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Following today’s release of the fiscal year 2017 Interior-Environment appropriations bill draft — which is intended to fund vital programs that protect our nation’s natural and cultural resources — Interior-Environment Subcommittee Ranking Member Betty McCollum (D-MN) issued the following statement:

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) met this afternoon with executives from Antofagasta, the Chilean-based parent company of Twin Metals, regarding the company’s mining leases in the Rainy River Drainage Basin. After the meeting, Congresswoman McCollum released the following statement:

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) voted against the Military Construction-VA appropriations bill today and released the following statement:

“Republican leadership today abused their power and violated their professed principle of regular order in order to defeat an important amendment that would have protected LGBT Americans from discrimination. The arm twisting that Republican leadership undertook to force members to change their votes has no place in the House of Representatives.

Congresswoman Betty McCollum today voted against H.R. 4909, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and released the following statement:

“Each year, the National Defense Authorization Act provides a framework for our armed forces in the fiscal year ahead. Crafting and considering this legislation is a serious matter, but House Republicans have instead chosen to intentionally violate last year’s Bipartisan Budget Act and abdicate this Congress’ solemn responsibility to sufficiently fund our troops.

Congresswoman Betty McCollum today announced that the Oakdale Fire Department has received a $215,048 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to purchase new protective equipment for the city’s firefighters.

“I am very pleased that the Oakdale Fire Department is receiving this federal funding to buy important safety equipment,” Congresswoman McCollum said. “Protecting our first responders must be a top priority. This grant will make it easier for Oakdale’s firefighters to do their job and keep our communities safe.”

Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) today offered an amendment in the House Appropriations Committee to ensure no additional taxpayer dollars are spent on the Select Investigative Panel of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, informally known as the Select Committee to Target Planned Parenthood. Congresswoman McCollum’s amendment would have struck funding for the panel from the Legislative Branch appropriations bill; it was defeated on a 28-20 vote.

The Treasury Department’s rejection of a proposed plan to cut retirement benefits to over 400,000 workers and retirees of the Teamsters’ Central States Pension Fund provides Congress needed time to fix this problem and stabilize this fund. With the retirement security of 22,000 Minnesotans on the line I don’t want to see promises broken or retirees forced into poverty.

ST. PAUL — At an event for family, educators, and area service academy representatives on May 5, Congresswoman Betty McCollum recognized 13 Fourth District residents who will attend U.S. Service Academies next fall.

Trey Lervick (Woodbury High School), Nadeen Lieberman (Laurel Springs School), Marco Pirozzoli (Mahtomedi High School), Joe Puglisi (Woodbury High School), Katie Scheibner (East Ridge High School), Matthew Schwartz (Mahtomedi High School), and Sarah Warner (North High School) will all attend the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado.