Dear Friends:

As Congress recesses for the summer, the House has taken positive steps to meet the needs of American families. But we realize there is still much to be done when we return in September.

The President signed our comprehensive response to the mortgage crisis, helping 400,000 American families facing foreclosure keep their homes, helping communities recover and providing a tax credit for first-time home buyers.

When we return to Washington, we will send to the President the first Higher Education Act Reauthorization in a decade, making college more affordable and cleaning up the student loan industry scandals.

We will also send to this White House a conference report that makes children's products safer, sets a tough new ban on toxic toys, and provides more enforcement tools for the Consumer Product Safety Commission as product recalls plague consumer safety and consumer confidence.

I am also please to share that the House is passing the Paycheck Fairness Act, which significantly strengthens the Equal Pay Act of 1963 to better ensure equal pay for equal work for women in addition to another historic funding increase for veterans' care.

Despite these accomplishments, the next Congress will face difficult challenges.

We have a growing deficit and our national debt has increased 59 percent since President Bush took office. And our economy is struggling - energy prices are skyrocketing, housing prices are falling, and thousands of jobs have been lost this year.

The next Congress and the new President will have to focus on a building a strong energy strategy and creating new employment opportunities through needed investments in infrastructure and innovation. At the top of the agenda will be ending the war in Iraq and reinvesting in America.

Sincerely,

Congresswoman Betty McCollum
Serving Minnesota's Fourth Congressional District

Events In St. Paul During Recess

Congresswoman McCollum has several events planned in St. Paul during the month of August. To learn more, please contact our St. Paul office at (651) 224-9191, or visit us at 165 Western Ave North, Suite 17, St. Paul, MN 55102.

More Legislative Accomplishments

• With bipartisan support and unprecedented speed, Congress enacted an economic stimulus plan that put Recovery Rebates in the hands of 130 million American households and will help create 500,000 jobs.

• Congress extended Unemployment Insurance to the growing number of Americans looking for work.

• Congress launched a new GI Bill for a full, four-year education for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

• Congress enacted a Minimum wage increase for the first time in a decade. 81,000 Minnesota workers will benefit.

McCollum Speaks Out Against Deficient Electrical Systems At U.S. Facilities In Iraq

Watch Betty question officials during hearing, click here

(July 30, 2008) The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing last week titled, "Deficient Electrical Systems at U.S. Facilities in Iraq," to examine electrical problems leading to the injuries and deaths of military personnel and the Department of Defense's management and oversight of contractors.

As a Member of the committee, congresswoman McCollum questioned officials.

McCollum Authors Measure To Prevent And Prosecute Diploma Mills

(July 31, 2008) Congresswoman McCollum Speaks on the House Floor in Support of H.R. 4137, The Higher Education Opportunity Act:

"I had the honor to serve on the Education and Workforce Committee for my first 6 years in Congress.  It is a real pleasure to know that we will finally be able to reauthorize the Higher Education Act.

"This bill increases need based aid and provides more access to information on the cost of college. It restores sunshine to student loan programs, and simplifies the financial aid application process.  And, it makes new investments to encourage science and technology careers. This bill focuses on students - who are the future of this country and the key to our global competitiveness.

"I am particularly pleased that this conference report includes a provision I worked on with Mr. Tierney to hold states accountable for their investment in higher education.

"I also want to thank Chairman Miller and Congressman Bishop for including a definition of diploma mills, for requiring the Secretary of Education to provide information about these fraudulent businesses to students, families and employers, and encouraging more federal effort to prevent and prosecute diploma mills.

"Diploma mills sell worthless degrees.  They threaten the reputation of American colleges and universities by blatantly using similar name and they cheat employers - including school districts as we saw a few years ago - and the federal government.

"Phony medical degrees from diploma mills can and have caused serious harm and even death. More and more it is a national security issue.  These fraudulent degrees could be used to obtain visas.  And our failure to shut down diploma mills has been noted in other countries -- harming our reputation around the world.

"The increasing number of diploma mills has created serious problems. This legislation includes a first step in addressing this problem."

McCollum Speaks out in Support of Disability Pride Day

(July 23, 2008) "Over eighteen years ago Congress passed the American with Disabilities Act into law to end discrimination against and provide equal opportunities for people living with disabilities. It was a historic and proud day for the United States. The significant contributions to American life, our economy and every aspect of our society by people with disabilities deserve to be recognized and honored.  While great strides have been made to ensure all rights for people living with disabilities are respected, we must always celebrate the victories and act with vigilance and determination to protect, defend and advance those rights.

"H.Res.1355 is an important resolution, which supports Disability Pride Day and acknowledges the efforts of Chicago's 5th Annual Disability Pride Parade organizers for raising awareness for the needs of those with disabilities. It also urges public officials and the general public to support and encourage understanding of persons with disabilities.

"We need to help support and encourage understanding of persons with disabilities in schools, the workforce, and in our communities. It is unacceptable that only one-third of Americans with disabilities are employed and people with disabilities are three times more likely to live in poverty. I believe all Americans should have the opportunity to achieve economic independence, which is why I support efforts to improve employment programs for individuals with disabilities. I also believe every child deserves a quality and affordable education, and we must ensure that our schools are adequately funded to promise a fair education for all children with disabilities. I support full funding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) which is why I introduced the Achieving Our IDEA Act (H.R. 1896). This bill will help ensure that the federal government contributes 40 percent to the cost of educating children with specials needs.

"This year Congress also took action to ensure the rights of those with disabilities.  The ADA Amendments Act, of which I was a cosponsor, passed the House with overwhelming support on June 25, 2008. This bill protects individuals from employment discrimination in the workplace for those who can and want to work, and restores the original intent of Congress. All Americans should be able to live and work in their communities without fear of being discriminated against.

"All people have the right to be active, contributing members of our society and fully engaged citizens. I will continue to support efforts to improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities."