Dear Friends:

Last week, we observed the seventh anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks on American soil. It is very important that we continue to honor the memories of the thousands of individuals who were killed on that day. Their sacrifice was not in vain. Americans remain steadfast in our determination to disrupt, dismantle and defeat terrorist organizations. The number-one duty of the Congress is to protect the American people.  We will continue to work hard to ensure that all critical steps are being taken to disrupt and defeat terrorist cells around the world and improve our homeland security.

Ensuring the safety of Americans at home also requires a renewed commitment to maintain and expand our nation's infrastructure. This week, the I-35W bridge in Minneapolis will reopen, 13 ½ months after that tragedy. This is an important milestone that did not come about easily. Minnesota's Congressional delegation responded immediately to this disaster and secured over $250 million in federal funds for this tremendous effort.

As we dedicate the new bridge and remember those we lost that day, including six of my constituents, our focus must shift from rebuilding bridges that have fallen down, to strengthening our vital national infrastructure in Minnesota and across the country.

Sincerely,

Congresswoman Betty McCollum
Serving Minnesota's Fourth Congressional District

McCollum Seeks to Reinstate Health Insurance to Minnesotans

Upon learning of Bush administration plans to drop Medicaid coverage for 18,000 low-income parents in Minnesota, Congresswoman McCollum and Members of the state's Congressional delegation sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt requesting the reinstatement of MinnesotaCare's waiver to ensure healthcare coverage is restored.

"Eliminating health coverage for 18,000 low-income Minnesotans is totally unnecessary, callous and just another example of a Bush-McCain agenda out of touch with the hardships faced by Minnesota families. A stroke of a pen by a Bush bureaucrat could reverse this decision. Unfortunately, Gov. Pawlenty and some Minnesotans in Congress are unwilling to challenge this Republican choice to harm the neediest. It will take Democrats to continue to fight to expand SCHIP and make healthcare available and affordable for Minnesota children and their parents," said Congresswoman McCollum.

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McCollum Supports Comprehensive American Energy Security & Consumer Protection Package

This week, Congresswoman McCollum announced her support for the Comprehensive American Energy Security & Consumer Protection Act, which responsibly opens up additional offshore areas for drilling with oil companies footing the bill instead of taxpayers.

"This is absolutely the right response and a strong contrast to the drill-only Republican bill, which is more of the same Bush-Cheney energy policy written by and for the oil companies," Congresswoman McCollum said.

There are real differences between Democrats and Republicans when it comes to energy. The comprehensive Democratic plan is the American-owned, 21st century energy policy the country has been waiting for:

• lowers prices for consumers and protects taxpayers;
• expands domestic drilling offshore and on land;
• expands renewable sources of energy;
• increases our security by freeing America from the grip of foreign oil;
• requires Big Oil to pay what it owes taxpayers;
• ends subsidies to the Big Oil companies; and
• creates good-paying jobs here in America.

This policy is phase two in the major steps this Congress is taking to secure America's energy future.  Last year, Congress passed and the President signed historic energy legislation with provisions to combat oil market manipulation, increase vehicle fuel efficiency to 35 miles per gallon in 2020 - the first Congressional increase in more than three decades - and promote the use of more affordable American biofuels.