Press Releases

Washington, DC – Tomorrow, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) will survey the damage caused by flooding across the Fourth District. Congresswoman McCollum will be joined by local leaders and elected officials in Stillwater, St. Paul and Newport as she assesses the situation on the ground.

On Tuesday, Congresswoman McCollum spoke with White House officials and conveyed to them the severe impact that this flooding has had on the Fourth District.

Stillwater, MN

June 19, 2014

Mr. Zygi Wilf

Minnesota Vikings Football Club
9520 Viking Drive
Eden Prairie MN, 55344

Dear Mr. Wilf:

Yesterday, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office ruled to cancel legal protections for the trademarked name of the National Football League’s Washington franchise because it is “disparaging to Native Americans.” The time for debate has ended – the name of the Washington franchise is clearly an offensive racial slur. I urge you, as an NFL team owner, to not remain silent on this matter any longer.

Washington, DC – In a landmark ruling today, the federal Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) ruled that the name of the National Football League’s Washington franchise, owned by Mr. Dan Snyder, is so offensive that it should not be granted protections as a federal trademark. The largest Native American advocacy group in the country, countless members of Congress, over half of the United States Senate, and President Obama have all agreed that this name is a racial slur. Today, the TTAB agreed, calling the word “disparaging” to Native Americans.

Washington, DC – Today, President Obama will visit the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in Cannon Ball, North Dakota. It is his first visit to a tribal nation since he became President in 2008. Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) is the co-chair of the Congressional Native American Caucus and released the following statement in advance of the President’s visit:

Washington, DC – On Saturday, Green Line light rail transit service will begin connecting downtown Saint Paul and downtown Minneapolis. Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) has been an instrumental part of bringing that project to fruition. From advocating federal funding for transit planning, to securing a $20 million appropriation for construction of the line, Congresswoman McCollum has been involved in every step of the process to make Saturday’s grand opening possible.

Washington, DC – This week, Rep. Betty McCollum (D-MN) and Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) introduced the Native Contract and Rate Expenditure (CARE) Act (H.R. 4843), a bill that will provide an additional 250,000 physician services annually for Native Americans through payment reforms within the Indian Health Service (IHS).

Washington, DC – In response to the proposed Environmental Protection Agency action to reduce carbon emissions, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) released the following statement:

Washington, DC – In response to the news that President Obama had accepted the resignation of Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) released the following statement:

“The news of General Shinseki’s resignation this morning is an unfortunate political reality. General Shinseki has been a hero to this country through both his 38 years of military service reaching the rank of four-star general and in his role as cabinet secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs.