Civil Rights & Justice
Protecting the civil rights of all Americans and keeping our families and communities safe is one of the most important responsibilities of government. We must continue the progress we have made in securing equality for all Americans, providing our law enforcement officers with the tools they need to keep Americans safe, and protecting civil liberties in all of our diverse communities.
In Congress, I have been a champion of legislation that guarantees equal rights to all Americans, including the LGBT community. I am a strong proponent of sensible gun violence prevention legislation to keep our families and communities safe. And, as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I have worked to provide police officers with the funding they need to do their jobs.
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Mr. Speaker, today I rise to honor the 100th anniversary of the Saint Paul Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and acknowledge their tremendous efforts to defend the ideals of justice and equality for all people. The origins of the Saint Paul NAACP are closely tied to those of the national organization, which is the oldest, largest and most recognized civil rights group in the country.
Congresswoman McCollum Tours Children’s Hospital
For Immediate Release: July 31, 2013
Contact: Maria Reppas, (202) 225-6631 / (202) 527-0149 maria.reppas@mail.house.gov
July 8, 2013
Ms. McCOLLUM: Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to the families of the Rondo neighborhood in Saint Paul, Minnesota on the 30th anniversary of the Rondo Days festival. Rondo Days offers a remembrance of this historically African-American community that was dramatically altered by the construction of U.S. Interstate 94 in the mid-1960s. More importantly, Rondo Days is a celebration of the perseverance and tenacity of the modern Rondo community, which remains a vibrant, diverse and thriving neighborhood.
Washington D.C. — In a highly-anticipated announcement, the U.S. Supreme Court today released their decision on United States v. Windsor, a case which challenged the constitutionality of Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). In a 5-4 decision written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, the Court held that “DOMA is unconstitutional as a deprivation of the equal liberty of the person that is protected by the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution.” Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) responded to the Supreme Court’s decision with an official statement:
Washington, DC – NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has responded to a bipartisan group of Members of Congress who urged the commissioner to “…take a stand against the use of the word ‘redskin’ as the Washington franchise’s name” in a May 13th letter. Mr. Goodell’s letter (dated June 5) and supporting material attempts to justify the use of the racial slur and says “Redskins” has “a positive meaning.” The commissioner did acknowledge in his letter that “…the issues raised with respect to the Washington Redskins name are complex.”
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