Media

Congresswoman McCollum Rejects Tax Cut Compromise

Mr. Chair, last night, I voted against a fiscally irresponsible $858 billion tax cut package. Every penny of this budget-busting bill will be borrowed--much of it from China--and the burden placed on the backs of our children and grandchildren.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2965, the Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010. This will be the second time this year that the House votes to repeal the military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

Every year in the world's poorest countries millions of girls are forced into marriage. These girls - as young as age 8, but often 13, 14, 15 years old - are sold by impoverished parents to settle debts or they are given away to become wives to men years or even decades older.

For a young girl - a child - being forced to marry an adult man can only be described as a life of slavery, child molestation, and servitude. This is not marriage. It is a violation of the most basic human rights of a child.

I'd like to thank Chairman Waxman and Representative Frank Pallone and as well as my colleagues on the other side of the aisle Congressman Lee Terry.

House Resolution 1600 acknowledges the critical role of physician assistants (PA) by designating a week in 2010 as National Physician Assistant Week.

Forty years ago, the position of PA was created in response to a national health care workforce shortage.

Over 20 years ago, I had the honor and privilege in Minnesota to write the rules for PAs to function in providing health care in Minnesota.