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.
More on Civil Rights & Justice
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) spoke on the House Floor today against H.R. 985, the so-called Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency (FACT) Act, a bill that makes it harder for asbestos victims to hold corporate wrongdoers accountable and that irretrievably releases the personal information of asbestos victims on the Internet. Congresswoman McCollum delivered the following remarks against H.R. 985:
Congresswoman Betty McCollum released the following statement on President Donald Trump’s immigration order:
“President Donald Trump’s new executive order on immigration and refugees is nothing but a repackaged version of a bigoted policy that numerous federal courts already struck down.
“No matter what political spin President Trump and his administration put on this action, the facts are clear: it turns our backs on vulnerable refugee families, discriminates against Muslims, betrays our values as Americans, and embarrasses our country around the world.
Congresswoman Betty McCollum received the International Institute of Minnesota's Olga Zoltai Award for Service to New Americans on Sunday, March 5, 2017 at the Institute's International Women's Day Tea. The award, which honors distinguished service to New Americans, memorializes the life and work of Olga Zoltai. Congresswoman McCollum delivered the following remarks after receiving the award:
Thank you for this very, very special award, Kitty (Kitty Gogins, International Institute of Minnesota Board President and daughter of Olga Zoltai).