Foreign Affairs
Information regarding my stance on Foreign Affairs issues.
Every year in the world's poorest countries millions of girls are forced into marriage. These girls - as young as age 8, but often 13, 14, 15 years old - are sold by impoverished parents to settle debts or they are given away to become wives to men years or even decades older.
For a young girl - a child - being forced to marry an adult man can only be described as a life of slavery, child molestation, and servitude. This is not marriage. It is a violation of the most basic human rights of a child.
Today, 25,000 girls - some as young as ten years old - will be robbed of their future when they are forced to marry much older men. It isn't marriage when a ten year old girl is given to a forty year old man. That is sexual abuse.
The practice of child marriage is wrong and it must end. The United States must take a stand against child marriage.
Contact: Maria Reppas, (202) 225-6631 / (202) 527-0149 maria.reppas@mail.house.gov
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) issued the following statement, honoring World AIDS Day. According to UNAIDS, over 33 million people worldwide lived with HIV in 2009. Although the medical community has made strides in curbing the effects of HIV/AIDS, the virus is still commonplace in the developing world and too many people still do not get adequate treatment.
Contact: Maria Reppas, (202) 225-6631 / (202) 527-0149 maria.reppas@mail.house.gov
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) issued the following statement, regarding the passage of the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act (H.R. 2378). This bill helps prevent unfair trade practices that hurt U.S. exports and push American jobs overseas. In 2009, the U.S. trade deficit was $500.9 billion; the trade deficit with China alone was $227 billion.
This Week from Congresswoman Betty McCollum
Contact: Maria Reppas, (202) 225-6631 / (202) 527-0149 maria.reppas@mail.house.gov
4th District Democrat Criticizes Republican Refusal to Fund the "Emergency" Needs Facing America's Families
Madam Speaker, across our country there are communities, businesses, and families that continue to struggle to escape an economic recession that has caused far reaching hardship and too much pain. Congress has a responsibility to ensure the economic security of the American people, as well as defend the national security of the nation. This appropriations bill does not adequately meet the needs of the American people and I will not vote to pass it.
I would like to thank my friend, Jim McGovern, for holding this hearing on child marriage. Congressman McGovern and the commission's co-chair, Congressman Frank Wolf, are both tireless champions for the rights and dignity of all people.
Of course, this commitment and determination to fight for human rights is in the tradition of Tom Lantos - a friend we all dearly miss - who I had the privilege to know and work with during my years on the International Relations Committee.
Madam Speaker, I rise today to join my fellow Minnesotans in celebrating Canada Day and to recognize the 40th anniversary of the Canadian Consulate General in Minneapolis that serves the Upper Midwest region of the United States.
Contact: Maria Reppas, (202) 225-6631 / (202) 527-0149 maria.reppas@mail.house.gov
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) issued the following statement, regarding a Rwandan High Court's decision to grant St. Paul resident Professor Peter Erlinder bail based on concerns for his health. He will be able to return to the United States once the required paperwork has been filed.