Human Services
In Minnesota, we lend a helping hand to our neighbors and those in need. Vulnerable children, families, seniors, and people with disabilities depend on assistance to help pay their heating bills, weatherize their homes, purchase prescriptions, and provide food for their families.
As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I strongly support critical funding for economic assistance programs such as the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), and Head Start. I oppose proposals to cut these vital lifelines; we must not balance the budget on the backs of vulnerable children, families, seniors, and people with disabilities.
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Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released a statement today after she and Rep. Dean Phillips (DFL-Minn.), alongside Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, announced bipartisan legislation to protect victims of stalking and domestic violence. H.R. 4705, the Safe at Home Act, will allow federal agencies to accept alternate addresses authorized by state law to protect the identity of those who fear for their safety. Minnesota and Missouri are two of 38 states with an existing ACP.
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) released the following statement after the passage of H.R. 2740, which consists of the FY2020 Labor-HHS-Education, Defense, State and Foreign Operations, and Energy and Water appropriations bills.
The four-bill minibus rejects President Trump’s harmful budget cuts and invests in hardworking families across the nation with provisions important to Minnesotans and the American people, including:
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) today joined House Appropriations Democrats in voting to approve the FY 2020 Labor-HHS-Education bill, which invests in improving lives and rejects President Trump’s harmful budget cuts.
The Labor-HHS-Education bill includes $189.9 billion in discretionary funding, an increase of $11.8 billion over the 2019 enacted level and $47.9 billion over President Trump’s 2020 budget request. The bill provides:
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) responded to a stunning report to Congress submitted by Deborah J. Jeffrey, the Inspector General for the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS-OIG), in which the “heightened risks of fraud, waste and mismanagement” resulting from Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) CEO Barbara Stewart’s “Transformation and Sustainability Plan” was given as a justification for additional FY 2020 funding for the CNCS-OIG office.
In response to the CNCS-OIG request to Congress, Rep. McCollum released the following statement:
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.), Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-Pa.), Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-OH), and Rep.
Today Rep. Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) introduced the Keep Community Service Local Act, which would prevent the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) from closing state or territory offices without approval from Congress. CNCS is the federal agency responsible for overseeing AmeriCorps VISTA and many Senior Corps programs.
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) and 35 Congressional colleagues are calling on the CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), Barbara Stewart, to immediately suspend the closing of 46 state and territorial offices. Minnesota’s office is scheduled to close May 1, while some state offices have already closed. CNCS state and territorial offices administer AmeriCorps VISTA and National Senior Service Corps, including the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, the Foster Grandparent Program, and the Senior Companion Program.
Representative Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) yesterday offered an amendment during the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education appropriations bill markup that would permit individuals who are diagnosed with cancer to defer payments on their public student loans while they receive lifesaving treatment. This amendment was adopted by the House Appropriations Committee.