During this very eventful week, there was great focus on the first 100 days of the Obama Administration. The President is providing remarkable leadership while our country is facing extraordinarily difficult challenges. Whether it has been extending healthcare to children, rebuilding America and saving jobs through the Recovery Act, or restoring our country's standing in the world, these three months have been transformative and a 180 degree shift from the previous administration.

The Obama Administration's response to the H1N1 flu outbreak illustrates their capacity to make the tough choices necessary to meet the difficult challenges facing the nation. President Obama was correct with his initial response that right now the virus is a cause for concern, but not panic.

This H1N1flu outbreak is a serious global health threat that requires action by governments, medical professionals, and individuals. Our collective ability to deal with this public health emergency depends on us being knowledgeable about flu prevention so we can learn best practices and act. I will continue to work with the Obama Administration to make sure we are taking every step necessary to protect the health and safety of the American people and the global community.

Together with this Congress, President Obama has taken unprecedented action in his early days in office to advance the important priories of American families. This week, the House passed the FY2010 budget conference agreement that embraces the priorities of the President's blueprint and puts the budget back on a fiscally sustainable path while making significant investments in health care reform, higher education, and energy independence.

President Obama has not only met expectations, he is restoring confidence and a positive sense of direction for the American people when we need it most.

Sincerely,

Congresswoman Betty McCollum
Serving Minnesota's Fourth Congressional District

McCollum & Congressional Global Health Caucus Lead Effort to Monitor H1N1 Flu Virus

As Congress prepares to deal with the public health emergency caused by the H1N1 flu, the Congressional Global Health Caucus will hold a briefing next week to address the spread of the H1N1 Influenza in the U.S. and abroad. In light of the rapidly changing information about the infection, which has passed the point of containment, and the challenge of keeping Congress informed and prepared to respond, caucus leaders will lead an important information effort to help Members stay up-to-date about the global spread of the disease.

Get Updates & Alerts About H1N1 Flu

McCollum Applauds Final Passage of Fiscal Year 2010 Federal Budget Resolution

McCollum is a Member of the Budget Committee

Congresswoman McCollum applauded House passage of S.Con.Res.13, the FY2010 budget conference agreement that embraces the priorities of President Obama's blueprint and puts the budget back on a fiscally sustainable path, while making significant investments in health care reform, higher education, and energy independence. The budget will lower the deficit from $1.7 trillion in 2009 to $523 billion by 2014.

McCollum Honored as Champion for Kids by Save the Children

Caption: Congresswoman McCollum
Accepts 'Real & Lasting Change Award'
From Save the Children Board
Member & Political Commentator Cokie Roberts

McCollum Introduces Bill to End Child Marriage

This week, Congresswoman McCollum introduced the International Protecting Girls by Preventing Child Marriage Act of 2009 (H.R. 2103), legislation designed to put the United States at the forefront of ending child marriage around the globe. Everyday, as many as 25,000 young girls in the developing world are forced into marriage with adult men, some girls are as young as eight years old. Globally, an estimated 60 million girls in the developing world under the age of 18 are married, a figure that is estimated to increase by another 100 million over the next decade if present trends continue.



Minnesota Funding Update - American Recovery & Reinvestment Act

Facing the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, President Obama started his Presidency with decisive action -- proposing and quickly passing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). Since the bill went into effect, the ARRA has already helped put money back in the pockets of 95 percent of working Americans, created and saved jobs across the country and made key investments in our community to help kickstart the economy. To ensure that the funds are spent efficiently and effectively, President Obama tasked Vice President Biden with overseeing the implementation of ARRA, and projects have already begun to come in under budget across the country. As the President prepares to introduce the details of his budget and further plans to revitalize the economy, here's a look at how his policies have impacted Minnesota in the first three months of his administration.

IMPACT OF PRESIDENT OBAMA'S ECONOMIC POLICIES ON MINNESOTA

Working Families:

• Making Work Pay: The President's tax-cut - which covers more Americans than any in history - is putting more than $1.1 billion back in the pockets of more than 2 million hard-working Minnesota families.
• $26,097,341 to support child care for working families.

Energy:

• $37,359,500 in block grants to foster energy efficiency in building, transportation, and a wide range of other improvements.
• $131,937,411 to support the weatherization of homes, including adding more insulation, sealing leaks and modernizing heating and air conditioning equipment.
• $54,172,000 to the State Energy Program, available for rebates to consumers for energy saving improvements; development of renewable energy projects; promotion of Energy Star products; efficiency upgrades for state and local government buildings; and other innovative state efforts to help save families money on their energy bills.

Education:

• $1,164,685,449 potentially available to Minnesota to lay the foundation for a generation of education reform and help save thousands of teaching jobs at risk due to state and local budget cuts.

Health Care:

• $1,300,000 to fund 1 new Community Health Center, which will serve an estimated 10,140 patients and create a projected 75 jobs.
• $3,529,068 to expand services at 15 existing Community Health Centers, which will expand service to an additional 20,362 patients and create or save a projected 46 jobs.
• $1,554,895 to provide meals to low-income seniors.
• $356,191,144 made available in Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) to protect health care for the families hit hard by the economic crisis and some of the nation's most vulnerable citizens.
• $3,771,258 in vaccines and grants to ensure more underserved Americans receive the vaccines they need.

Transportation:

• $502,284,177 in highway funds to help build and repair roads and bridges.
• $94,093,115 to repair and build public transportation infrastructure.
• More than $14.6 million to address airport safety and security, infrastructure, runway safety, increased capacity, and mitigation of environmental impacts.

Law Enforcement:

• More than $29.1 million for state and local law enforcement assistance available through the Edward Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. The JAG Program supports a variety of efforts such as hiring and support for law enforcement officers; multijurisdictional drug and gang task forces; crime prevention and domestic violence programs; and courts, corrections, treatment, and justice information sharing initiatives.

REAL RESULTS IN MINNESOTA

Thanks to the Obama Administration's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, real impact is already being felt across the state.

Woodbury Sought Stimulus Funds to Hire Two New Police Officers. "Woodbury is looking to the federal government to fund two new police officer positions. The Woodbury City Council voted Wednesday, April 8 to approve a resolution to authorize the Woodbury Public Safety Department to apply for federal economic stimulus funding to that would pay for the salaries of two new entry level police officer positions for a total of 36 months. The funding would come from a federal COPS grant program, which received a with the recent passage of the 'American Recovery and Reinvestment Act' that received Congressional approval earlier this year. Last year the Public Safety Department originally requested funding in the city's 2009 budget for four new police officer positions. The city council originally approved a budget that would allow for two new public safety hires, but since that time, the city has faced more budget constraints due to the downtown in the economy and the city decided keep the positions vacant. The deadline for the application process was April 14." [Woodbury Bulletin, 4/15/09]

Sherburne County Commissioner: Stimulus Construction Funds "A Terrific Boost." Sherburne County was perhaps most fortunate to land a sweet and tender morsel of cheese for its County Road 5 bridge project, which officials were already ramping up to get a loan leveraged against future state aid. The federal government has agreed to fund the project at a cost of $620,000. 'That's 100 percent of the project,' Bensen said. 'That's a terrific boost.' The Sherburne County Board of Commissioners authorized the advertisement of bids for the Blue Hill Township project at a regular meeting this past Tuesday. Sherburne County also is pursuing three COPS grants to cover the cost of three more patrol deputies for three years. That would amount to $373,000 over three years and require the county to fund the fourth year. The beauty of that type of funding is the matching component is 'back ended,' Bensen said, noting that gives the county time to plan and budget for it, unlike many federal grants or mandates. Bensen also highlighted the boost that federal stimulus will provide workforce centers, including the Central Minnesota Jobs and Training Services that covers an 11-county area that includes Sherburne and Wright counties... Federal stimulus is also being used to assist in the collection of child support." [Elk River Star News, 4/17/09]

Star Tribune (Staff Written) "Stimulus funds to aid Open Door:" The Open Door Health Center in Mankato will receive $1.3 million from the new federal stimulus package, officials said Monday, allowing it to probably more than double the number of low-income and uninsured patients it sees this year. The two-year grant is part of $155 million in federal stimulus funds that will go to 126 U.S. community clinics. Started in 1993, Open Door provided medical and dental care last year to about 3,000 patients. "There's so much unmet need in the 10 counties we serve, " said executive director Sarah Kruse. She said the clinic turns away about 100 dental patients a month. "The grant will be a huge help, because good dental care prevents a lot of other health problems." LINK

KAAL TV (staff written) "Walz Announces Funds to Open Door Health Center": One Minnesota facility will get part of the 2 billion dollars to boost healthcare. Minnesota Representative Tim Walz, announced today the Open Door Health Center in Mankato will received more than one-million dollars from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Walz also says the money that is going to the facility will also help create jobs and boost local economy. LINK

Chisholm, Minnesota Representative Oberstar Stated That The $2.3 Stimulus Funding For Housing Initiatives "Will Create Hundreds Of Construction Jobs That Will Keep Families Out Of Poverty." "Federal money also is going to the Housing Redevelopment Authority of Duluth, which will receive $2.3 million in federal stimulus money, according to a news release from Oberstar. The low-income housing help is part of a $6.2 million package earmarked for Northeastern Minnesota. Nationally, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development expects to spend $3 billion. 'This is funding that is needed now,' Oberstar said. 'It will create hundreds of construction jobs that will keep families out of poverty, at the same time, it will help build and renovate low-income housing units at a time when they are really needed.'" [Duluth News Tribune, 3/25/09]

Anoka County, Minnesota Will Receive $942,090 For Job Counseling And Skills Retaining For 400 Laid-Off Workers. "Anoka County officials will receive more than $3 million under President Obama's economic stimulus package and are applying for even more for various job training, home foreclosure rehabilitation, economic assistance and other programs, officials said Tuesday. 'It is a good time for stimulus money to come. We are very busy,' said Jerry Vitzthum, director of the county's WorkForce Center. He noted that the county's 9.2 percent unemployment rate, much of it from laid-off manufacturing and construction workers, is the highest in the Twin Cities area. The county will receive $942,090 for job counseling and skills retraining for laid-off workers, Vitzthum said. The money will serve 400 laid-off workers on the WorkForce Center waiting list, he said." [Star Tribune (Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota), 3/24/09]

Duluth Airport Will Receive $7.1 Million In Stimulus Funds To Build A New Terminal. "The Duluth International Airport will receive $7.1 million in federal economic stimulus money to help build a new terminal...Building a new terminal is expected to cost about $42 million. An additional $23 million would be needed to install a new apron and other essential utilities - bringing the total project cost to about $65 million." [Duluth News Tribune, 3/25/09]

Duluth Airport Will Receive $7.1 Million in Stimulus Funding - Airport Official Said He Was "Pleasantly Surprised" With the Amount the Airport Got. "The plan to build a new terminal at the Duluth International Airport is picking up steam thanks to an expected $7.1 million in federal stimulus money. Brian Ryks is executive director of the Duluth Airport Authority. He says Tuesday that he expected to get some federal money, but he's 'pleasantly surprised' by the amount. However, before work can begin the state must kick in some money. The House and Senate are considering bonding bills that would provide another $4.9 million. The state and federal money together would be enough to get the project rolling, Ryks says, and he hopes to begin construction in late June or early July. The new terminal is expected to cost $42 million. If there are no delays, the new terminal would be done in three years." [AP, 3/25/09]

Stimulus Funds Will Provide Minnesota Poor and Elderly With An Additional 415,000 Meals. "A day before Vice President Joe Biden comes to Minnesota for a town meeting, his office announced Wednesday that the federal government will send more than $1.5 million to the state over the next two years to provide meals for poor, elderly Minnesotans. The announcement is the latest piece of the Obama administration's continuing rollout of $787 billion federal stimulus package that became law last month. Overall, nearly $100 million, which is being distributed by the Department of Health and Human Services, will pay for an estimated 14 million meals nationwide, Biden's office said. The Minnesota Board on Aging, in turn, will award the funds to organizations that provide nutrition services for older Minnesotans at senior centers, other community centers and at-home meal delivery. The state last year received $6.7 million in federal money for those programs. The new money will result in about 415,000 additional meals, said Jean Wood, executive director of the board." [Star Tribune, 3/18/09]

MN Announced 53 Transportation Projects Including Resurfacing, Bridge Replacement, Which Will be Paid for By Stimulus Dollars. "The Minnesota Department of Transportation has announced a list of city and county road projects in greater Minnesota that will get $75 million from the federal stimulus package. Officials today plan to hand out the first contracts for road work funded by federal stimulus dollars. MnDOT says the projects are in addition to the $180 million greater Minnesota state highway projects that Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced last month. The 53 projects announced Thursday include resurfacing of Interstate 90 and County Road 46 in Freeborn County, new alignment of a four-lane road in Waite Park and replacement of a three-span bridge in Aitkin County. MnDOT hasn't yet announced the specific state highway and local road and bridge projects that will be funded by stimulus money in the Twin Cities metro area." [AP, 3/13/09]

Minneapolis Star-Tribune (Bob Von Sternberg) "Minnesota to get $94 million from feds for transit:" The Obama administration today announced that it will make $94 million available in federal stimulus money for public transportation projects in Minnesota. The money was part of $8.4 billion that has been earmarked for public transportation nationwide. The administration didn't announce a specific list of projects that the money would finance. LINK

Minnesota DOT Will Sign Contracts for First 11 Stimulus Projects on Friday. "A series of federal stimulus projects in Minnesota are about to graduate from concept to signed contract. On Friday, the Minnesota Department of Transportation plans to award contracts for a series of highway projects to be paid for by the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which includes $502 million for Minnesota highways and bridges and $92 million for transit. Projects to be let Friday are mostly grading, bituminous mill and overlay work stretching from the Twin Cities to Chippewa County. The list includes 11 projects totaling $46 million that were advertised in the last week of February, according to MnDOT. Work could begin as early as May 1, MnDOT noted. The department plans to advertise projects every two weeks through June 26." [Finance and Commerce, 3/9/09]

MN Announced 53 Transportation Projects Including Resurfacing, Bridge Replacement, Which Will be Paid for By Stimulus Dollars. "The Minnesota Department of Transportation has announced a list of city and county road projects in greater Minnesota that will get $75 million from the federal stimulus package. Officials today plan to hand out the first contracts for road work funded by federal stimulus dollars. MnDOT says the projects are in addition to the $180 million greater Minnesota state highway projects that Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced last month. The 53 projects announced Thursday include resurfacing of Interstate 90 and County Road 46 in Freeborn County, new alignment of a four-lane road in Waite Park and replacement of a three-span bridge in Aitkin County. MnDOT hasn't yet announced the specific state highway and local road and bridge projects that will be funded by stimulus money in the Twin Cities metro area." [AP, 3/13/09]

May 2009 Highlights