Civil Rights & Justice
Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN), a member of the House Appropriations Committee, was denied a vote on an amendment to the fiscal year 2014 defense appropriations bill to end funding for the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) program that kills targets with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones. Committee members, both Republicans and Democrats, refused to support a motion calling for a vote on the amendment, effectively protecting the CIA’s lethal program from congressional accountability.
Washington D.C. — Congresswoman McCollum has joined with nine Members of Congress and more than 50 organizations in urging Mr. Dan Snyder, the owner of the NFL’s Washington XXXskins football team, to change his team’s racist name. For decades, Native American leaders and tribal organizations have advocated for an end to the use of this derogatory and demeaning “brand”.
MS. McCOLLUM: Mr. Speaker, I had the honor of serving as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives for eight years prior to being elected to Congress in 2000. One of my Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party colleagues from Minneapolis, State Rep. Karen Clark, was a constant and vocal champion for social justice, economic opportunity, environmental sustainability, and human rights. State Rep. Clark continues to serve in the Minnesota House, having just completed her thirty-third legislative session.
McCollum Introduces Legislation to Form Special Committee to Address Military Sexual Assault
Washington, DC – U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum today introduced legislation to establish a special U.S. House committee to conduct oversight, ensure accountability, and report on sexual assault and abuse in the U.S. military. Responding to the on-going and ever growing problem of sexual violence and abuse committed by members of the military, the “Special Committee on Sexual Assault and Abuse in the Armed Forces” would focus congressional attention on necessary reforms to the Department of Defense’s prevention, prosecution, and victims’ services efforts.
(Washington, DC) – Governor Mark Dayton (DFL) today will sign into law a bill making it legal, effective August 1, 2013, for same-sex couples to be married in Minnesota. Under the new law, Minnesota will become the 12th state in the nation to allow same-sex marriages.
U.S. Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) issued the following statement:
May 7, 2013
Washington, DC – Today, the Pentagon released the FY2012 Annual Report on Sexual Assault in the Military, showing the number of sexual assaults in the military increased more than 30 percent since 2010. According to the report, an estimated 26,000 service members were victims of unwanted sexual contact in 2012. This release follows Sunday’s arrest for sexual battery of Air Force Lt. Col. Jeffrey Krusinski, Chief of the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response unit.
Congresswoman McCollum: Boston’s Nightmare is Over
Last Friday evening, law enforcement captured Boston bombings suspect Dzhokar Tsarnaev. Early that morning, his brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, was killed during a shootout with police. Congresswoman McCollum immediately responded to the news.
Washington, DC – Tonight, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) responded to the news that law enforcement captured Boston bombings suspect Dzhokar Tsarnaev. Earlier today, his brother, Tamerlan Tsarnaev, was killed.
For Immediate Release: April 18, 2013
Contact: Maria Reppas, (202) 225-6631 / (202) 527-0149 maria.reppas@mail.house.gov
Washington, DC – Yesterday, Senate Republicans blocked bipartisan legislation that would have expanded background checks on firearms sold over the Internet and at gun shows. The measure failed 54 to 46 – a mere six votes short of passage.