to express support for your actions to help Americans who are burdened with high gasoline and fuel prices. We know ensuring affordable and reliable energy is a top priority for your administration," wrote the Members. "We must use all tools at our disposal to bring down gasoline prices in the short term" The members' letter follows outreach from Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), who also called on the Biden Administration to take immediate action to address rising energy costs in the United States. Craig was joined in sending the letter by Representatives Ro Khanna (CA-17), Cindy Axne (IA-03), Chrissy Houlahan (PA-06), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Katie Porter (CA-45), and Abigail Spanberger (VA-07). You can find the full text of the letter below. November 22, 2021 The Honorable Joseph R. Biden President The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear President Biden: We write to express support for your actions to help Americans who are burdened with high gasoline and fuel prices. We know ensuring affordable and reliable energy is a top priority for your administration. We must use all tools at our disposal to bring down gasoline prices in the short term. We agree with Senator Reed and our other colleagues in the Senate that have called for a ban on crude oil exports and a release from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The price of oil is significantly affected by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). OPEC is manipulating gas prices by constraining… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z |
| https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-angie-craig-statement-house-passage-build-back-better-act | Representative Angie Craig Statement on House Passage of the Build Back Better Act | 2021-11-19 | 2021 | 2021-11 | Democrat | House | MN | Angie Craig | C001119 | craig.house.gov | craig | https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representative Angie Craig released the following statement following House passage of the Build Back Better Act. "I'm pleased that the Build Back Better Act contains a number of my district's priorities to expand access and lower the cost of healthcare, invest in working families and provide support to rural communities and family farmers. I'm especially pleased that this bill is fully paid for and that all indications are that it will actually help reduce the deficit." The specifics of those priorities include: Expand access and lower the cost of healthcare: Empowers Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices for certain drugs, caps out-of-pocket spending on prescription drugs for seniors at $2,000 per year and caps the cost of insulin at $35 a month Extends through 2025 the enhanced premium tax credits in the ACA Closes the Medicaid coverage gap by providing access to affordable coverage in the ACA marketplace to millions of Americans who live in states that did not previously expand Medicaid Creates a federal reinsurance program – written by Craig – which would lower health care premiums for millions of Minnesotans who purchase through the ACA's individual market Invest in working families: Establishes a paid family and medical leave program, providing four weeks of paid parental, family caregiving, and medical leave. Provides pre-K for three-and four-year-olds Extends the Child Tax Credit which will benefit 35 million middle-class American families and 146,000 children in the second district Caps the cost of child care at 7% of income for working families who make up to $270,000 annually in Minnesota Support to rural communities and family farmers: Invests $1 billion in biofuels infrastructure Extends the biodiesel tax credit through 2026 Provides nearly $1 billion for a Rural Partnership Program Includes $2 billion for the Rural Energy for America Program | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ilhan-omar-statement-build-back-better-act | Rep. Ilhan Omar Statement on the Build Back Better Act | 2021-11-19 | 2021 | 2021-11 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON—Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) released the following statement after voting for the Build Back Better Act in the House. "From the beginning of this process, progressives have put our votes on the line to deliver needed relief to our constituents in the Build Back Better Act, and today we got the opportunity to pass it out of the House. "Minnesotans are facing the biggest housing affordability crisis in the country, a massive racial wealth and education gap, and a childcare affordability crisis. The Build Back Better Act is our opportunity to address this. Minnesotans spend an average of over $16,000 a year on childcare—as much as they spend on mortgage payments—and Build Back Better would address it. The Twin Cities has the worst housing shortage in the entire country—and Build Back Better would create a housing acquisition fund to address it. We need good union jobs, and Build Back Better would invest in a civilian climate corps, and home health care workers paying fair wages. My constituents need the Build Back Better Act, and they can't wait any longer. "Now it is on the Senate to act. Promises have never been enough. We need a vote in the Senate to deliver these investments to the American people as quickly as possible." ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z |
| https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-angie-craig-presses-head-postal-service-harmful-changes-could | Representative Angie Craig Presses Head of Postal Service on Harmful Changes that Could Lead to Holiday Shipping Delays | 2021-11-18 | 2021 | 2021-11 | Democrat | House | MN | Angie Craig | C001119 | craig.house.gov | craig | https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig expressed concern with recent decisions made by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, which she argued could worsen conditions that are leaving millions of Americans concerned about mail and package delivery during peak holiday season. In her letter, Craig questioned the efficacy of the Postal Service's recent rate increases for retail customers, which have not led to improved services or faster delivery times. She also criticized DeJoy's Delivering for America plan, which would impose strict cutbacks to the Postal Service – which would result in harmful delays and reduced services for millions of Americans, particularly those in rural America. "Americans across the country are anxiously awaiting the holiday season to safely gather with friends and families after another trying year. They deserve to have all of their mail arrive on time - not only packages containing gifts or holiday goodies or cards, but also prescription drugs or business payments," wrote Representative Craig. "I'm particularly concerned about the rural communities and constituents I represent. I'm thankful for our mail carriers and postal workers, but my constituents need to know their prescriptions or Social Security checks will be delivered on time or that the package they send their loved ones serving in the military overseas will arrive for the holidays." In order to ensure that there will not be further costly delays for families in Minnesota, Craig requested that DeJoy provide updates on how the Postal Service was working to avoid delays, what changes may be needed to accommodate peak holiday shipping and what USPS's plans were to better serve customers and counteract recent failures. You can find the full text of the letter Document and below. November 18, 2021 The Honorable Louis DeJoy Postmaster General United States Postal Service 475 L'Enfant Plaza, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20260 Dear Postmaster General DeJoy, The United States Postal Service is an integral part of our l… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-votes-historic-human-infrastructure-bill-invest-america-s-future | McCollum Votes for Historic Human Infrastructure Bill to Invest in America’s Future | 2021-11-18 | 2021 | 2021-11 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released the following statement today after voting to pass H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act: "The bill House Democrats passed today will create transformative change in the lives of Minnesotans and all Americans. Making health care, child care, education, and housing more accessible and more affordable is essential for Minnesota families and businesses to thrive. I proudly voted for the Build Back Better Act to fix these gaps and make investments that will benefit not just individual families, but our entire nation. "This bill will help combat the skyrocketing costs of prescription drugs while also expanding access to quality health care. It will finally address the unmet needs of millions of Americans who seek care for a loved one. The pandemic has made it clear: there is a gaping hole in our economic system without support for caregiving. Families should not have to decide between caring for loved ones and maintaining steady employment. "Finally, addressing the climate crisis is the challenge of our time, and this bill makes the largest investment in history to fight the worst climate impacts, improve community resilience, grow the clean energy economy, and show the next generation we care about making sure they inherit a habitable planet. "No one making under $400,000 will pay more in taxes, but these investments will be fully paid for – by closing tax loopholes to ensure corporations and the wealthiest Americans finally pay their fair share. It's time to make the economy work for everyone, and not just those at the very top. As the Build Back Better Act heads to the U.S. Senate for consideration, I urge my colleagues to swiftly pass this bill and join us in investing in America's future." This transformative package will: Lower Health Care Costs: negotiating lower drug costs for seniors; halting Big Pharma's outrageous price hikes above inflation; and expanding the ACA to make coverage more affordable for those who buy insurance on their own. Lower Child Ca… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z |
| https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-angie-craig-presses-biden-administration-ensure-underserved | Representative Angie Craig Presses Biden Administration to Ensure Underserved Communities Gain Access to Remote Work, Telehealth and Distance Learning | 2021-11-17 | 2021 | 2021-11 | Democrat | House | MN | Angie Craig | C001119 | craig.house.gov | craig | https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. — This week, U.S. Representative Angie Craig called on the Biden Administration to ensure the effective and appropriate implementation of a program designed to ensure that every American has access to high-quality and affordable broadband internet connection. The program, which was enacted by Congress as part of the American Rescue Plan, will provide $10 billion to state and tribal governments to ensure all communities can take part in remote work, telehealth and distance learning – all of which have become especially vital due to COVID-19. In a letter addressed to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who has been charged with overseeing the Capital Projects Fund, Craig urged the Administration to ensure local communities were aware of the upcoming deadline for applications and to ensure that relevant federal agencies could assist with the approval and disbursement process. "Getting this new program right is vitally important. As you are no doubt aware, too many people in the United States lack access to the quality, modern infrastructure needed over the last 19 months. Distance learning, telehealth and remote work all require reliable, accessible and affordable broadband," wrote Representative Craig. "As a member of the House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth tasked with representing the voices of this nation's family farmers and rural families, I see the urgent need for increased broadband and modern infrastructure investments every day," Craig continued. "Too many of the people in my Congressional District and across rural America lack even rudimentary access to the internet." The COVID-19 public health emergency reinforced the idea that communities without access to high-quality modern infrastructure, including broadband internet access, face impediments to fully participating in aspects of daily life, such as remote work, telehealth, and distance learning. The Department of Treasury launched the Capital Projects Fund to allow state and tribal governments to invest… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z |
| https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-angie-craig-senator-tina-smith-announce-federal-grant-scott | Representative Angie Craig, Senator Tina Smith Announce Federal Grant for Scott County US 169 Interchange Project | 2021-11-17 | 2021 | 2021-11 | Democrat | House | MN | Angie Craig | C001119 | craig.house.gov | craig | https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig and U.S. Senator Tina Smith announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $8 million in federal grant funding for the US 169 & Highway 282/County Highway 9 Interchange Project in Scott County. Earlier this year, the Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity (RAISE) Grant application was submitted by Scott County and their project partners, which include the City of Jordan and the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT). Following the drafting and submission of the application, the project was championed in Washington by Representative Craig and Senator Smith. The project, once completed, will replace the last signalized highway intersection within 50 miles of the Twin Cities with an interchange, creating a 75 mile stoplight free zone to improve a key interregional corridor in Minnesota that is essential for commuters, local residents and businesses' economic success and vitality in the project area and region. "After years of hard work and advocacy, I am proud to announce that Scott County has been awarded $8 million for the US 169 Interchange project, which will create good paying jobs in Scott County, make our community safer and grow our economy by improving a critical economic corridor that connects Minnesota businesses with customers throughout the state and across the globe," said Representative Craig. "The benefits of this project will ripple far beyond Scott County, particularly for rural portions of my district that rely on this corridor to transport their products and agricultural commodities to market. I am grateful for the tireless work of my local partners in Scott County, the City of Jordan and the Minnesota Department of Transportation, particularly Commissioner Barb Weckman Brekke, Mayor Mike Franklin and Highway 169 Corridor Coalition Chair Kevin Burkart." "Today's news is a win not just for Scott County, but for the hundreds of thousands of hard working Minnesotans who rely on this corrid… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-joins-rep-tlaibs-reintroduction-resolution-calling-government-action | Rep. Omar Joins Rep. Tlaib's Reintroduction of Resolution Calling for Government Action to Mitigate Violence Against Women in Politics | 2021-11-17 | 2021 | 2021-11 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON—Today, Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), along with Congresswomen Cori Bush (MO-01), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and Jackie Speier (CA-14), introduced a House resolution recognizing that violence against women in politics is a global phenomenon and that more research should be conducted to examine its extent and effects in the United States. The resolution, endorsed by National Democratic Institute (NDI), also calls on the U.S. government to adopt policies that promote women's political participation and help mitigate violence against women in politics in the United States and abroad. "…women have been on the frontlines of social justice movements around the world and throughout our Nation's history…[and]…violence against women in politics is a specific, gendered phenomenon stemming from a resistance to women's increased political participation and intending to undermine women as political actors," portions of the resolution read. The introduction comes after a Republican Congressman, Representative Paul Gosar (AZ-04), posted a manipulated video on his social media accounts depicting himself killing Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and attacking President Joseph Biden. The video – which also spread hateful, false, xenophobic rhetoric about immigrants – was posted on the Congressman's official Instagram account using taxpayer funds allocated by the House of Representatives, in effect using taxpayer dollars to incite violence against elected officials. According to the 2018 Violence Against Women in Politics Report by UN Women and UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, women of color appear to be disproportionately affected by it and risks of political engagement are likely higher for women of marginalized communities. A recent study of U.S. mayors, which found that female mayors are more likely than men to experience most types of violence and abuse, also indicates such incidents are not out of the ordinary for women in U.S. p… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z |
| https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-angie-craig-presses-house-leadership-support-small-businesses | Representative Angie Craig Presses House Leadership to Support Small Businesses Still Struggling during COVID-19 Pandemic | 2021-11-15 | 2021 | 2021-11 | Democrat | House | MN | Angie Craig | C001119 | craig.house.gov | craig | https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig pushed Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer to take immediate action to support small businesses in Minnesota and across the country that are still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic. In her letter, Representative Craig noted that small businesses account for 99.9% of all firms in the United States – and more than 60% of net job creation over the past 25 years. Arguing that small businesses make up the backbone of the American economy, Craig urged for expanding and extending relief programs targeting small business, specifically the Restaurant Revitalization Fund and the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program. "I'm hearing from small business owners across my district every single day about the struggles they have faced over the past year and a half. Businesses that have been around for generations are at-risk of permanent closure – and newly opened businesses are still struggling to get their feet underneath them," said Representative Craig. "Congress has a duty to assist our struggling small businesses as they face continued restrictions, supply chain disruptions, reduced operating capacity, and the ongoing threat of surging COVID-19 cases. In March, President Biden signed into law the American Rescue Plan, which included $16 billion for the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant Program and $28.6 billion for the Restaurant Revitalization Fund. However, those programs and several others were overwhelmed by demand, leaving thousands of businesses across the country without the financial support they deserve. Craig has repeatedly called for the replenishment of those funds and the extension of those programs to ensure that every struggling business can access the relief to which they are entitled. You can find the full text of the letter and below. November 15, 2021 The Honorable Nancy Pelosi The Honorable Steny Hoyer Speaker Majority Leader U.S. House of Representatives U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ilhan-omar-introduces-joint-resolution-block-650-million-saudi-arms-sale | Rep. Ilhan Omar Introduces Joint Resolution to Block $650 million Saudi Arms Sale | 2021-11-12 | 2021 | 2021-11 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON—Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) today introduced a joint resolution of disapproval to block the sale of $650 million worth of weapons from the United States of America to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. "It is simply unconscionable to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia while they continue to slaughter innocent people and starve millions in Yemen, kill and torture dissidents, and support modern-day slavery," Rep. Omar said. "We should never be selling human rights abusers weapons, but we certainly should not be doing so in the midst of a humanitarian crisis they are responsible for. Congress has the authority to stop these sales, and we must exercise that power." The sale comes as Saudi Arabia continues its offensive in Yemen, sparking the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. As of this year, more than 4 million people had been uprooted from their homes and more than 21 million are in dire need of assistance, including 11 million children. If passed by the Senate, the joint resolution would prohibit the sale of $650 million missiles and other weapons, announced by the State Department just last week. The sale would include 280 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles, along with 596 missile launchers, support equipment, spare parts, U.S. Government and contractor engineering, and technical support. The State Department says these are for air defense capabilities and is designed to replenish Saudi Arabia's existing inventory. "The United States should not sell any weapons to Saudi Arabia or other abusive governments, period. Congress should block this and similar deals in the future," said Raed Jarrar, Advocacy Director for Democracy for the Arab World Now (DAWN), the organization founded by Jamal Khashoggi. "These air-to-air missiles could be used in offensive operations or they could be used to enforce the Saudi blockade, which humanitarian aid groups have identified as one of the reasons behind the prices of medicine being out of reach for millions of Yemenis. Rather than selling more weapons, the Biden Adminis… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-statement-honor-veterans-day-1 | McCollum Statement in Honor of Veterans Day | 2021-11-10 | 2021 | 2021-11 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released the following statement today ahead of tomorrow's commemoration of Veterans Day: "On Veterans Day, we take time to honor those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, and to recognize their commitment, bravery, and sacrifices to protect the ideals and freedoms we cherish as Americans. We thank all who served in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines, and Space Force. They deserve the support of a grateful nation. "As America's longest war came to an end this year, we owe a debt of gratitude to our newest veterans who served so valiantly in Afghanistan and Iraq. Our gratefulness must be reflected in our actions, and that's why I'm fighting to ensure the availability of high quality, affordable health care; educational and workforce development opportunities that lead to good-paying jobs; and housing for our veterans and their families. With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the many mental health stresses it puts on families, we must work harder to provide the mental health care support and resources our veterans need. I'm proud of the work we've done in Congress to meet these obligations, and recognize there is much more to be done to fill the gaps. "We also honor the sacrifices made at home by the families and loved ones of our service members. Our veterans and their families deserve support upon their return home and as they take on new challenges following military service. This Veterans Day, let us renew our commitment to our veterans and their families – and join me in honoring and remembering their service in defending the United States at home and abroad." | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-joins-congressional-delegation-united-nations-climate-change | McCollum Joins Congressional Delegation to United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Glasgow | 2021-11-08 | 2021 | 2021-11 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) joins a delegation led by Speaker Nancy Pelosi to the United Nations Climate Change Conference, or "COP26," in Glasgow, Scotland on behalf of the United States House of Representatives. In Glasgow, the delegation will participate in bilateral meetings, panel discussions and other engagements with global leaders on top climate priorities, including the recent IPCC report, gender equity and public-private sector coordination on climate action. "The climate crisis is the existential threat of our time, and America must continue to bring our boldest ambitions to the table to meet and beat our climate action goals," said Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "Together with this outstanding, experienced and diverse delegation including Committee Chairs, Members of the House Select Committee on Climate Crisis and respected Members of Congress, I am honored to once again return to the United Nations Climate Change Conference to convey the strong commitment of the U.S. Congress in addressing this crisis and doing so in a way that puts justice and equity – particularly for indigenous communities – first." "As the world faces ‘Code Red for Humanity' because of the climate crisis, America has the great responsibility and opportunity to meet this moment. Led by President Biden and the Democratic Congress, we will do just that: advancing clean air and clean water for public health, creating good-paying green jobs and advancing our pre-eminence in green technologies, protecting our national security and leaving our children and grandchildren a healthier planet and a better future." The Members of the delegation are: Chairman Frank Pallone (D-NJ), Chair, House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX), Chair, House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Chairman Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Chair, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ), Chair, House Committee on Natural Resources Chairwoman Kathy Castor (D-FL), Chair, House Select Committee on Clima… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-votes-deliver-historic-infrastructure-bill-minnesota | McCollum Votes to Deliver Historic Infrastructure Bill for Minnesota | 2021-11-06 | 2021 | 2021-11 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) released the following statement today after voting to pass the Senate amendment to H.R. 3684, the $1.2 trillion Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act (IIJA): "Today House Democrats passed legislation to advance President Biden's Build Back Better agenda that invests in our families, our nation, and our future. "The Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act is a once-in-a-generation investment in our roads, bridges, and communities. It will help us maintain and improve our existing physical infrastructure, which Minnesotans know all too well is long overdue. It includes funding for clean energy innovation, electric vehicle infrastructure, transportation, and critical improvements to water infrastructure that will help protect public health. Today I voted to send this bill to President Biden's desk to be signed into law. "Today House Democrats also took a key step to prepare for a vote on the final element of the Build Back Better agenda, the Build Back Better Act, which invests in American families and the human infrastructure they rely on. Our entire nation will benefit from making child care, health care, housing, and education more accessible and affordable. It also makes historic investments to combat the climate crisis for our state, our nation, and our planet. These investments will be fully paid for by closing tax loopholes to ensure the wealthiest Americans and corporations finally pay their fair share. "The Democratic Build Back Better agenda will create transformative change in the lives of my fellow Minnesotans and all Americans. Rebuilding our physical infrastructure goes hand-in-hand with strengthening health care, child care, education, and climate resilience for Minnesota's families and businesses. Today we have made history with the investments in the Infrastructure Investment & Jobs Act – and we are committed to swiftly delivering on the human infrastructure investments in the Build Back Better Act." Background: The Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill (the Infrastr… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omars-statement-bipartisan-infrastructure-bill | Rep. Omar’s Statement on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill | 2021-11-05 | 2021 | 2021-11 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON—Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) released the following statement after voting "no" on the infrastructure bill. "From the beginning, I have been clear that I would not be able to support the infrastructure bill without a vote on the Build Back Better Act. Passing the infrastructure bill without passing the Build Back Better Act first risks leaving behind childcare, paid leave, health care, climate action, housing, education, and a roadmap to citizenship. "Right now, families across my district are struggling with the rising cost of childcare, the inability to get family leave to take care of their kids and deal with a medical emergency. The Build Back Better Act addresses it by creating a universal pre-k program, affordable childcare, and paid family and medical leave. In the Twin Cities, we have the worst housing shortage in the nation. The Build Back Better Act addresses it, by investing $150 billion in affordable housing. Minnesota is experiencing some of the fastest rising temperatures in the nation. The Build Back Better Act makes the boldest investment in history in the climate crisis—investing in zero waste initiatives and creating jobs in the process. My community cannot wait any longer for these much-needed investments that will be delivered through the Build Back Better Act. I cannot in good conscience support the infrastructure bill without voting on the President's transformative agenda first." "And for those reasons, I voted NO on the infrastructure package." ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-omar-lieu-and-jacobs-reintroduce-bill-improve-house-oversight-arms-sales | Reps. Omar, Lieu, and Jacobs Reintroduce Bill to Improve House Oversight of Arms Sales | 2021-11-04 | 2021 | 2021-11 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County), Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA) announced the reintroduction of the Arms Sale Oversight Act, which would align House procedure for reviewing major arms sales with existing Senate procedure under the Arms Export Control Act. The bill makes it possible for any House member to force debate on the House floor in the event that the House Foreign Affairs Committee (HFAC) does not debate a contested arms sale. "Arms sales to foreign militaries are an instrument of U.S. foreign policy," said Rep. Lieu. "Like our Senate colleagues, we as House members should have the opportunity to thoroughly evaluate and debate arms sales to make sure they are in our nation's best interest. However, current procedures often leave us in the dark. Arms sales with foreign countries are worthy of intense Congressional scrutiny, and House members shouldn't face roadblocks to doing our jobs. I'm pleased to reintroduce this legislation with Representatives Omar and Jacobs to make a simple fix that would strengthen Congress's ability to ensure this key foreign policy tool is being used appropriately and effectively." "The State Department oversees about $170 billion in arms sales every year, including to some of the most egregious human rights abusers in the world," said Rep. Omar. "This does nothing to further the cause of human rights, but does line the pockets of some of the largest war profiteers and weapons contractors. If we are serious about putting human rights at the center of our foreign policy, we need to stop arming human rights abusers, full stop. I am proud to cosponsor Rep. Ted Lieu's critical bill to provide more meaningful oversight over arms sales, and look forward to building a world free of arms sales and impunity for human rights abuses." "We must make sure that our foreign policy is consistent with our values, including our arms sales," said Rep. Jacobs. "I am proud to cosponsor Congressman Lieu's legislation, whi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z |
| https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-angie-craig-statement-deal-lower-prescription-drug-prices | Representative Angie Craig Statement on Deal to Lower Prescription Drug Prices | 2021-11-02 | 2021 | 2021-11 | Democrat | House | MN | Angie Craig | C001119 | craig.house.gov | craig | https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representative Angie Craig released the following statement following reports that Democrats had reached an agreement on lowering prescription drug costs, one of the final provisions negotiated as part of the Build Back Better Act in Congress. "While we still need the legislative language, I am encouraged by the news that we've reached an agreement to lower prescription drug costs for seniors and families as part of the Build Back Better Act. This agreement would allow Medicare to negotiate some drug prices for the first time, penalize companies for outrageous price hikes and cap the amount of money seniors pay for their drugs. For far too many years, lawmakers have buckled under pressure from Washington's special interests and failed to enact any prescription drug reforms. My sincere hope is that that changes with this agreement. Today, we have demonstrated to our constituents that we will not be intimidated – and that we will always prioritize the interests of the American people over the profits of Big Pharma. Our fight to ensure affordable health care is far from over – but this is an important step in the right direction and would represent a first win for the American people." The drug pricing reforms announced this afternoon were not included in the original framework of the Build Back Better bill released last week. Over the weekend, Rep. Craig led a movement of swing district colleagues to pressure Nancy Pelosi and House leadership to fight in the bill to bring down the cost of drugs for hardworking Americans. In addition, earlier today, Representative Craig delivered a speech on the House floor urging her colleagues to support the inclusion of prescription drug pricing reform in the final text of the legislation. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:30:49Z |
| https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/frontline-democrats-press-house-leadership-include-prescription-drugs | Frontline Democrats Press House Leadership to Include Prescription Drugs Provisions in Build Back Better Act | 2021-10-31 | 2021 | 2021-10 | Democrat | House | MN | Angie Craig | C001119 | craig.house.gov | craig | https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig (MN-02) led fourteen of her Democratic colleagues in writing a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Majority Leader Steny Hoyer urging immediate action to address the high cost of prescription drugs in the United States. Prescription drug reform was not included in the original framework of the Build Back Better Act released last week. But Craig and her fellow majority-makers from the 2018 class are still fighting for its inclusion in the final legislative text, which is currently being negotiated in Washington. In their letter, the Members called on Leadership to stand up to Big Pharma and provide relief to the American people, who pay the highest drug prices in the world. "As majority-makers in competitive districts, we promised our constituents that we would come to Washington to fight on their behalf for lower drug prices. We cannot turn back now on our promise to the American people," the lawmakers wrote. "With the Build Back Better agenda, we have a perhaps once in a generation opportunity to change the status quo and make good on our promise that no one should have to choose between affording their prescription drugs or food or housing," the members continued. "The public is on our side. Big Pharma is not." Representative Craig was joined in sending the letter by Representatives Colin Allred (TX-32), Cindy Axne (IA-03), Sharice Davids (KS-03), Josh Harder (CA-10), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Andy Kim (NJ-03), Susie Lee (NV-03), Lucy McBath (GA-06), Tom Malinowski (NJ-07), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Elissa Slotkin (MI-08), Abigail Spanberger (VA-07), Lauren Underwood (IL-14) and Susan Wild (PA-07). The Members' effort to advance prescription drug reform is supported by a number of stakeholders dedicated to addressing the cost of prescription drugs for hardworking American families, including the AARP, Patients for Affordable Drugs Now and Lower Drug Prices Now. "Lower drug prices are desperately needed and enormously popular, with 6 out of 7 vo… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z |
| https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-angie-craig-issues-statement-following-white-house-meeting | Representative Angie Craig Issues Statement following White House Meeting with President Biden on the Build Back Better Act | 2021-10-28 | 2021 | 2021-10 | Democrat | House | MN | Angie Craig | C001119 | craig.house.gov | craig | https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representative Angie Craig released the following statement following her meeting at the White House, where Craig took part in the ongoing negotiations surrounding the Build Back Better Act with President Joe Biden, Director of the Domestic Policy Council Susan Rice and Director of the National Economic Council Brian Deese – as well as other White House officials charged with enacting President Biden's economic agenda in Washington. Craig was invited to the White House alongside her fellow co-chairs of the Equality Caucus and leaders of the Congressional Tri-Caucus – composed of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC). "This afternoon, I was pleased to have the opportunity to speak directly with President Biden and to share my thoughts on the Build Back Better negotiations. In our meeting, I communicated my desire to prioritize provisions that would lower out-of-pocket health care costs for middle-class families, provide a substantial investment in rural communities and create good-paying jobs for hardworking Minnesotans. I also reiterated my support for extending the child tax credit and the Rural Partnership Program, which would empower local communities to grow and support family farmers. What I heard from the White House today was encouraging. Following our discussion, I am convinced that we are nearing a consensus on many outstanding provisions. And I'm more confident than ever that we'll be able to resolve our remaining differences and push this critical piece of legislation across the finish line. As we enter the final stages of these negotiations, I am focused on working with my colleagues to ensure that our final package delivers on our promises to the American people and provides long-overdue investments to working families in Minnesota and across the country." | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-resolution-calls-us-house-condemn-israel-s-repressive-decision | McCollum Resolution Calls on U.S. House to Condemn Israel’s Repressive Decision to Designate Six Prominent Palestinian Human Rights and Civil Society Groups as Terrorist Organizations | 2021-10-28 | 2021 | 2021-10 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.), Chair of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, introduced a resolution calling on the U.S. House of Representatives to condemn Israel's decision to designate as "terrorist organizations" six prominent Palestinian human rights and civil society groups working to defend the rights of Palestinians living under Israeli military occupation. The decree signed last week by Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz has resulted in international condemnation as a repressive, anti-democratic act designed to silence organizations working to defend the rights of Palestinians. McCollum, author of H.R. 2590, Defending the Human Rights of Palestinian Children and Families Living Under Israeli Military Occupation Act, has worked for years on the legislation with one of the targeted groups, Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCI-P). DCI-P's legal advocacy for Palestinian children arrested, interrogated, abused, and imprisoned in the Israeli military court and detention system is vital to protecting the rights of the most vulnerable. The McCollum resolution recognizes the important work of the six targeted Palestinian organizations, condemns the terrorist organization declaration by the Government of Israel, and calls upon the Biden administration to condemn Israeli actions to repress Palestinian society. McCollum released the following statement: "When a government uses the label of terrorist as a weapon to silence the work of human rights organizations and advocates who courageously represent vulnerable people living in under military occupation, it is a sign of incredible weakness more aligned with an authoritarian regime than a healthy democracy," McCollum said. "Israel's decision to brand these prominent Palestinian civil society groups as terrorist organizations exposes the truth that Israel's occupation is violent, immoral, and unjust, and that peaceful efforts to defend the rights of Palestinian children, women, farmers, or prisoners must be declared illegal. The… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/minnesota-delegation-introduces-bipartisan-legislation-honor-prince | Minnesota Delegation Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Honor Prince with Congressional Gold Medal | 2021-10-25 | 2021 | 2021-10 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON—Today, the full Minnesota delegation in Congress introduced bipartisan legislation to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Prince Rogers Nelson. The legislation is led by U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) in the Senate and Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) in the House. The bill honors Prince for his "legacy of musical achievement and… indelible mark on Minnesota and American culture." "Like so many, I grew up with Prince's music. I was always proud to say he was from Minnesota,"said Klobuchar."The world is a whole lot cooler because Prince was in it -- he touched our hearts, opened our minds, and made us want to dance. With this legislation, we honor his memory and contributions as a composer, performer, and music innovator. Purple reigns in Minnesota today and every day because of him." "Prince is a Minnesota icon,"said Omar."I remember when I first came to America being captivated by Prince's music and impact on the culture. He showed that it was okay to be a short, Black kid from Minneapolis and still change the world. He not only changed the arc of music history; he put Minneapolis on the map. Places like First Avenue, Uptown are landmarks because of Prince. I am proud to introduce this resolution to give Prince the recognition he deserves." "Prince was a Minnesotan who left us far too early. He was an internationally-renowned artist, showman, and producer, who thrilled millions of people across the world with his visionary skills as a musician and cultivator of other artist's talent," said Smith. "His complete body of work is still being recognized, as new discoveries remind us how important he still is as an artist. His Paisley Park gave life to a generation of other artists, who without him would not have realized their potential. His importance to American music cannot be measured, and the joy his music continues to bring to me and to millions of fans across the globe makes him an American treasure." "Beloved by generations of Minnesotans and millions of fans around the world, Prince Roge… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z |
| https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-angie-craig-cosponsors-recognizing-protection-motorsports-act | Representative Angie Craig Cosponsors Recognizing the Protection of Motorsports Act | 2021-10-22 | 2021 | 2021-10 | Democrat | House | MN | Angie Craig | C001119 | craig.house.gov | craig | https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, DC — This week, U.S. Representative Angie Craig cosponsored bipartisan legislation to clarify that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) does not have a role in regulating modified motor vehicles used exclusively for racing. The legislation would ensure that dedicated race cars used at racetracks like the Elko Speedway are exempted from future regulations, which could impact competitive motorsports. "The Elko Speedway is and other racetracks across the country are an important source of entertainment and jobs in Minnesota's Second Congressional District," said Representative Craig. "While environmental protections like the Clean Air Act are critical for combating climate change, these rules were never intended to impact competitive motorsports – which are not a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. I'm proud to support this bipartisan legislation to defend the time-honored tradition of motorsports in the United States." Converting a motor vehicle into a race car is a significant part of American automotive heritage with the practice having played a large role in the foundation of NASCAR. Additionally, the specialty automotive industry employs over one million Americans. Companies that manufacture, distribute, and sell products that improve race vehicle performance are a large and growing part of our economy. The Clean Air Act authorizes the EPA to regulate motor vehicles, but these regulations have never applied to race cars. In 1990, Congress affirmed this exemption when it authorized the EPA to regulate "non-road vehicles" and explicitly excluded any "vehicle used solely for competition" from the non-road definition. In early 2016, the EPA issued a proposed rule that would make it illegal for this practice to continue via the Clean Air Act even though Congress never intended for race cars to be subject to the Clean Air Act. While the proposed EPA regulation was withdrawn in April of 2016, the RPM Act would make permanent that race cars are exempt from EPA regulation via the Cle… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-statement-designation-palestinian-civil-society-groups-terrorist | McCollum Statement on Designation of Palestinian Civil Society Groups as Terrorist Organizations | 2021-10-22 | 2021 | 2021-10 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released the following statement today after the Israeli Defense Ministry issued a military order declaring six Palestinian civil society organizations in the Occupied Palestinian Territory to be "terrorist organizations": "I condemn this action to shut down legitimate civil society organizations advocating for Palestinian human rights. This is nothing more than an attempt to silence supporters of Palestinian rights. It is anti-democratic, and contrary to the values expected of a U.S. ally. I urge the Biden administration to immediately call upon the Israeli government to reverse their decision and restore these organizations' ability to continue their important work. For years, I have worked with Defense for Children International – Palestine (DCIP) to protect the rights of Palestinian children who are imprisoned in Israeli military detention facilities. I trust and value DCIP's work advancing human rights. I stand with Amnesty International in challenging this decision." ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/ahead-international-climate-conference-rep-omar-senators-markey-and-van-hollen | Ahead of International Climate Conference, Rep. Omar, Senators Markey and Van Hollen Lead Bicameral Letter to President Biden Urging Bold Climate Action in Budget Reconciliation | 2021-10-22 | 2021 | 2021-10 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON—In three weeks, President Joseph R. Biden will attend the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change 26th Conference of Parties (COP26), where he will be expected to advocate for global climate cooperation, secure additional emission reduction commitments, and catalyze bold action from world leaders to prevent a global temperature rise greater than 1.5 degrees Celsius. Ahead of COP26, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), and Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-05) today led 6 Senate colleagues and 49 House colleagues in a bicameral letter to President Biden urging him to secure a deal on his Build Back Better agenda that maintains strong climate provisions. The lawmakers outlined a "climate test" for the reconciliation package, which includes the scientifically necessary emissions reduction goal of cutting climate pollution at least in half by 2030, while creating good union jobs and advancing environmental, racial, and economic justice. "The climate crisis presents deadlines that are imposed on us by science -- deadlines that are rapidly passing us by," write the lawmakers in their letter. "The COP26 summit could be the last opportunity for world leaders to take bold action before it is too late to secure a livable climate by limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. We're facing an existential crisis, with American leadership, economic prosperity, and our very lives at stake." A copy of the letter can be found HERE. Other Senators signing the letter include Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) Members of the House of Representatives signing the letter include Reps. Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Mondaire Jones (NY-17), Barbara Lee (CA-13), Marie Newman (IL-03), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Rashida Tlaib (MI-13), Peter Welch (D-VT), Karen Bass (CA-37), Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), André Carson (IN-07… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z |
| https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-angie-craig-introduces-resolution-honoring-100th-anniversary | Representative Angie Craig Introduces Resolution Honoring the 100th Anniversary of Waterskiing | 2021-10-21 | 2021 | 2021-10 | Democrat | House | MN | Angie Craig | C001119 | craig.house.gov | craig | https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, DC —This week, U.S. Representative Angie Craig introduced a bicameral resolution to honor the 100th anniversary of waterskiing, which was invented on Lake Pepin on July 2, 1922. The resolution, which was also introduced in the Senate by Senator Amy Klobuchar, encourages the United States Postal Service to design, print and distribute a new stamp honoring the upcoming anniversary – as well as Lake City's contribution to water sports. "Nearly 100 years ago, Ralph and Ben Samuelson invented the sport of waterskiing – creating a favorite pastime for countless Minnesotans in the years since," said Representative Craig. "Today, I am joining Mayor Mark Nichols and other proud residents of Lake City in calling on the United States Postal Service to honor the Samuelson brothers for their ingenious discovery – and to celebrate the generations of water skiers that have followed in their wake." Earlier this year, Lake City Mayor Mark Nichols and several Lake City residents submitted a proposal to the Postal Service's Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee, arguing in favor of a new stamp honoring the 100th anniversary of waterskiing, which was invented on Lake Pepin on July 2, 1922. The Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee is a small advisory group appointed by the Postmaster General to select subjects for recommendation as future stamp issues. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z |
| https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-angie-craig-urges-health-human-services-secretary-address | Representative Angie Craig Urges Health & Human Services Secretary to Address the Costly “Family Glitch” in the Affordable Care Act | 2021-10-21 | 2021 | 2021-10 | Democrat | House | MN | Angie Craig | C001119 | craig.house.gov | craig | https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig urged Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra to take immediate action to address the "family glitch" in the Affordable Care Act's marketplace coverage – a step that could save millions of Americans – including 62,000 Minnesotans – thousands of dollars annually on their health insurance premiums. Craig has prioritized fixing the family glitch in the 117th Congress – which has resulted in some Minnesota families paying nearly a quarter of their household income on premiums – due to a longstanding gap in eligibility for the Affordable Care Act's subsidized marketplace coverage. "I applaud the Administration's efforts to expand access to affordable coverage - extending the open enrollment period, expanding the Navigator program, and undoing the sabotage of the previous administration," wrote Representative Craig. "Eliminating the family glitch is a straightforward step that would go a long way toward making health care more affordable for millions of families, including many in my district. I urge you to take swift action and thank you for your consideration." In her letter addressed to Secretary Becerra, Craig urged the Department to take the necessary steps to resolve the family glitch – arguing that such a step would abide by President Biden's January executive order to protect and strengthen the ACA and ensure that high-quality health care is affordable and accessible for every American. The family glitch originated from a 2013 Internal Revenue Service and Department of Treasury rule, which determined that families are ineligible for financial assistance if a family member is offered "affordable" employer coverage. In 2021, the affordability threshold is 9.83%, which means that an individual qualifies for subsidized marketplace coverage if their employer health insurance premiums exceed 9.83% of household income. However, this threshold does not take into account the cost of covering the rest of the household, which can make coverage prohib… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-omar-schakowsky-introduce-combating-global-islamophobia-bill | Reps Omar, Schakowsky Introduce Combating Global Islamophobia Bill | 2021-10-21 | 2021 | 2021-10 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON—Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) and Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) introduced the Combating International Islamophobia Act, legislation to address the rise in incidents of Islamophobia worldwide. The bill requires the State Department to create a Special Envoy for monitoring and combating Islamophobia, and include state-sponsored Islamophobic violence and impunity in the Department's annual human rights reports. The creation of the Special Envoy will help policymakers better understand the interconnected, global problem of anti-Muslim bigotry. It will also establish a comprehensive strategy for establishing U.S. leadership in combatting Islamophobia worldwide. This year, the United States has seen over 500 documented complaints of anti-Muslim hate and bias. In a recent study conducted by CAIR, found 69% of respondents personally experienced anti-Muslim bigotry or discrimination since 9/11. In a separate study conducted by the Othering and Belonging Institute, found 67% of Muslims personally experienced Islamophobia in their lifetimes. In March, the United Nations Human Rights Council cited discrimination and hatred towards Muslims has risen to "epidemic proportions." There has been a staggering rise in incidents of violent Islamophobia incidents worldwide. Whether it is the atrocities being committed against the Uyghurs in China and the Rohingya in Burma, the crackdowns on Muslim populations in India and Sri Lanka, the scapegoating of Muslim refugees and other Muslims in Hungary and Poland, the acts of white supremacist violence targeting Muslims in New Zealand and Canada, or the targeting of minority Muslim communities in Muslim-majority countries like Pakistan, Bahrain, and Iran—the problem of Islamophobia is global in scope. "We are seeing a rise in Islamophobia in nearly every corner of the globe," said Rep. Omar. "In my home state of Minnesota, vandals spray-painted hate messages and a Nazi swastika on and near the Moorhead Fargo Islamic Center. These types of incidents are all too common for Muslims in the Uni… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-commends-biden-administration-actions-protecting-boundary-waters | McCollum Commends Biden Administration Actions Protecting Boundary Waters | 2021-10-20 | 2021 | 2021-10 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) commended the Biden administration for its announcement today that it will be completing a "science-based environmental analysis" of the potential impacts of mining within the watershed of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. The U.S. Forest Service has submitted a withdrawal application to the Bureau of Land Management, which manages the subsurface rights in the Superior National Forest. These actions will initiate the consideration of a 20-year withdrawal of 225,378 acres of federal lands and waters within the Rainy River Watershed from new mineral leasing. Congresswoman McCollum released the following statement: "Today's action by the Biden administration is a welcome return to the science-based decision making that should govern the management of our public lands," Rep. McCollum said. "After years of broken promises and ongoing obstruction of taxpayer-funded data from the prior administration, I am pleased that President Biden is committed to completing the necessary analysis to understand the impacts that sulfide-ore mining could have on this priceless reserve of fresh water, the biodiverse habitat it supports, and the economic livelihood of the surrounding community. All of us who care deeply about protecting the pristine Boundary Waters and its watershed for future generations look forward to seeing the results of this comprehensive study." As noted in the USDA and DOI press release, only Congress can legislate a permanent mineral withdrawal. Congresswoman McCollum introduced H.R. 2794, the Boundary Waters Protection and Pollution Prevention Act, to permanently withdraw 234,328 acres of federal lands and waters from risky sulfide-ore copper mining. More information on the legislation can be found here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ilhan-omar-statement-reports-human-trafficking-modern-slavery-libya | Rep. Ilhan Omar Statement on Reports of Human Trafficking, Modern Slavery in Libya | 2021-10-15 | 2021 | 2021-10 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | MINNEAPOLIS—Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) released the following statement about reports of rampant abuse of migrants in Libyan detention centers. "I am deeply disturbed by the latest reports of rampant abuse, torture, sexual violence and extortion of migrants in Libya, many from sub-Saharan Africa. Instead of welcoming the thousands of refugees fleeing violence and instability, the Libyan coast guard hands migrants over to militias, who systematically torture, rape, abuse and enslave them. Instead of welcoming refugees, the EU has sent $455 million to Libya since 2015. But much of that money has been diverted to militias and human traffickers. "The U.S. needs a comprehensive strategy to address the ongoing human trafficking and modern day slavery crisis in Libya, and I was proud to author and pass legislation this year to require just this. That includes support for peaceful elections and the UN-recognized transitional government, full accountability for crimes against humanity, war crimes, and human rights abuses committed during the Civil War and the ongoing migrant crisis. It also includes living up to our moral responsibility to resettle those fleeing oppression around the world, including Africa. President Biden must follow through on his commitment to raise the refugee cap next year and once we do that, the rest of the world should follow." | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/cpc-leadership-advocates-congress-protect-scope-build-back-better-act | CPC Leadership Advocates Congress Protect the Scope of Build Back Better Act | 2021-10-14 | 2021 | 2021-10 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON — The leadership of the Congressional Progressive Caucus continued their fight to protect the promise of the Build Back Better Act yesterday, advocating that the scope of programs be maintained in the negotiations over size. In a letter to Speaker Pelosi, the 27 House members of the Caucus Executive Board argued that in attempts to decrease the overall cost of the Build Back Better Act, legislators lower the number of years funding is allocated for each program, rather than to trim the number of programs included. In the case for "making the President's vision a reality," they write: "Much has been made in recent weeks about the compromises necessary to enact this transformative agenda. We have been told that we can either adequately fund a small number of investments or legislate broadly, but only make a shallow, short-term impact. We would argue that this is a false choice." The lawmakers highlight four arguments for their approach: To make shorter, transformative investments: Making "robust investments over a shorter window [will] help make the case for our party's ability to govern, and establish a track record of success that will pave the way for a long-term extension of benefits...We cannot pit childcare against housing, or paid leave against home- and community-based care." To touch people's lives immediately: "Where given an option, we should err on the side of structuring legislation so that benefits flow to the American people as quickly as possible, both to assist the Biden Recovery and to demonstrate our commitment to tangibly improving the lives of the American people." To provide universal benefits to ensure lasting change: "We strongly believe that this is the moment to demonstrate to the American people that regardless of geography, race, gender, or class, Democrats believe that everyone has a right to affordable child care, pre-K, clean water, and a community college education. We can choose to strengthen the bond Americans have to one another by proposing universal social insura… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z |
| https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases/representative-angie-craig-announces-federal-funding-police-departments | Representative Angie Craig Announces Federal Funding for Police Departments in Minnesota’s Second Congressional District | 2021-10-13 | 2021 | 2021-10 | Democrat | House | MN | Angie Craig | C001119 | craig.house.gov | craig | https://craig.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Angie Craig announced that the police departments from the cities of Burnsville, Inver Grove Heights, and West St. Paul will receive more than $34,000 in Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants. The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program allows states and units of local government, including tribes, to support a broad range of activities to prevent and control crime based on their own state and local needs and conditions. Police departments in the Second District are able to use the grant funds to purchase equipment vital to keeping local communities safe. "It's critical that our local police departments have the resources they need to do their jobs safely and effectively. I'm pleased that the Department of Justice has awarded these funds to several local police departments in the Second District – who can now expand their efforts to keep our communities safe and secure," said Representative Craig. "In Congress, I'll keep working hard to secure funding for Minnesota law enforcement agencies so that they can stay focused on their jobs – keeping Minnesotans safe." While serving in Congress, Craig has voted several times to increase funding for local police departments. Craig is currently working with several departments in the Second District to secure additional federal grant dollars to increase hiring and improve training programs. The Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant is named after Officer Edward Byrne, a New York City Police Officer who was killed in the line of duty in 1988. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-young-introduce-legislation-prevent-disruption-critical-public | McCollum, Young Introduce Legislation to Prevent Disruption of Critical Public Services for Tribal Nations | 2021-10-12 | 2021 | 2021-10 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) and Congressman Don Young (R-Alaska) have introduced the Indian Programs Advance Appropriations Act (IPAAA) to provide advance appropriations and avoid lapses in funding for the Indian Health Service (IHS), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE), which fund critical public services for tribal nations, including hospitals, schools, tribal justice services, and social services for children, families, and seniors. The legislation was developed in collaboration with tribal leaders, including the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), National Indian Health Board (NIHB), and the National Indian Education Association (NIEA). A government shutdown means entire systems that serve the health care, education, and community safety needs of Native communities are interrupted or that workers must stay on the job without pay – making Indian Country disproportionately at risk of harm from delays in annual appropriations. Advance appropriations is a budgetary solution that would protect the services provided by these agencies from future shutdowns. Moving federal Indian programs including BIA, BIE, and IHS to the advance appropriations process will protect these agencies and tribal governments from cash flow problems that regularly occur due to delays in the enactment of annual appropriations legislation. "The federal government's inability to pass annual appropriations on time is a serious threat to the well-being of Native American communities," Rep. McCollum said. "We must act to ensure that the federal funding critical to maintaining life, health, and safety services throughout Indian Country will not be interrupted by another shutdown. Advance appropriations is a necessary step for making good on our federal trust and treaty commitments to our Native American brothers and sisters." "Alaska Native and American Indian communities have historically been shortchanged when it comes to receiving high-quality health care to meet their unique needs… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-statement-indigenous-peoples-day | McCollum Statement on Indigenous Peoples' Day | 2021-10-11 | 2021 | 2021-10 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) released the following statement in recognition of Indigenous Peoples' Day: "Indigenous Peoples' Day honors the first people who lived in North America and their immeasurable value and contributions. As we celebrate these resilient and strong communities, we acknowledge the importance of the U.S. government upholding its trust and treaty obligations to tribal governments. "I have signed on a cosponsor of legislation to formally establish Indigenous Peoples' Day as a federal holiday. Tribal nations experience disproportionate challenges due to broken promises from the federal government and a lack of proper consultation on decisions that impact tribal treaty rights. "During the COVID-19 pandemic, tribes have experienced enormous losses – but they have also responded strongly, with high rates of vaccination to keep their communities safe. The federal government must do better to make good on its promises and support tribal communities. That is why I will soon be introducing the Indian Programs Advance Appropriations Act, to ensure that vital services for tribal communities are not disrupted by government shutdowns or delayed appropriations. "Today I join Governor Walz and all Minnesotans in honoring Indigenous Peoples' Day, and especially celebrate Minnesota's Ojibwe and Dakota nations." | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ilhan-omar-leads-letter-calling-biden-administration-release-student-debt | Rep. Ilhan Omar Leads Letter Calling on Biden Administration to Release Student Debt Cancellation Memo | 2021-10-08 | 2021 | 2021-10 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | MINNEAPOLIS—Today, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) led a letter to President Biden and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona urging the administration to release the memo to determine the extent of the administration's authority to broadly cancel student debt through administrative action. "Decades ago, Congress voted to authorize the executive branch to cancel federal student loans. Federal student debt can be canceled with the ‘flick of your pen,'" the Members wrote. "This authority is already being put to use, as it is currently being used to cancel the interest owed on all federally-held student loans. Now it is time for you to honor your campaign pledge and use this authority to cancel all student debt." "The resumption of payments on federally-held student loans weighs heavily on tens of millions of borrowers. Forty-five million student debtors collectively owe $1.8 trillion of student debt, a sum almost equivalent to the $1.9 trillion the world's billionaires made in 2020 alone. While the rich have gotten richer, the economic harm of the pandemic has not subsided for ordinary Americans. Unemployment insurance has been cut off and millions are living under threat of eviction." In April, the White House promised that this memo would be released in a matter of "weeks." Over six months having passed since that then. With only four months left before the student loan moratorium expires, borrowers are anxiously awaiting the administration's actions. Making matters worse, one week ago over 16.5 million borrowers were dropped by their loan-services adding more confusion to the chaos. The letter is also signed by Reps. Ayanna Pressley, Yvette Clarke, Adriano Espaillat, Danny K. Davis, Jahana Hayes, Rashida Tlaib, Cori Bush, Jesús G. "Chuy" García, Eleanor Holmes Norton, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Nydia Velazquez, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Frederica S. Wilson, Jimmy Gomez, Pramila Jayapal, Earl Blumenauer, Al Green and Carolyn Maloney. Rep. Omar has been a leading advocate for student loan forgiveness since she began se… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:24:51Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-applauds-interior-department-selection-university-minnesota-lead | McCollum Applauds Interior Department Selection of University of Minnesota to Lead Midwest Climate Adaptation Science Center | 2021-09-29 | 2021 | 2021-09 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) applauded the Department of the Interior's announcement today that the ninth and final Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC) will be hosted at the University of Minnesota's Institute on the Environment. The CASC will operate in consortium with University of Wisconsin, the College of the Menominee Nation, the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Consortium, Michigan State University, Indiana University, the University of Illinois, and the Nature Conservancy. The center will cover Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and Missouri. Regional Climate Adaptation Science Centers (CASCs) are funded by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) within the Department of Interior. These Centers are a partnership-driven program that teams scientific researchers with natural and cultural resource managers and local communities to help fish, wildlife, waters, and lands across the country adapt to changing climatic conditions. The urgency to confront climate change is highlighted by today's U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announcement that 23 previously endangered species have now been declared extinct. The disastrous implications of climate change on biodiversity cannot be overstated. During a perilous time in the previous Congress, when both the Trump White House and Republican-controlled U.S. Senate were led by climate deniers, McCollum succeeded in not only defending the centers but ensuring their full funding, and even increasing funding over the last two fiscal years. In FY 2020, McCollum inserted appropriations language to create the Midwest CASC, and today's announcement is the culmination of McCollum's efforts – putting the challenges of climate change in the hands of scientists and researchers, not partisan politicians. Congresswoman McCollum released the following statement: "Confronting the consequences of climate change on the environment, biodiversity, and human health is the most significant scientific and policy challenge of this generation," McCollum s… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-earns-wilson-center-award-congressional-service | McCollum Earns Wilson Center Award for Congressional Service | 2021-09-28 | 2021 | 2021-09 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) was honored at the Woodrow Wilson Awards Monday as a recipient of the 2021 Daniel Patrick Moynihan Award for Congressional Service, releasing the following statement: "I was honored to receive the Daniel Patrick Moynihan Award for Congressional Service, along with my colleague Senator Roger F. Wicker," McCollum said. "I greatly value the work of The Wilson Center to embody a ‘finer spirit of hope and achievement' and put it into action. Throughout my career in Congress, I have strived to reach across the aisle to work together to address global health challenges and ensure the power of American leadership drives positive change to improve people's lives. From securing a 10 percent set-aside for orphans and vulnerable children in the original President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) authorization, to my current work to reauthorize the Feed the Future program in response to global food insecurity, I'm proud that these significant achievements align with Woodrow Wilson's philosophy: that as public servants, we are here to enrich the world. I'm grateful for this recognition and look forward to continuing to work together with the Wilson Center and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to effect change." Background: The Woodrow Wilson Awards are given to those individuals whose actions and accomplishments, either in their careers or through service, reflect President Woodrow Wilson's belief that "there is no higher religion than human service. To work for the common good is the greatest creed." Congresswoman McCollum's remarks can be viewed here. A written copy of the remarks is available here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-statement-passage-women-s-health-protection-act | McCollum Statement on Passage of Women’s Health Protection Act | 2021-09-24 | 2021 | 2021-09 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) issued the following statement today after voting to pass H.R. 3755, the Women's Health Protection Act: "It has been nearly 50 years since the Supreme Court confirmed the constitutional right to reproductive health care in the Roe v. Wade decision," McCollum said. "Even though the majority of Americans recognize and support the importance of safe, accessible abortion, attacks on reproductive rights continue across the nation. As we watch Republican-controlled state legislatures pass increasingly restrictive measures, it is past time to solidify the right to abortion in federal law. I proudly voted for the Women's Health Protection Act (WHPA) to finally codify the protections established in Roe v. Wade. Despite Republican rhetoric, their extreme movement only seeks to deny women the fundamental liberty to make deeply personal decisions about their own reproductive lives. These decisions should remain between a patient and their doctor. Make no mistake: Stripping away women's rights to privacy is unacceptable, and with the passage of this bill, House Democrats are creating a legislative safeguard. I strongly urge the Senate to pass this bill immediately and stand up for accessible reproductive health care for all." Amid a dangerous assault on women's basic health freedoms – from state houses across the country to the U.S. Supreme Court – this landmark legislation enshrines into law the vital protections of Roe v. Wade and secures the right to reproductive care for all women across America. The Women's Health Protection Act codifies the constitutional right to abortion care as found in Roe and reaffirmed in many subsequent decisions for nearly half a century. It establishes the federal statutory right for health care providers to offer abortion care and the federal right for patients to receive that care, free from state restrictions. Enshrining these essential rights is also an issue of racial and economic justice, as restrictions on reproductive care disproportionately harm w… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ilhan-omar-introduces-affordable-housing-opportunities-made-equitable-home | Rep. Ilhan Omar Introduces Affordable Housing Opportunities Made Equitable (HOME) Act | 2021-09-24 | 2021 | 2021-09 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) today introduced the Affordable Housing Opportunities Made Equitable (HOME) Act, comprehensive legislation to tackle the affordable housing crisis that is threatening families in Minnesota and throughout America. Companion legislation was introduced by Sen. Jeff Merkley. "No one deserves to be thrown out of their home, especially in a country with over 600 billionaires, and some of the most extravagant wealth in the history of the world," said Rep. Omar. "As we speak, people in my district and across the country are being forced to pay thousands of dollars in back-rent that they couldn't afford then and can't afford now. This is on top of the devastating affordable housing crisis that existsed before the pandemic. We need comprehensive legislation to address this. We need a national commitment to ensure that every American has a high-quality home they can afford. I am proud to partner with Senator Jeff Merkeley to tackle this crisis once and for all." "The vision of this legislation is to create a decent home and a decent community for every family. Oregonians in every corner of our state are struggling under the crushing weight of our affordable housing crisis, and like so many other problems, America's housing emergency has only been made worse by the pandemic," said Sen. Merkley. "This challenge affects all of us. No one should live in a country where human beings don't have a roof overhead, or are forced to choose between rent and filling a prescription or buying groceries. Enough is enough. It's time for Congress to put in place a comprehensive framework to ensure that everyone has a safe, affordable place to call home." "More than ever, bold policies are needed to ensure that the lowest income and most marginalized people have a stable, affordable, accessible home," said Diane Yentel, President and CEO of the National Low Income Housing Coalition. "I applaud Representative Omar for her continued leadership and dedication in advocating for solutions to America's housing… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-statement-hr-5323-iron-dome-supplemental-appropriations-act | McCollum Statement on H.R. 5323, the Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act | 2021-09-23 | 2021 | 2021-09 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) issued the following statement today after the House passed H.R. 5323, the Iron Dome Supplemental Appropriations Act: "Iron Dome is an Israeli missile defense system paid for by the American people. Today's emergency bill appropriating up to $1 billion for Iron Dome was not requested by the Biden administration and it is in addition to the $500 million for Iron Dome and other Israeli missile defense programs already included in the Fiscal Year 2022 Defense Appropriations bill. I authored that bill, which passed the Appropriations Committee in July. "The funding in this emergency bill is limited to the replenishment of Iron Dome as a result of the May 2021 conflict with Hamas. While Iron Dome is critical to defending Jewish Israelis and Palestinian citizens of Israel, I have serious concerns as to whether these funds can even be expended with current Iron Dome production levels already at capacity. I continue to believe that additional funding for Iron Dome could have been worked out in a bipartisan conference committee at the end of the year, through the regular Appropriations process. "While Iron Dome saves innocent Israeli lives from Hamas rockets, innocent Palestinians who live under military occupation are regularly killed by Israeli security forces. These Palestinians have no ‘Iron Dome' to defend themselves against Israeli human rights abuses, and Congress ignores Israel's blatant violations of international humanitarian law, especially against Palestinian children. I voted to support today's bill because it is intended to save lives. I remain absolutely committed to continuing my work to advance peace, human rights, and security for the people of Palestine and the people of Israel." | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ilhan-omar-statement-national-defense-authorization-act-0 | Rep. Ilhan Omar Statement on the National Defense Authorization Act | 2021-09-23 | 2021 | 2021-09 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON—Today, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) issued the following statement after voting against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): "The pandemic has caused unimaginable harm for people in Minnesota and across the country. Thousands of Minnesotans in my district cannot afford to meet their basic needs. Now is not the time to spend billions of dollars to bolster our defense budget while millions of Americans remain housing and food insecure. I am shocked that this Congress continues to spend over $700 billion on wasteful weapons contracts and Pentagon waste, and then turns around and calls for cuts to programs that help the poor, the elderly and the sick. We should be investing in the American people, not in weapons manufacturers. "Despite these insurmountable flaws, I was proud to introduce and pass amendments that uphold universal human rights and limit our global military presence. "We have a moral responsibility to reduce our defense spending and create a budget that reflects our values. For those reasons, I oppose this bill." Rep. Omar's amendments that passed in the NDAA include: Omar #62 – requires reporting on recent security assistance to Mali, Guinea, and Chad Omar #63 – adds reporting on human rights and civilian casualties to the Afghanistan Commission created by the bill Omar #781 – requires strategy on US policy towards the Democratic Republic of the Congo Garcia/Omar #765 – requires impact assessments on the humanitarian consequences of sanctions Omar #817 – requires a strategy for addressing root causes of human trafficking and slavery in Libya, and holds perpetrators accountable ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/minnesota-democrats-congress-introduce-resolutions-honoring-2020-olympic-and | Minnesota Democrats in Congress Introduce Resolutions Honoring 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Athletes | 2021-09-22 | 2021 | 2021-09 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04), joined by Reps. Angie Craig, Dean Phillips, and Ilhan Omar, and jointly with Senators Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith, have introduced resolutions honoring the Minnesotans who competed in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games. "Minnesota is so proud of our athletes who represented Team USA at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics," Rep. McCollum said. "The commitment, grit, determination, and sportsmanship these athletes displayed represented our state well on the global stage. The 17 Olympians and 15 Paralympians from Minnesota are an inspiration to us all – including the first Hmong American to represent Team USA and the many others who brought medals home amid COVID-19 concerns and other challenges. With H. Res. 625 and H.Res. 650, I offer my most sincere congratulations to you all!" "Minnesota has a long history of producing some of the most talented Olympians and Paralympians in the world, and this year was no exception," Sen. Klobuchar said. "I am extremely proud of these Minnesota athletes and all the members of Team USA who represented our country. With these resolutions, we recognize their remarkable achievements." "A heartfelt congratulations to every Minnesotan who competed in the Olympics and Paralympics," said Sen. Smith. "You really put the best of our state on display during the games, all while overcoming the challenge of competing under the difficult circumstances that COVID-19 presented. Your talent, drive and hard work inspired all of us in Minnesota as we watched you compete. Congratulations to your families, friends and coaches who supported you along the way as well. I hope that you all feel the pride and joy we have for you." "This summer, Olympians and Paralympians from Minnesota made us all proud as they competed in Tokyo as members of Team USA," said Rep. Craig. "I'm honored to help introduce this resolution recognizing all of their remarkable achievements during the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games – and especially those of Second District… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-statement-passage-continuing-resolution-keep-government-open | McCollum Statement on Passage of Continuing Resolution to Keep the Government Open | 2021-09-21 | 2021 | 2021-09 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) issued the following statement today after the House passed H.R. 5305, the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act: "Today, House Democrats passed a Continuing Resolution to fund the federal government through December 3, 2021, ensuring uninterrupted operations of the U.S. government. Disappointingly and somewhat shockingly, every House Republican voted to shut down the government. Because this bill included an increase in the debt ceiling to finance expenditures already incurred by the federal government, Republicans knowingly voted to default on the U.S. government's fiscal obligations – which would undoubtedly have catastrophic consequences for our economy and millions of American families. "As our nation continues to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, Democrats are united in supporting American families, by ensuring continued federal funding for education, health care, housing, public safety programs, public health protections, and more. Additionally, the climate crisis has exacerbated extreme weather events like Hurricane Ida, recent wildfires, severe droughts, and winter storms. This bill provides critical funding to help survivors, small businesses, and local communities – as well as $895 million for Navy and Air Force installation repairs related to these storms. "This bill also provides funding to meet the humanitarian needs of Afghan evacuees who loyally assisted the United States during the war in Afghanistan. We must honor our commitments to them and to their families. By including an additional $6.3 billion in funding, we will continue to deliver humanitarian assistance to the region while also supporting temporary housing, security screening, and the long-term resettlement of Afghan evacuees here in the United States. I call on Senate Republicans to work with our Senate Democratic colleagues in passing this critical Continuing Resolution as swiftly as possible." | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-leads-letter-calling-dhs-lift-trump-era-visa-sanctions | Rep. Omar Leads Letter Calling on DHS to Lift Trump-Era Visa Sanctions | 2021-09-21 | 2021 | 2021-09 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON—Today, Rep. Omar (D-MN) led a letter calling on the Biden Administration to end the continued implementation of visa sanctions enacted under President Trump. These sanctions have resulted in increased removals of refugees and asylum seekers from Africa and Southeast Asia. "We write to express our deep concerns about the Department of Homeland Security's continued implementation of the 243(d) visa sanctions enacted under the Trump Administration, despite revocation of Executive Order 13768," the Members wrote. "These sanctions have led to a significant increase in removals of African asylum seekers and Southeast Asian refugees between 2017 and 2020, and some sanctions, such as those on Laos, continue to serve as a backdoor immigration ban to the United States. We urge you to lift the sanctions against Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Eritrea, and Laos and conduct a full review of the remaining sanctions. The visa sanctions continue to harm refugees and asylum seekers in the United States by tearing families apart and forcing governments seeking to harm asylum seekers to repatriate those individuals." During the Trump Administration, the Department of Homeland Security escalated efforts to deport African and Southeast Asian immigrants by placing multiple visa sanctions on African and Southeast Asian countries. Of particular concern is the continued implementation of the visa sanctions on Laos which prevents the processing of all immigration visas for Hmong, Lao, and other Laotians seeking to immigrate to the United States and has prevented U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents from rightfully sponsoring their families to the United States. In addition to arbitrarily keeping families separated through all our immigration channels, these sanctions have also separated and harmed families in the United States. Their implementation has resulted in increased removals of refugees and asylum seekers from Africa and Southeast Asia, with the sanction on Cambodia leading to a 258% increase in deportations of Cam… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-congress-must-act-create-pathway-citizenship-all-immigrants | McCollum: Congress Must Act to Create a Pathway to Citizenship for All Immigrants | 2021-09-20 | 2021 | 2021-09 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) released the following statement today after the U.S. Senate parliamentarian announced a path to citizenship cannot be included in the $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation package: "The Senate Parliamentarian has issued a ruling stating that Democrats cannot include immigration reform provisions in the proposed budget reconciliation package. This decision is extremely disappointing. My office constantly works on immigration casework and I regularly hear from constituents, business leaders, and others who strongly support advancing comprehensive immigration reform. I am ready to vote today to pass immigration legislation that will meet the needs of immigrants, their families, and our economy. Congress needs to act to create a pathway to citizenship that keeps immigrant families and communities strong, safe, and contributing to our society. "The reality is that Republicans in Congress would rather run political attack ads targeting immigrants than work with Democrats to pass immigration reform. Republicans across the country remain entrenched in their opposition to immigration reform and outright rejection of immigrants. The critical contributions immigrants make to our economy and society are denied by Republicans. With millions of jobs unfilled in all sectors of our economy, immigration reform is part of the solution that is consistently blocked by xenophobic Trump Republicans. "Once again, the Senate filibuster is creating an artificial obstacle to addressing an urgent policy matter overwhelmingly supported by the American people. I urge business leaders, non-profits, and immigrant communities to hold Republicans accountable on this urgent matter. The time for action is now." | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ilhan-omar-submits-6-amendments-national-defense-budget | Rep. Ilhan Omar Submits 6 Amendments for National Defense Budget | 2021-09-20 | 2021 | 2021-09 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON–Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) introduced six amendments to the FY 2022 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The first amendment blocks the sale of F35s and other weapons to the UAE, a global human rights abuser. The second amendment requires reporting on recent security assistance to Mali, Guinea, and Chad. The third amendment adds reporting on human rights and civilian casualties to the Afghanistan Commission. The fourth amendment requires strategy on US policy towards the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The fifth amendment requires impact assessments on the humanitarian consequences of sanctions. The sixth amendment requires a strategy for addressing root causes of human trafficking and slavery in Libya, and holds perpetrators accountable. Rep. Omar's bill language was also included in an amendment included in the State Authorization Bill introduced by Rep. Meeks and Rep. McCaul. The amendment codifies the Office of Global Criminal Justice. Rep. Malinowski also introduced an amendment that includes language previously introduced by Rep. Omar that sanctions Mohammed bin Salman (MBS) and other Saudi officials involved in the Jamal Khashoggi murder. "Our defense budget should reflect our values," said Rep. Omar. "It's not moral to spend billions of dollars on endless wars that damage our reputation abroad and do not make us safer in the United States. We must center the needs of the American people, not write blank checks to appease defense contractors and special interests. I was proud to introduce amendments that will uphold universal human rights and limit our global military presence. I hope we can produce a defense budget that meets our national security needs and prioritizes the everyday needs of the American people." The amendments introduced by Rep. Omar include: Omar #61– blocks the sale of F35s and other weapons to the UAE Omar #62– requires reporting on recent security assistance to Mali, Guinea, and Chad Omar #63– adds reporting on human rights and civilian casualties to the Afghanist… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-statement-pentagons-acknowledgement-error-deadly-drone-strike | McCollum Statement on Pentagon's Acknowledgement of Error in Deadly Drone Strike | 2021-09-17 | 2021 | 2021-09 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04), Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense (HAC-D), issued the following statement today: "The Pentagon has acknowledged that the August 29, 2021 drone strike in Kabul, Afghanistan that killed 10 people, including 7 children, was an error. In fact, it was an unacceptable catastrophic military failure. The target of the strike, Mr. Zemari Ahmadi, was a humanitarian worker employed by a U.S. aid organization, not an ISIS terrorist. The killing of Mr. Ahmadi and his family members was not an accident, it was deadly military malpractice. "As Chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I am calling on President Biden and Secretary of Defense Austin to hold accountable the military officials responsible for ordering this drone strike and the deaths of an innocent Afghan family. Our military has the ability to use precise and overwhelming deadly force against our adversaries in the defense of our national security, but this power demands more than circumstantial assumptions when the consequences are life and death. This failure cannot be excused or justified by the ‘fog of war.' Congress and the American people must demand accountability for the deaths of Mr. Ahmadi and his family." | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-announces-fourth-district-small-businesses-receive-1441-million | McCollum Announces Fourth District Small Businesses Receive $144.1 Million from American Rescue Plan Programs | 2021-09-14 | 2021 | 2021-09 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) announced today that the Small Business Administration has granted more than $144.1 million to restaurants, bars, and entertainment venues in Minnesota's Fourth Congressional District. Congresswoman McCollum voted to provide this funding through the Restaurant Revitalization Fund (RRF) and the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant (SVOG), parts of the American Rescue Plan designed to help small businesses make up for lost revenue due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More than $106 million was provided to 299 MN-04 businesses through the RRF. The Restaurant Revitalization Fund provides businesses funding according to their pandemic-related losses, up to $10 million per business. "Restaurants have been some of the hardest hit businesses by the COVID-19 pandemic," McCollum said. "This emergency funding has been critical in helping restaurant workers keep their jobs and owners stay afloat. I'm pleased to see so many of our local businesses were able to successfully utilize this program." Additionally, $38.1 million has been awarded to 44 MN-04 businesses through the SVOG. The Shuttered Venue Operators Grant provides theaters, museums, and performance businesses with up to 45% of their 2019 gross revenue, to a maximum of $10 million. The grant also reserved $2 billion for smaller businesses with 50 or fewer employees. "The SVOG program has been critical in saving our venues and cultural institutions that are so important to the fabric of our communities," McCollum said. "As we continue to recover and work to build back better, these programs ensure our nation's workers, entrepreneurs, business owners, and the local economies they support are not left behind." Funding from both programs can be used to pay for business expenses like payroll, rent, and utilities, as well as purchases of personal protective equipment and sanitation supplies. As part of the American Rescue Plan, the $9.5 billion Restaurant Revitalization Fund was created to support restaurants, bars, and oth… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-statement-20th-anniversary-911 | McCollum Statement on the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 | 2021-09-10 | 2021 | 2021-09 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04), the only member of the current Minnesota congressional delegation serving in Congress on September 11, 2001, released the following statement today ahead of tomorrow's 20th anniversary of the terrorist attack: "On September 11, 2001, I could see the smoke rising from the Pentagon as my staff and I fled our Washington D.C. office. The horror of that morning in New York, at the Pentagon, and in a field in Pennsylvania is part of our history as Americans. It is impossible to reflect on this anniversary and not feel lingering anger, grief, and sadness. "The thousands of victims of 9/11 were lost on that day in a moment, but the loved ones they left behind have spent 20 years mourning and adapting to their lives without family members, confidants, coworkers, and friends. After two decades, the pain of their loss does not go away. Today as a nation, we once again mourn with the families and remember the courage of the First Responders who risked their lives in hope of saving others. "We must remain vigilant to the threats facing our nation, both foreign and domestic. Together let us look to the future with hope and resolve that we will embody the lessons that unified us in those fateful days, weeks, and months following 9/11 and stand together in the face of terror to defend our values: our commitment to freedom, our shared sense of purpose, and our pursuit of liberty and justice for all. That's what makes us Americans. We will defend against those who would seek to extinguish our ideals. "May God bless the souls lost on September 11, 2001, and their families. Once again we extend our most profound gratitude to all the men and women who have served these two decades in the Armed Forces, the Intelligence Community, and law enforcement agencies who have sacrificed so much to keep the American people and our nation safe." Congresswoman McCollum will attend the 9/11 Day of Remembrance at the Minnesota State Capitol on Saturday, September 11. The event will be livestreamed here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-passes-amendment-build-back-better-act-markup | Rep. Omar Passes Amendment in Build Back Better Act Markup | 2021-09-10 | 2021 | 2021-09 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | MINNEAPOLIS – The House Committee on Education and Labor today passed its portion of the Build Back Better Act, which invests $761 billion to lower the cost of child care and education, help Americans secure good-paying jobs, and increase support for our nation's children. The bill includes two years of fully funded free community college, an increase in Pell Grants, DREAMER eligibility for federal student aid, and nutrition assistance increases for nearly 9 million children. The final bill included an amendment Rep. Omar cosponsored with Reps. Sherrill, Jones, Bowman, and Jayapal to cap child care costs at 7 percent of a family's income, allowing all families to benefit from this program. "This is a historic moment," said Rep. Omar. "This portion of the Build Back Better Act makes historic investments in good-paying jobs, invests in our schools, helps tackle the climate crisis and for the first time invests in universal childcare. We have a once-in-a-generation to address our country's fundamental needs and I look forward to making this bill a reality." For a fact sheet on the Committee's portion of the Build Back Better Act, click here. For text of the Committee's print of the Build Back Better Act, click here. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-statement-labor-day-0 | McCollum Statement on Labor Day | 2021-09-03 | 2021 | 2021-09 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) released the following statement today ahead of Monday's observance of Labor Day: "Labor Day is an opportunity to honor American workers, and to reflect on the success of America's Labor movement, which fought to establish bedrock values we often take for granted: the minimum wage, the 40-hour work week, and health and safety protections in the workplace. These milestones provide the very foundation of the American Dream, and were achieved through long and tireless organizing and collective bargaining efforts. "Especially as we continue to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, Labor Day is a time to reflect on the work still ahead of us in protecting workers and families. The pandemic made clear the existing disparities and weaknesses in our care economy – underscoring the need for us to invest in paid family leave, sick leave, universal child care, a living wage, and more. House Democrats expanded the Child Tax Credit within the American Rescue Plan, and these payments are already lifting children and families out of poverty across the nation. "House Democrats have also put forth legislation to strengthen worker protections (the PRO Act), and made investments in frontline workers within the American Rescue Plan. As we work on legislation to advance President Biden's Build Back Better Plan and the bipartisan infrastructure bill, the priorities of American workers will be front and center as we look to this moment as an opportunity to rebuild our society and strengthen our economy. "To the educators, working parents, the underemployed, those facing discrimination in the workplace, and those who want to be working but cannot, you have my commitment that I will keep fighting to restore the promise of opportunity for all our families. I stand united with you in this fight." | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-bonamici-thompson-stefanik-desaulnier-comer-introduce-bipartisan | McCollum, Bonamici, Thompson, Stefanik, DeSaulnier, Comer Introduce Bipartisan Update to Anti-Poverty Grant Program | 2021-09-02 | 2021 | 2021-09 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Today Representatives Betty McCollum (D-MN), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Glenn "GT" Thompson (R-PA), Elise Stefanik (R-NY), Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), and James Comer (R-KY) introduced bipartisan legislation to update the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) program. The CSBG program supports more than 1,000 Community Action Agencies (CAAs), which have been providing holistic assistance to low-income communities across the country for more than 50 years. The Community Services Block Grant Modernization Act of 2021, H.R. 5129, will reauthorize this critical program for another decade and make overdue updates to further reduce poverty. "The Community Services Block Grant Modernization Act will allow urban, suburban, rural, and tribal communities across the country to provide a safety net for their neighbors and equip families with the resources needed to lift themselves out of poverty – especially important given the ongoing pandemic," Rep. McCollum said. "Community Action Agencies meet people where they are to combat poverty, create opportunity, and support families. They make an incredible impact on the communities they serve, and by providing them sufficient resources, countless families across our nation will benefit." "Community Action Agencies have been working tirelessly to reduce poverty in our communities for decades," said Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici. "Investing in these essential agencies will allow them to better meet the needs of our communities and lift even more families and individuals in NW Oregon and across the country out of poverty. This update is especially important now because the agencies have seen staggeringly high demand during the coronavirus pandemic. I'm pleased to continue the strong bipartisan tradition of supporting the Community Services Block Grant program by introducing this modernization bill." "The Community Service Block Grant is the only federal program with the explicit goal of lifting Americans out of poverty and towards independence. Last reauthorized in 1998, CSBG requir… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:17:01Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-statement-end-war-afghanistan | McCollum Statement on End of War in Afghanistan | 2021-08-30 | 2021 | 2021-08 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) released the following statement today after the last U.S. military flight left Kabul, Afghanistan, bringing an end to America's longest war: "It is August 31 in Afghanistan, and the war has now ended. Today, let us thank our U.S. military and diplomats for all those they were able to evacuate – American citizens and those who stood alongside our soldiers during this 20-year war, as well as our allies. "The hard work continues for the Department of State to bring out the remaining American citizens, those who've helped our government, and Afghans who worked with NGOs and are now fearing for their lives. Homeland Security also has a large task ahead as they finish the processing for the thousands of refugees who have fled Afghanistan. "Once again, we must remember and keep in our hearts all those who served so valiantly in Afghanistan. Thank you for your service and sacrifice." | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ilhan-omar-members-congress-minnesota-lawmakers-call-urgent-intervention | Rep. Ilhan Omar, Members of Congress, Minnesota Lawmakers Call for Urgent Intervention Amidst Line 3 Construction | 2021-08-30 | 2021 | 2021-08 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | MINNEAPOLIS—U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), MN State Representative Heather Keeler (4A) and MN State Senator Mary Kunesh (DFL-41) led a letter today with over three dozen Members of Congress and state lawmakers to urge President Biden to intervene to protect Indigenous sovereignty amidst the construction of the Enbridge Line 3 pipeline in northern Minnesota. The letter comes after concerning violations of treaty rights by public agencies and private actors, ongoing violence against Indigenous women, and the catastrophic environmental impacts of the pipeline. "When considering the extent of environmental, cultural, and social impacts on Indigenous people associated with Line 3 construction and its long-term climate impacts, we believe the federal government has a responsibility to uphold treaties and engage with Tribal nations on a government-to-government level," wrote the lawmakers. "We look forward to receiving your response as soon as possible." Line 3 is a tar sands pipeline project that extends 340 miles through Tribal lands and untouched wetlands. Recently, state agencies and local law enforcement entities have taken steps that appear to be clear violations of Tribal rights including financial conflicts of interest. When completing reviews of the pipeline construction sites, Enbridge failed to include key stakeholders in the Tribal Cultural Resource Management survey team. The letter was signed by U.S. Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Jamaal Bowman Ed.D., Steve Cohen, Adriano Espaillat, Jesús G. "Chuy" García, Jared Huffman, Mondaire Jones, Ro Khanna, Barbara Lee, Teresa Leger Fernandez, Alan Lowenthal, Betty McCollum, Jerrold Nadler, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ayanna Pressley, and Rashida Tlaib. The letter was also signed by Minnesota Elected Officials Jim Carlson, Scott Dibble, Chris Eaton, Omar Fateh, Mary Kunesh, Jennifer McEwen, John Marty, Lindsey Port, Ann Rest, Patricia Torres Ray, Charles Wiger, Patty Acomb, Esther Agbaje, Jamie Becker-Finn, Kaela Jo Berg, Liz Boldon, Jim Davnie, Heather Edelson, S… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-joins-letter-call-increase-united-states-refugee-admissions-programs | Rep. Omar Joins Letter to Call for an Increase in United States Refugee Admissions Programs Cap as Afghanistan Crisis Continues | 2021-08-27 | 2021 | 2021-08 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – Today, Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-13) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) led a group of 66 members of Congress, including Representative Ilhan Omar (MN-05), in calling on the Biden Administration to increase the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program cap to no less than 200,000 when President Biden issues his Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 before October 1st. In Afghanistan--where the Taliban has overthrown the Afghan government--Afghan allies of the U.S., women's rights activists, civil servants, and more are fleeing violence and persecution under Taliban rule. As Special Immigrant Visas continue to be processed, the lawmakers are urging the administration to increase the refugee cap to meet the massive humanitarian need. "As the people of Afghanistan face an unfolding tragedy, the United States must open its doors to refugees fleeing the devastating consequences of a 20-year U.S. military occupation and 40 years of U.S.-fueled war," said the lawmakers."To ensure their safety, we urge you to increase the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program cap to no less than 200,000 when you issue your Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year (FY) 2022 before October 1st. We also urge you to expand humanitarian parole to provide refuge to vulnerable Afghans who are in grave danger following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan. The lawmakers continued,"After decades of disastrous U.S. intervention in Afghanistan, one thing is clear: we have a moral responsibility to provide safe harbor and refuge for the Afghan people. Now, the growing humanitarian crisis is further exposing the horrific costs of our endless wars. The United States must do everything in its power to protect those who have borne the brunt of this decades-long conflict, especially Afghans who are at increased risk of persecution or death by the Taliban…" "The urgent need to double down on our efforts to welcome and protect refugees is evidenced by the racist, virulent anti-refugee an… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-statement-kabul-terrorist-attack-killed-least-12-us-service-members | McCollum Statement on Kabul Terrorist Attack that Killed at Least 12 U.S. Service Members | 2021-08-26 | 2021 | 2021-08 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) released the following statement today after the Pentagon confirmed at least 12 U.S. service members were killed and at least 15 wounded in an attack outside the Hamid-Karzai Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan: "The attack that tragically killed 12 U.S. service members and numerous Afghan civilians demonstrates that Afghanistan, beyond the perimeter of the Kabul airport, is a state controlled by terrorists. With limited options to sustain the evacuation of Americans and allies, the Taliban must be held responsible for the well-being and immediate safe passage of all American citizens seeking evacuation. The Biden administration must deliver an unequivocal message to the Taliban that harm to any American citizen seeking evacuation will result in devastating military action. "At this moment, every American service member, diplomat, and civilian operating at the Kabul airport are at grave risk. The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, including the evacuation of U.S. citizens and allies, must be completed by the August 31 deadline. "The death of our American service members in the effort to evacuate civilians is heartbreaking. Their lives and selfless action will always be remembered and honored." | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-leads-letter-president-biden-pardon-daniel-hale | Rep. Omar Leads Letter to President Biden to Pardon Daniel Hale | 2021-08-26 | 2021 | 2021-08 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON—Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) wrote a letter to President Biden today urging for the use of his executive authority to pardon Daniel Hale. In July, Daniel Hale was sentenced to 45 months for leaking information on the United States government's covert drone warfare program that provided important context in the public debate on surveillance and government misconduct. Daniel Hale previously served as an intelligence analyst in the Air Force, and after his service, became an outspoken critic of the drone program in which he had participated. His motivation, as outlined in a letter to the judge in his case, was profoundly moral. "Mr. Hale's release of information related to the drone program did not put any individual in danger," wrote Rep. Omar. "The information, while politically embarrassing to some, has shone a vital light on the legal and moral problems of the drone program and informed the public debate on an issue that has for too many years remained in the shadows. This information also provided concrete benefit to the legal efforts of Americans seeking to protect their Constitutional rights against secretive and arbitrary watchlisting practices. "Finally, Mr. Hale pled guilty and took full responsibility for his actions. His motivation, as outlined in his deeply moving letter to the judge in his case, was profoundly moral. As you frequently say, the United States should lead not just by the example of our power but by the power of our example. I implore you to read Mr. Hale's letter to the judge in full, and I believe you will agree that he was motivated by the same thing. Acknowledging where we've gone wrong, and telling the truth about our shortcomings, is not only the right thing to do, but also an act of profound patriotism." You can view the full letter below and here. Dear President Biden, August 25, 2021 I am writing to strongly encourage you to use your authority to pardon Daniel Everette Hale, who was sentenced to 45 months in prison on July 27, 2021, after pleading guilty to one count o… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-statement-house-passage-john-r-lewis-voting-rights-advancement-act | McCollum Statement on House Passage of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act | 2021-08-24 | 2021 | 2021-08 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | August 24, 2021 H.R. 4 Strengthens the Voting Rights Act of 1965, Addressing Two Key Supreme Court Decisions that Weakened the Act and Unleashed Voter Suppression Laws Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released the following statement today after voting to pass H.R. 4, the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021: "Minnesota prides itself in leading the way to make sure everyone can vote and every vote counts. At a time of unprecedented Republican-led attacks and threats to voting rights in state legislatures across the nation, urgent federal action is needed. If we are going to sustain and strengthen our democracy, Democrats in Congress and the American people need to stand up and defend it. I had the privilege of serving with Representative John Lewis in the U.S. House of Representatives. He marched the Edmund Pettus Bridge 56 years ago, and nearly died defending our right to vote. I proudly voted for H.R. 4 to uphold John Lewis's legacy and protect every American's fundamental right to vote." Background: Congresswoman McCollum is a cosponsor of H.R. 4. The bill text can be found here. A fact sheet is available here. This critical bill finally restores the full strength of the Voting Rights Act, after the disastrous Supreme Court decisions of Shelby County v. Holder in 2013 and Brnovich v. DNC in 2021. State lawmakers have introduced over 400 voter suppression bills in 49 states in the 2021 legislative session alone. At least 18 states enacted 30 laws that restrict access to the ballot, with many more on the way. The laws suppress the vote, as they make mail voting and early voting more difficult, reduce polling place availability, unleash a flurry of faulty voter purges, and increase barriers to the vote for Americans with disabilities, among other blatant suppression tactics. Under the VRA, these tactics would have been prevented from becoming law, but seven years ago, the Supreme Court gutted the heart of the Voting Rights Act – preclearance – in the Shelby v. Holder decision. Precle… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-statement-voting-advance-budget-resolution-infrastructure-bill | McCollum Statement on Voting to Advance Budget Resolution, Infrastructure Bill | 2021-08-24 | 2021 | 2021-08 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released the following statement today after voting to approve the combined rule to consider together S.Con.Res. 14, the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2022, and the Senate Amendment to H.R. 3684, to pave the way for consideration of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. "Today House Democrats have taken a key step to advance historic legislation to invest in both our physical and human infrastructure: in America's roads and bridges, and also in our health and caregiving systems, the weaknesses of which have become even more apparent during the pandemic. Today's vote starts the process for investing in building and sustaining a society with healthy families, strong communities, and a successful economy for all. Democrats are committed to improving people's lives. It is appalling that Republicans – who have always been willing to cut taxes for the richest few – refuse to join us in investing in the majority of Americans who will benefit from these bills." Background: The Build Back Better plan will deliver more jobs, a fair and balanced tax system, and lower costs, doing so by making the wealthiest few and big corporations pay their fair share. The historic Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act would make life better for millions of Minnesotans, create a generation of good-paying union jobs and economic growth, and position the United States to win the 21st century – while taking real action to fight the climate crisis. Democrats look forward to considering this legislation and making additional improvements to meet the needs of the American people. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-and-senate-lawmakers-call-biden-administration-immediately-suspend-clean | House and Senate Lawmakers Call on Biden Administration to Immediately Suspend Clean Water Act Permit for Line 3 Pipeline | 2021-08-23 | 2021 | 2021-08 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON — U.S. Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), and U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar (MN-05) led a bicameral group of lawmakers today in urging the Biden administration to immediately suspend the Clean Water Act 404 permit for the Line 3 pipeline. Their letter — written to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Acting Assistant Secretary for Civil Works Jaime Pinkham — calls for a thorough review of the Trump administration's faulty permitting process and an environmental impact statement that fully considers the irreversible impact the pipeline will have on the environment, climate change, public health, nearby communities, and Tribal groups. "The Army Corps of Engineers failed to consider significant information on the Line 3 tar sands pipeline's impacts, including the risk of oil spills, climate change impacts, and impacts on Indigenous peoples," said the lawmakers. "The effects of construction of Line 3 on the land, water, and peoples that it affects are irreversible. We urge you to utilize the authority you have to immediately suspend the 404 permit for Line 3 in order to conduct a full federal EIS prior to any additional construction." The lawmakers specifically assert that the Corps did not prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS) for Line 3 despite evidence that the project would have significant impacts. This includes failing to include almost no independent evaluation of the risk of oil spills despite the fact that Line 3's route crosses more than 225 lakes and rivers including the headwaters of the Mississippi River. The lawmakers also urged the Corps to examine how impacts from climate change will further exacerbate the environmental costs of oil spills. Additionally, they called for a full consultation process with Tribes on the effects of Line 3, which was omitted from the 2020 decision to issue the Clean Water Act 404 permit. The Trump Administration aggressively expanded fossil fuel infrastructure projects and severely limited public scrutiny on those pr… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-statement-situation-afghanistan | Rep. Omar Statement on the Situation in Afghanistan | 2021-08-16 | 2021 | 2021-08 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | MINNEAPOLIS—Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) released the following statement on the situation in Afghanistan. "Like many of us, I have watched the immense human tragedy in Afghanistan in horror. My heart goes out to the Afghan people, especially the many Afghans who risked their lives for a safer, freer Afghanistan, as well the of countless Americans who served in this conflict, thousands of whom made the ultimate sacrifice. "It has also, for me, been personally painful. I know what it's like to be the child in the family scrambling for safety in a war-torn country. I also know intimately the difference between making it out and not making it out. As with so many moments in this two-decade long conflict, I have not been able to read the news without seeing myself and my family, many years ago, desperately fleeing imminent violence in Somalia. "Of course, the tragedy did not begin in the last couple of weeks. The hard truth about America's longest war is that for 20 years, we made promises we couldn't keep. The simple fact is that prolonging a war indefinitely would not have delivered a stable, peaceful Afghanistan. I agree with President Biden: an endless American military occupation of Afghanistan was unacceptable. "War and conflict never produce peace and stability. Violence and militarism, even when cloaked in the language of humanitarianism, are fundamentally at odds with human flourishing and opportunity. Violence only produces trauma, trauma that can turn into anger, vengefulness and a continuing cycle of violence. That must be a lesson as we deal with conflicts around the world. "There will be plenty of time for confronting the fundamental failures of our Afghanistan policy over the course of many decades and four presidencies. I hope we genuinely confront them, and reckon with them, rather than doubling down on obsolete talking points from 20 years ago that fail to account for the thousands of American lives cost and trillion-plus dollars spent. I hope we will learn from this, as painful as it is. "In the me… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-statement-taliban-takeover-afghanistan | McCollum Statement on Taliban Takeover of Afghanistan | 2021-08-15 | 2021 | 2021-08 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released the following statement today after the Taliban's capture of Kabul, Afghanistan: "With the Taliban's capture of Kabul, we are witnessing a human disaster for the Afghan people and the culmination of a two-decade bipartisan political and strategic failure of American leadership. "Since 2001, successive American presidents, with the support of Republicans and Democrats in Congress, asked the Afghan people to trust America and work with America to build a new Afghanistan. Millions of Afghans believed us and committed their futures to this partnership. Their trust in America will now cost many of them their lives and certainly their freedom. Afghans who courageously stood with America to reject extremism and build a new Afghanistan are now alone, vulnerable, and will be subject to the Taliban's vengeful retribution. This is their worst nightmare come true. For an entire generation of Afghan women and girls who embraced access to education and human rights, they will almost certainly be cast back into the darkness of the Taliban's state-sponsored misogyny. "After the September 11, 2001 attack on the U.S., President George W. Bush and Congress decided to take military action against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. A decision was also made to invest in supporting the Afghan people and build a new, modern nation. That difficult worked continued for nearly 20 years with successes and failures along the way. In 2019, the Trump administration invited the Taliban to the negotiating table, without the Afghan government represented, and believed they could reach an agreement the Taliban would honor. This set in motion the return of the Taliban. The Biden administration's decision to fully withdraw U.S. forces eliminated the final deterrent to the Taliban in light of their misplaced confidence in the capabilities of the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces. "For the hundreds of thousands of American service members, diplomats, and civilians who bravely served in Afghanistan… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressional-progressive-caucus-survey-shows-majority-respondents-will | Congressional Progressive Caucus Survey Shows Majority of Respondents Will Withhold Support of Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill Without Reconciliation Package | 2021-08-10 | 2021 | 2021-08 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON — The Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) announced today that a survey of its 96 members showed that a majority of respondents will not vote for a bipartisan infrastructure bill until the Senate passes a robust budget reconciliation bill to fund the rest of the American Jobs and Families Plans. The survey asked whether members would commit to withholding a yes vote on the bipartisan infrastructure deal — Senate Amendment 2137 to H.R. 3684 — until the Senate has passed budget reconciliation legislation deemed acceptable by the Congressional Progressive Caucus. The CPC shared the results in a letter to House Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Schumer. "A majority of respondents affirmed that they would withhold their votes in support of the bipartisan legislation in the House of Representatives until the Senate adopted a robust reconciliation package," wrote Congressional Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Deputy Chair Rep. Katie Porter (CA-45), and Whip Rep. Ilhan Omar (MN-05). "These results affirm the urgency of ensuring that the Senate's desire to pass a narrower bipartisan infrastructure agreement does not come at the expense of the full scope investments our communities need, want, and deserve," said Jayapal. "Our Caucus is clear: the bipartisan bill will only be passed if a package of social, human, and climate infrastructure — reflecting long-standing Democratic priorities — is passed simultaneously through budget reconciliation. We know that Congressional Democrats are committed to delivering immediate and transformational improvements for the lives of the American people, and will hold firm to meet that promise." The letter also urged leadership "to continue coordinating closely between the two chambers, collaborating with the White House, and engaging with our caucus so that the reconciliation framework reflects our shared and long-standing investment priorities, and that the Senate first adopts this reconciliation package before any House consideration of bip… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-commissioner-reinhardt-celebrate-national-association-counties | McCollum, Commissioner Reinhardt Celebrate National Association of Counties Endorsement of Mississippi River Restoration & Resilience Initiative | 2021-08-06 | 2021 | 2021-08 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) is pleased to announce the National Association of Counties (NACo) voted unanimously to endorse a resolution in support of the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative (MRRRI) at its annual conference in July. Rep. McCollum released the following statement: "I am so grateful to Ramsey County Commissioner Reinhardt and the Association of Minnesota Counties for securing unanimous support for the MRRRI resolution at the National Association of Counties Annual Conference. MRRRI will secure federal grant opportunities up and down the river's corridor for counties to invest in the health and resilience of their communities, which will also benefit local economies. Federal, state, and local coordination is paramount to ensuring the initiative addresses the priorities of the communities most affected by flooding, runoff, pollution, and other risks to the river's health. I look forward to continuing to work with Commissioner Reinhardt in advancing this collaborative effort to restore and strengthen the Mississippi River." Ramsey County Commissioner Victoria Reinhardt, Vice Chair of the NACo Resilient Counties Advisory Board, added: "MRRRI is exactly the right approach to securing local participation in solving a national problem. The Mississippi River is vital to the health of the nation and every county along its 2,300-mile journey from the headwaters in northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. I am honored that Congresswoman McCollum asked me to secure support for MRRRI from the National Association of Counties. This is exactly the type of partnership approach that local governments need to help us enhance river restoration, resilience projects, and program activities along the Mississippi River." Background: The Mississippi River flows more than 2,300 miles through 10 states, and provides drinking water to more than 20 million people in 50 cities. The river supports more than 780 species of fish and wildlife and is a vital corridor for migratory birds. The … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/seventy-five-members-congress-call-immediate-closure-guantanamo-bay | Seventy-Five Members of Congress Call for Immediate Closure of Guantanamo Bay | 2021-08-05 | 2021 | 2021-08 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON– Today, Congressman Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), Congressman David Price (D-NC), and Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), along with more than 70 members of Congress, delivered a letter to President Biden calling for the immediate closure of the prison at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. Closing the facility has been a long stated goal for the U.S. government. During his 2008 campaign, former President Obama promised to permanently close the prison at Guantanamo Bay. However, at the time of his departure from office in 2017, the prison still held 55 detainees. Today, Guantanamo Bay is in increasing disrepair as its infrastructure deteriorates, posing an imminent health and safety risks to prisoners and guards alike. On February 12, the Biden administration launched a formal review of the prison at Guantanamo Bay with the intention of ultimately closing the facility. On July 19, 2021, the Biden administration transferred its first detainee out of Guantanamo Bay, who had previously been recommended for discharge in 2016, but was held under the Trump administration. "We ask that as you take the steps necessary to finally close the prison, you act immediately to further reduce its population, ensure that the remaining detainees are treated humanely, and increase the transparency of military commission proceedings at Guantanamo," the Members write in a letter. "The continued operation of the prison is a stain on our international reputation and undermines our ability to advocate for human rights and the rule of law. The halting pace of justice is painful for victims and survivors of terrorist attacks, including the bombing of the USS Cole and the September 11 attacks, which some of the detainees at Guantanamo are accused of planning or carrying out." The letter is signed by 75 members of Congress, including Representatives Alma Adams (D-NC), Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Don Beyer (D-Va.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), Jamal Bowman (D-NY), Cori Bush (D-Mo.), Andre Carson (D-Ill.), Joaquin Castro (… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-statement-cdc-decision-extend-eviction-moratorium | Rep. Omar Statement on CDC Decision to Extend Eviction Moratorium | 2021-08-03 | 2021 | 2021-08 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) released the following statement after President Biden announced the CDC will extend the eviction moratorium. "This new moratorium is lifechanging for millions of people on the brink of eviction. I am thankful to President Biden for his efforts to have the CDC extend the eviction moratorium for our most vulnerable. This win would not have been possible without the bold, steadfast leadership from Congresswoman Bush. I applaud her, and so many other Members of Congress and organizers who continued to push the Administration to act. "While this new moratorium on evictions is welcome, this is just a start and will only provide a temporary solution to the mass eviction crisis. At the beginning of the pandemic, I introduced the Rent and Mortgage Cancellation Act to permanently cancel all payments on rental homes and mortgages until the end of the pandemic and provide relief to small landlords who are also struggling due to Congress's inaction. We can already predict another housing crisis will occur, which is why it's so imperative we pass bold, long-term solutions. "The bottom line is we have the House, Senate, and White House—there are no excuses for our inability to act. We have the power to stop the next eviction crisis and must act now." | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:11:17Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-introduces-guaranteed-income-bill-and-gdp-alternative-legislation | Rep. Omar Introduces Guaranteed Income Bill and GDP Alternative Legislation | 2021-07-30 | 2021 | 2021-07 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON—Today, Rep. Ilhan Omar introduced the Sending Unconditional Payments to People Overcoming Resistances to Triumph (SUPPORT) Act and the Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) Act, legislation designed to build a 21st century economy that is reflective of Americans' everyday needs. The bills will create a grant program to fund local income pilots and implement a national guaranteed income program and establish a new economic metric to measure well-being. The Sending Unconditional Payments to People Overcoming Resistances to Triumph (SUPPORT) Act will create a guaranteed income program of up to $1,200 per month for adults, and $600 for kids, following pilot programs in localities nationwide. The Genuine Progress Indicator (GPI) Act will provide an alternative economic metric to supplement GDP calculations and revamp our economic policy lenses by including overlooked socioeconomic and environmental costs and benefits of economic productivity. "Poverty is a choice. For too long we have prioritized endless growth while millions are homeless, hungry or without healthcare" said Rep. Omar. "The pandemic has laid bare these inequalities. We as a nation have the ability to make sure everyone has their basic needs like food, housing and healthcare met. Building off successful pilot programs in my home state of Minnesota, I am proud to introduce a guaranteed income that will put money directly into the pockets of Minnesotans, and introduce a holistic economic measure that will ensure our economy is centered on the long-term prosperity of Minnesotans and Americans everywhere. The world needs new economic indicators and economic policies that will prioritize and encourage truly sustainable and equitable development. It's time we become the leader in measuring and safeguarding our people's economic well-being, starting with both of these bills." "Even during the better economic times that came before the Covid pandemic and recession, many Americans were struggling to avoid hunger or homelessness – in the wealthiest count… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-statement-house-passage-seven-fy-2022-appropriations-bills | McCollum Statement on House Passage of Seven FY 2022 Appropriations Bills | 2021-07-29 | 2021 | 2021-07 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | July 29, 2021 H.R. 4502 creates good-paying jobs, grows opportunity, and supports the vulnerable Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released a statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4502, a package of seven Appropriations bills to fund the federal government for Fiscal Year 2022. The seven bills are Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies; Financial Services and General Government; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; and Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies. Bill text and Committee reports are available here. "Funding the federal government is essential to the ability to govern," McCollum said. "House Democrats – without a single Republican vote – have passed these seven vital Appropriations bills to make major investments in keeping America strong, healthy, and successful. As the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic are again threatening communities across America, the Appropriations Committee has set its sights on meeting the needs of American families and communities. Whether it is protecting the environment, creating good-paying jobs and expanding economic opportunities, or providing a lifeline for working families, Democrats are reflecting the priorities of the American people." MCCOLLUM PRIORITIES ACROSS H.R. 4502: Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies: The 2022 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill includes $43.4 billion in regular appropriations, an increase of $7.3 billion – 20.2 percent – above 2021. As the Vice-Chair of the Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, Congresswoman McCollum is proud the bill invests in: Environmental Protection: The bill contains $11.34 billion for the EPA, with $4.17 billion for EPA's core science and environmental program work and $2… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-statement-passage-january-6-emergency-security-supplemental-funding | McCollum Statement on Passage of January 6 Emergency Security Supplemental Funding Bill | 2021-07-29 | 2021 | 2021-07 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released the following statement after voting to pass H.R. 3237, the Emergency Security Supplemental to Respond to January 6th Appropriations Act: "On January 6, the National Guard was mobilized to protect the U.S. Capitol and defend our democracy from a violent insurrection," McCollum said. "The Guard's mission lasted for five months – paid for by pulling forward funding that was scheduled to be spent in August and September. Though it took the Senate an additional two months to act, I am pleased that we have now passed a bill to provide the financial relief we owe the National Guard, that now heads to the president's desk for signature. "Additionally, the supplemental provides funds for the Department of Defense and the Department of State to ensure the safety of translators and other Afghans and their families who provided vital assistance to the U.S. over the last 20 years. We have an obligation to these brave men and women, and this is the first step in a process to begin relocating our allies as our military departs the country. "To the members of the U.S. Capitol Police, National Guard, and all those who responded to the attack on January 6: Thank you. Your bravery will not be forgotten." # # # | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-passes-five-amendments-ten-community-projects-through-house | Rep. Omar Passes Five Amendments, Ten Community Projects Through House | 2021-07-29 | 2021 | 2021-07 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON—Rep. Ilhan Omar passed five amendments through the House of Representatives this week, along with ten community projects for Minnesota's 5th District. You can view her floor speech on this here. The provisions passed as part of the House Appropriations process, including the Seven-Bill Appropriations Minibus and the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act (SFOPS). "My priority as a Member of Congress has always been fighting to make life better for the families of Minnesota's 5th District, especially the most vulnerable," Rep. Omar said. "I was proud to be able to take votes to deliver for my constituents today. Through the surface transportation and appropriations process, we have passed over $46 million in funding through the House for my district. Together, we have been able to pass multiple amendments that will move the needle on issues Minnesotans care about, from housing to education, economic development, First Amendment rights and more. It is also a reminder that we can propose bold solutions to the biggest challenges our country faces—from the climate crisis to housing and healthcare affordability—while also effectively securing amendments in major bills. That is what cogovernance on behalf of the 5th District looks like." The amendments include a study on alternative measures of economic well-being, research into access to remittance payments to developing countries, preservation of public art related to civil rights protests, a study on the COVID-related economic barriers faced by manufactured homeowners and how federal housing assistance could better serve this population, and an amendment co-led with Rep. Pressley to study the impacts of discipline practices in K-12 remote education settings over the course of the COVID-19 pandemic and a $5 million transfer to development assistance. Along with Reps. Jayapal, Garcia and others, she also secured the issuance of over $2 trillion in Special Drawing Rights to help developing countries purchase much… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-statement-house-passage-fy-2022-legislative-branch-funding-bill | McCollum Statement on House Passage of FY 2022 Legislative Branch Funding Bill | 2021-07-28 | 2021 | 2021-07 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released a statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4346, the FY 2022 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill: "Today I voted for the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill to fund the U.S. House of Representatives, investing in the day-to-day operations and security of Congress to keep our democracy strong and vibrant and accessible to the people we serve," Rep. McCollum said. "The investments in this bill make Congress more effective by increasing resources to recruit and retain a talented workforce that reflects the diverse tapestry of our nation. It also provides tools to make Congress more efficient by modernizing and updating technology. With these investments, Congress becomes more transparent by ensuring elected representatives and the committees they work on have access to objective data in developing budgets and legislation. This funding bill supports enhanced training and wellness opportunities for the U.S. Capitol Police following the January 6 attack. It also provides financial assistance to expand opportunities for more students of diverse backgrounds to seek internships in Congressional offices. This bill will help Congress better serve all of our constituents." For fiscal year 2022, the bill appropriates a total of $4.802 billion, an increase of $581.9 million, or 13.8 percent over 2021. The legislation: Protects our democracy with funding to make the U.S. Capitol and the Capitol complex more secure. Provides opportunities for enhanced training and wellness support for the Capitol Police, who were attacked on January 6 Strengthens the work of the Legislative Branch in order to recruit and retain a talented and diverse workforce Grows opportunity by increasing funding for internships to support more interns who may not financially be able to take an unpaid position Increases funding for the Library of Congress, the largest library in the world, and the Congressional Research Service, which provides nonpartisan policy and legal analysis… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-statement-house-passage-fy-2022-state-and-foreign-operations-funding | McCollum Statement on House Passage of FY 2022 State and Foreign Operations Funding Bill | 2021-07-28 | 2021 | 2021-07 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | July 28, 2021 Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released a statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4373, the FY 2022 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bill: "This bill invests in global health, which will be especially important as we continue to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and seek to prevent future pandemics," McCollum said. "Increased funding to improve child and maternal health, provide humanitarian assistance and reduce poverty, and protect wildlife and biodiversity amid the climate crisis are critical investments in our shared future. This bill will help create a more stable world for current and future generations." In total, the bill provides $62.24 billion for diplomatic and development global humanitarian and national security priorities. The legislation: Supports the world's most vulnerable with foreign assistance to meet urgent humanitarian needs, many of which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, and rebuilds the global public health infrastructure with a dramatic increase in funding for global health security to confront the current COVID-19 pandemic and prevent future pandemics: Includes McCollum language (p. 50) securing $1.1 billion to help raise millions out of poverty by funding the Global Food Security Act, supporting Feed the Future's comprehensive approach to improve nutrition outcomes Includes McCollum language (p. 48) ensuring 10% of funding for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is spent on supporting orphans and vulnerable children and reporting back on how that target is being met Includes $225 million in aid for the West Bank and Gaza for community-based programs that provide for basic human needs, such as food, water, health, shelter, protection, education, and livelihoods, and that promote peace and development. Includes McCollum language (p. 44) to strengthen global health systems Advances women's rights by increasing funding for family planning, increasing United Nati… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-introduces-global-migration-agreement-act-and-stop-arming-human | Rep. Omar Introduces the the Global Migration Agreement Act and Stop Arming Human Rights Abusers Act (SAHRAA) | 2021-07-27 | 2021 | 2021-07 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON -- Today, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) reintroduced the Stop Arming Human Rights Abusers Act (SAHRAA) and the Global Migration Agreement Act. "I am a survivor of war, and I understand personally how it takes lives, shatters futures and tears apart families," Rep. Omar said. "I also know the moral authority the United States carries on the world stage when we stand up for human rights. We have an opportunity to live up to these values, to ensure that no child lives through violent conflict like I did, and to mean what we say when it comes to championing human rights worldwide. That's why I am proud to introduce the Stop Arming Human Rights Abusers Act, to ensure that there are consequences to human rights abuses regardless of who commits them, and the Global Migration Agreement, to ensure that people displaced by conflict and climate change have a place to call home. America has led the world in standing up for human rights before. It's time for us to seize the mantle of leadership again." The Global Migration Agreement Act lays out a long-term vision for American leadership on tackling the global migration crisis. It instructs the State Department and UN Ambassador to take the lead on creating a binding international migration agreement, and lays out the principles and rights on which such an agreement should be based. It acknowledges the insufficiency of current categories of forced displacement, the unfair burden taken on by countries like Sudan, Colombia, Niger, Jordan, and Bangladesh, and the particular vulnerability of women, girls, LGBT+ people, and other minorities. It also notes that every country has a role to play - the countries people are fleeing need to address root causes, the countries on the migrant trails need to have systems in place to protect vulnerable migrants, and countries where people arrive need to have plans for guaranteeing their human rights. You may read the full bill here. The SAHRAA imposes universal human rights and humanitarian conditions on security cooperation with the … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-omar-bass-carson-tlaib-introduce-muslim-american-heritage-month | Reps. Omar, Bass, Carson, Tlaib Introduce Muslim American Heritage Month Resolution | 2021-07-26 | 2021 | 2021-07 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON – Last week, Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), Rep. André Carson (D-IN), Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) introduced a resolution in the U.S. House of Representatives to recognize July as Muslim American Heritage Month, honoring their contributions throughout our country's history. The legislation was introduced after a constituent and local Los Angeles community organizer raised the idea of such a designation. Following introduction, the primary authors joined in issuing statements in support of the resolution. "I'm proud to join my House colleagues in introducing this legislation to acknowledge and appreciate the numerous contributions and achievements of Muslim Americans – both throughout history and today," said Rep Bass (CA-37). "We must also recognize and address the persistent discrimination and bigotry Muslim Americans have faced and continue to face in this country. This July, and all year long, we commit ourselves to combating prejudice and doing all we can to support Muslim American communities in California and across our nation. "As a proud Muslim-American Member of Congress, I am pleased to join my colleagues in introducing this resolution," said Rep. André Carson(IN-07). "Muslim-Americans have played a major role in shaping our nation for centuries. This legacy is something we should celebrate and share. Designating July as Muslim-American Heritage Month is a wonderful opportunity to honor the trailblazers who came before us, thank the Muslim-Americans currently making history, and inspire the upcoming generations who will help lead our country into the future. "Muslim Americans are an integral part of our nation's fabric," said Rep. Ilhan Omar(MN-05). "As we continue to see an uptick in anti-Muslim hate, it is important we recognize the resiliency and accomplishments of Muslim Americans with a formal resolution. This resolution will provide an opportunity to foster religious tolerance nationwide and combat misinformation directed at the Muslim community." "This resolution… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-presses-administration-somalia-strategy | Rep. Omar Presses Administration on Somalia Strategy | 2021-07-23 | 2021 | 2021-07 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | I am writing today to request more information on the airstrike that the United States carried out on July 20th, 2021, in Somalia. I know that your Administration is undergoing a review of the drone program, and I appreciate the seriousness with which you have approached the vexing legal, moral, and policy problem of the ongoing drone program. Public reporting on Tuesday's strike indicates that the White House has rejected requests for other drone strikes in Somalia since you took office, but that AFRICOM assesses the White House didn't need to approve this strike because it was justified by "collective self-defense."1 As you know, "collective self-defense" is a term with variable meanings in national and international law, and especially in the context of your ongoing review of airstrike authorities, its use merits further explanation in this case. This is also an important and timely matter since it seems suggestive of your Administration's broader approach to airstrikes in Somalia. I have been deeply engaged on this question throughout my time in Congress, not only focused on the legal merits of individual strikes, but on how our militarized counter-terrorism approach to Al-Shabaab fits into our overall strategy and policy towards Somalia. In that respect, it is noteworthy that this week also saw reporting on the family members of Somali civilians killed by airstrikes conducted under the Trump Administration being unable to contact U.S. authorities or receive the condolence payments for which Congress has repeatedly appropriated funds.2 Under the Trump Administration, airstrikes in Somalia increased dramatically with no apparent gains in either weakening Al-Shabaab, advancing Somali security and stability, or pursuing American interests in the region. On the contrary, the increase in strikes corresponded with an almost doubling of terrorist attacks on civilians committed by Al-Shabaab. It is critical that we realize we are not going to simply drone the Al-Shabaab problem to death, and that any kinetic acti… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-omar-schakowsky-lead-letter-calling-creation-special-envoy-combat | Reps. Omar, Schakowsky Lead Letter Calling for the Creation of Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia | 2021-07-21 | 2021 | 2021-07 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON—Today, Reps. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), along with 23 Members of Congress led a letter calling on Secretary of State, Antony Blinken to create a special envoy to combat Islamophobia. The letter addresses the rise in attacks against the Muslim community. "Anti-Muslim hate is on the rise both here at home and around the world," Rep. Omar said. "This year has seen over 500 incidents of hate in the U.S.—and those are just the ones that have been reported. Last month, we witnessed a deadly attack wipe out three generations of a Muslim family in Canada. In countries around the world—from China to India to Myanmar—Muslim communities are being discriminated against. We must all stand united against this horrific rise in hate. I am proud to lead this letter with Congresswoman Schakowsky pursuing a Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Islamophobia, and am working legislation to formalize this position." "Throughout the last decade we have seen an increase in violent Islamophobia around the globe – from the genocide of the Rohingya in Burma, and Uyghurs in China, to the attacks on Muslim refugees in Canada and New Zealand," said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky (IL-09). "It is past time for the U.S. to establish a comprehensive plan for combatting this hatred worldwide, and that includes the creation of a Special Envoy for Monitoring and Combating Islamophobia. I am proud to join my friend and colleague Congresswoman Ilhan Omar in calling on the Administration to dedicate the resources necessary to ensure that human rights and religious and cultural freedom are respected around the world." The letter calls for a comprehensive strategy for establishing U.S. leadership in combatting Islamophobia worldwide. The lawmakers are also asking Secretary Blinken to include state sponsored Islamophobic violence and impunity for Islamophobic violence in next year's annual human rights reports. This letter comes after the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR)'s new findings on the increase in anti-M… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-and-house-appropriations-committee-democrats-approve-86-million | McCollum and House Appropriations Committee Democrats Approve $86 Million for Priority Minnesota Projects | 2021-07-19 | 2021 | 2021-07 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.), Chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and Vice Chair of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee, along with her Democratic colleagues on the House Appropriations Committee, have voted to advance dozens of priority community projects for Minnesota – totaling $86 million in federal funding. The community projects were requested by individual Democratic and Republican members of the Minnesota Congressional delegation. "The Appropriations Committee is moving these critical bills forward to fund the federal government and at the same time, delivering for Minnesotans by investing in the priority needs of communities in districts represented by both Democrats and Republicans," McCollum said. As the Dean of the Minnesota delegation and Minnesota's only member of the House Appropriations Committee, McCollum voted to approve all 12 fiscal year 2022 appropriations bills. Congressionally-directed projects were included in the appropriations bills for the first time since 2010. All 10 requests from Rep. McCollum's office were included in the FY 2022 appropriations bills that have now been approved by the full Appropriations Committee, totaling $12 million to benefit Minnesota's Fourth District. More information here: Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Bill Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Funding Bill Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Funding Bill Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Funding Bill Financial Services and General Government Funding Bill Requests from Rep. Angie Craig's office (10), Rep. Tom Emmer's office (6), Rep. Ilhan Omar's office (10), Rep. Dean Phillips' office (10), and Rep. Pete Stauber's office (5) were also included in the Appropriations bills, which next head to the floor of the U.S. House for debate and approval: | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-s-500000-community-project-request-st-paul-s-small-boat-harbor | McCollum’s $500,000 Community Project Request for St. Paul’s Small Boat Harbor Included in Funding Bill | 2021-07-16 | 2021 | 2021-07 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | The House Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2022 Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Funding bill and report today, including a Community Project Funding (CPF) request made by Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) to benefit Minnesota's Fourth Congressional District: Project: Dredging St. Paul Small-Boat Harbor ($500,000) Providing long overdue and critically needed dredging of the St. Paul Small-Boat Harbor, which will support and maintain effective emergency response services, and improve the overall poor conditions of the harbor. The St. Paul Small-Boat Harbor is on the lower end of Harriet Island in St. Paul, Minnesota. The natural fluctuations of both the Mississippi and Minnesota Rivers and subsequent silt buildup is of significant concern for not only the maritime operations of the St. Paul Fire Department, but for the overall safety of all those that travel its waterways. The Lower Harbor also provides a critical pool of affordable housing at a time when this resource is desperately needed. "The St. Paul Small-Boat Harbor is a critical piece of our river infrastructure, and this funding for maintenance will ensure the Harbor can continue to be used by the St. Paul Fire Department for emergency response on and along the Mississippi River," Congresswoman McCollum said. "I look forward to continuing to work to secure this funding and make this a reality." "Federal funding for the Saint Paul Small Boat Harbor Project near Harriet Island will help maintain effective emergency response services and improve overall conditions of the harbor," said Ward 2 St. Paul City Councilmember Rebecca Noecker. "Dredging the harbor is critically needed, and I look forward to continuing to work with Congresswoman McCollum on bringing these funds to our community." Background: For 2022, the Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Funding Bill provides $53.226 billion, an increase of $1.474 billion above 2021. The legislation: Creates tens of thousands of good-paying jobs with … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-secures-38-million-community-projects-improve-regional-trails-and | McCollum Secures $3.8 Million for Community Projects to Improve Regional Trails and Support New Americans | 2021-07-16 | 2021 | 2021-07 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | The House Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2022 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies bill and report today, including two Community Project Funding (CPF) requests made by Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) to benefit Minnesota's Fourth Congressional District families by increasing access to the outdoors: Project: Bruce Vento Trail ($1,300,000) This project request will provide final design and construction plans for a six-mile alternate regional trail alignment that is mainly outside of rail property on public land. These funds will also complete the last two undeveloped segments of the Bruce Vento Regional Trail from Buerkle Road to County Road J in the cities/township of Gem Lake, White Bear Lake, White Bear Township, Vadnais Heights in Ramsey County, Minnesota. Completing final design and construction documents will allow these last two segments to be shovel ready projects for implementation. This will complete a major gap in the Regional Bike Transportation Network and United States Bike Route 41 (USBR 41), provide critical connections to a proposed arterial bus rapid transit (BRT), and provide a multi-modal trail that does not exist today for pedestrian and bicycles in northern communities within Ramsey County. Project: Central Greenway Regional Trail Improvements ($1,000,000) The Central Greenway Regional Trail project will improve the multiuse regional trail within Washington County, including new trail segments, pavement rehabilitation, and trailhead improvements. This project will provide improved regional and local pedestrian and bicycle connectivity to community destinations, improving accessibility, safety, and environmental conditions. Segments of the existing trail have passed their service life and are in need of pavement rehabilitation. New trail segments and trailheads are also needed to accommodate increased use and provide a safer experience for all. "Federal funding to help complete the Bruce Vento Regional Trail through the Fourth Dis… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-community-projects-totaling-29-million-public-safety-included-funding | McCollum Community Projects Totaling $2.9 Million For Public Safety Included in Funding Bill | 2021-07-15 | 2021 | 2021-07 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | The House Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2022 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies bill and report today, including two Community Project Funding (CPF) requests made by Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) to benefit Minnesota's Fourth Congressional District: Project: Saint Paul Police Department Portable Radio Replacement ($2,000,000) The replacement of 600 end-of-life police portable radios is necessary for the City of St. Paul to maintain the ability to effectively respond to public safety needs and sustain interoperable communications among the first responder network within the city and among mutual-aid communities. This project will assist with the most critical SPPD need: replacing 600 radios used by sworn officers to investigate, respond to, and prevent crime in the community. This federal funding would be partnered with additional funding procured by the City to sustain the communications necessary to protect and serve the community. Project: Ramsey County Community Violence Prevention Project ($900,000) Multiple-focused deterrence efforts must be made to proactively engage young people caught up in violence with robust resources, including 24/7 support delivered by trusted community members. The county envisions an effort co-led with our community, aligning City and County resources, to invest in dedicated staff capacity to advance this work, along with a community-based infrastructure of 24/7 support coaches and flexible funding to meet the immediate safety and wellness needs of people involved in serious violence. "Bringing federal taxpayer dollars back into the Fourth District for projects that will boost our community safety needs will benefit our neighbors and our families," Congresswoman McCollum said. "This funding will help ensure St. Paul Police officers have the equipment needed to communicate quickly and effectively in responding to emergencies. The Ramsey County Community Violence Prevention Project will employ a community-led effort and provide 24/7 s… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-secures-28-million-community-projects-boosting-local-workforce-funding | McCollum Secures $2.8 Million for Community Projects Boosting Local Workforce in Funding Bill | 2021-07-15 | 2021 | 2021-07 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | The House Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2022 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies bill and report today, including two Community Project Funding (CPF) requests made by Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) to benefit Minnesota's Fourth Congressional District: Project: Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest's Apprenticeship Pathways to Resolve Inequity for Access ($2,000,000) Expanding a workforce pipeline of middle and high school students, high school graduates, and other young adult candidates for construction, manufacturing, and industrial Registered Apprenticeship programs through partnerships with community organizations, public and charter school educators, employers, associations, unions, and advocacy groups in order to target underserved populations in Minnesota's 4th district. Project: St. Catherine University's Advancing Scientific Excellence Initiative ($800,000) Providing critical technology and equipment upgrades to Mendel Hall, ready to execute upon receipt of funds, that will vastly enhance student learning and research experience for women undergraduate students in STEM fields. As a Minority Serving Institution whose student body is 94% women, 42% of whom identify as BIPOC, the university seeks to deliver premier education and training in the sciences to address the underrepresentation of women and people of color in STEM education and professions. These equipment and technological upgrades will support efforts to meet the growing demand both locally and nationally for diverse research teams to drive scientific innovation and discovery. "This is a critical first step to bringing back federal taxpayer dollars to Minnesota's Fourth District to increase access to apprenticeships and STEAM-related careers throughout our community," Congresswoman McCollum said. "These projects will expand workforce development opportunities to a wider range of communities, and I look forward to continuing to work with the Finishing Trades Institute of th… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-ilhan-omar-applauds-governor-walz-decision-protecting-lgbtq-youth | Rep. Ilhan Omar Applauds Governor Walz Decision Protecting LGBTQ+ Youth from Conversion Therapy | 2021-07-15 | 2021 | 2021-07 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | MINNEAPOLIS— Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) released the following statement today after Governor Tim Walz issued Executive Order 21-25 to protect LGBTQ+ from the harmful practice of conversion therapy. "I applaud Governor Walz for this decision, which will change the lives of so many LGBTQ+ kids. So-called "conversion therapy" practices are based on the false claim that being LGBTQ+ is a mental illness, hateful views have been rejected by every mainstream medical and mental health organization for decades. The UN has likened this to torture. "It was a honor to help carry this bill when I was in the Minnesota House of Representatives. And I am especially grateful for the advocacy of leaders like Minnesota Sen. Scott Dibble and Wil Bernstrom, who told me about the horror he went through with conversion therapy as a child. "Wil's advocacy and the advocacy of so many brave young people have brought us to this moment. It's a proud day for Minnesota and hope the rest of the country follows suit." | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-advances-over-14-million-funding-minnesotas-5th-district | Rep. Omar Advances Over $14 Million in Funding for Minnesota’s 5th District | 2021-07-14 | 2021 | 2021-07 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | MINNEAPOLIS—Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) advanced nine new community projects for Minnesota's 5th District this week through the House appropriations process. The projects include funding for a new Hennepin Healthcare Clinic on East Lake Street, skills training for clean energy careers, new workforce training in South Minneapolis, sprinkler updates for the Minnesota Public Housing Authority, funding for the Minneapolis American Indian Center, bike parks in Brooklyn Center, a new recreation and arts building in North Commons Park, updates to the Sabbathani community center, and funding for the Waadag Commons apartments in Seward. This comes after Rep. Omar advanced over $30 million in transportation funding for her district last week, and announced an $1 million investment in food incubators at the Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON) last week, bringing the total funding for the 5th District to $46.9 million in the appropriations and surface transportation process. "I believe in cogovernance," said Rep. Omar. "Every day I fight to make sure that people from all corners of the 5th District have a shot at the American Dream. And this funding will go a long way to making that possible. The projects invest in the communities that were hit the hardest by both the pandemic and social unrest in the past year by addressing joblessness and housing insecurity. They also invest in the clean energy jobs of the future, and provide funding for updated sprinkler systems so that we can avoid deadly fires like the Cedar-Riverside high-rise fire of 2019. I will continue to fight to make sure Minnesotans have the resources they need to thrive." The projects include: 1. NEON Food Entrepreneur Incubation Center - $1 million – Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee You can find more information about the project here. 2. Brooklyn Center Health Initiative - $100k – Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee You can find more information about the project here. 3. Hennepin H… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/appropriations-committee-approves-fiscal-year-2022-defense-funding-bill | Appropriations Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2022 Defense Funding Bill | 2021-07-13 | 2021 | 2021-07 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | The House Appropriations Committee today approved the fiscal year 2022 Defense bill on a 33-23 vote. For 2022, the bill provides funding of $705.939 billion, a modest 1.4 percent increase over the current budget for 2021. This increase reflects President Biden's budget request and has been endorsed by the Secretary of Defense. In total, the bill provides overall funding of $706.453 billion in discretionary and mandatory funding. The legislation: Protects our national security, preserves our domestic advanced manufacturing base to support jobs and economic growth, and invests heavily in research and development with funding recommended by the Secretary of Defense Supports working families by providing a 2.7 percent pay raise to all 2.1 million uniformed U.S. service members and approximately 750,000 civilian Defense Department employees, and by requiring contractors to pay a $15 per hour minimum wage Closes the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, eliminates the Overseas Contingency Operations budget gimmick, and limits United States involvement in Yemen Promotes democracy by countering China with strong funding to protect a free and open Indo-Pacific Provides for the transport and safe passage of Afghans who have provided faithful and valuable service to the United States and who are under serious threat Confronts the climate crisis with historic investments for clean energy and climate adaptation to protect facilities, readiness, and global security Addresses gender-based violence with funding to tackle sexual assault in the military and directs DoD to address extremist ideologies, including white supremacy. "Democrats have landed on a responsible funding level for the Department of Defense that maintains a strong national security posture today, while making important investments in modernization that will make us even stronger in the years to come," said Defense Subcommittee Chair Betty McCollum (D-MN-04). "Across the country, millions of jobs are funded by this bill. These are jobs in all Congressio… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z |
| https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-omar-announces-1-million-community-project-funding-northside-economic | Rep. Omar Announces $1 Million in Community Project Funding for Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON) | 2021-07-06 | 2021 | 2021-07 | Democrat | House | MN | Ilhan Omar | O000173 | omar.house.gov | omar | https://omar.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | MINNEAPOLIS—Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) today announced a $1 million community project funding proposal she advanced in the House appropriations process this year for the Northside Economic Opportunity Network (NEON). NEON is a North Minneapolis nonprofit whose mission is to build wealth for low to moderate income entrepreneurs. Its vision is to transform North Minneapolis into a prosperous, visible, sustainable, and highly diverse multi-cultural community of entrepreneurs. And together, we can invest in the people of the Northside. "Just yesterday, the House passed the surface transportation bill, which included over 30 million dollars in funding for light rail transit and BRT funding throughout the 5th District, including the Northside," Rep. Omar said. "And today, I am very excited to announce one million dollars in community project funding for NEON, which my office successfully advanced in the Appropriations process—and we expect to pass the House in the coming weeks and months. These funds will support the development of a Food Business Incubator for use by food entrepreneurs enrolled in NEON's Food Business Incubator Program, which served over food businesses in 2020 alone. Over 40% of NEON's 1,000 plus clients are food entrepreneurs who do not currently have access to affordable commercial kitchen space in Minneapolis. "This access is crucial not only for ensuring the success of these entrepreneurs but also for providing much needed goods and services to the Northside community, which is the fifth largest food desert in the nation. I have experienced hunger myself. And I know how critical it is to make sure that people have healthy, reliable and affordable food options. The requested $1 million will support the development of a Food Business Incubator for use by food entrepreneurs enrolled in NEON's renowned Food Business Incubator Program, which served 540 food businesses in 2020. Founded in 2006, NEON exists to overcome systemic disinvestment in North Minneapolis by supporting the entrepreneurship of their… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z |
| https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases/mccollum-secures-52-million-reconnect-rondo-part-house-democrats-invest-america | McCollum Secures $5.2 Million for ReConnect Rondo As Part of House Democrats’ INVEST in America Act | 2021-07-01 | 2021 | 2021-07 | Democrat | House | MN | Betty McCollum | M001143 | mccollum.house.gov | mccollum | https://mccollum.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Today, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) helped pass the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America (INVEST in America) Act, which includes three critical projects in St. Paul: $5.2 million in federal funding for ReConnect Rondo, $6.9 million for the Rice Street Revitalization Project, and $7.5 million for the Kellogg-Third Street Bridge. The $715 billion INVEST in America Act makes transformational investments in America's highways, roads, bridges, transit, rail, and water infrastructure to create jobs, modernize our infrastructure, ensure public safety, and reduce carbon pollution. 219 Democrats and two Republicans voted in favor of this bill, which is an important first step to realizing the vision President Biden and Vice President Harris have set for a major investment in modernizing America's infrastructure. "Minnesotans have been waiting far too long for a major federal investment in the vital transportation infrastructure we all depend on every day, and with this bill, Democrats are delivering," Rep. McCollum said. "By targeting funding for important projects in St. Paul like Rice Street and the Kellogg Bridge, I want to help our local government partners get started. And for St. Paul's Rondo neighborhood, more than $5 million in funding will start the process of reconnecting Rondo with MnDOT and healing a historic injustice that divided one of America's most vibrant Black communities with the construction of I-94. Democrats are leading with this federal funding from the INVEST in America Act to create opportunities for economic development and community revitalization. With this bill, we are on the right track to promote ReConnect Rondo's vision for a brighter future and create economic opportunity for all in the 21st century and beyond." "Our ability to fully invest in a sustainable, multimodal, and safe transportation system for future generations depends on federal support," said Minnesota Department of Transportation Commissioner Margaret Anderson Kel… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:03:51Z |
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