Congresswoman Betty McCollum's eNewsletter

Minnesota Joins Nation in Mourning Arizona Tragedy
After the devastating shooting last weekend in Arizona, Congresswoman McCollum and hundreds of Minnesotans joined the nation in mourning. During a public event at her St. Paul office, Congresswoman McCollum invited people to send messages of sympathy and support to Congresswoman Giffords. Nearly 100 people participated, and Congresswoman McCollum delivered these messages to Congresswoman Giffords' office.

Back in Washington, DC, Congresswoman McCollum also honored Congresswoman Giffords and the victims with a statement on the floor of the House of Representatives.

Minnesotans can still send messages to Congresswoman Giffords by completing this form.

President Obama Calls for Civility in Public Debate
During the memorial service in Arizona for the victims, President Obama called for more civility in public discourse. Noting that debate has become more bitter and partisan, he encouraged Americans to put pettiness aside and move forward in a more gracious and tolerant manner.

"At a time when our discourse has become so sharply polarized, at a time when we are far too eager to lay the blame for all that ails the world at the feet of those who think differently than we do," said President Obama, "it's important for us to pause for a moment and make sure that we are talking with each other in a way that heals, not a way that wounds."

Honoring the Social Justice Legacy of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; Protecting Health Care for All Americans
On Monday, Congresswoman McCollum will march in St. Paul to honor the life and legacy of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King's struggle for civil rights was the quest for social justice for all Americans. That struggle continues today as America seeks greater tolerance of people of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, religious beliefs, and sexual orientation. We are struggling as a nation to stop the ever growing income inequality between the wealthy and working families. Another area of social justice that Americans must confront regardless of economic status, ethnicity, or age is the struggle to access affordable, quality health care.

Congresswoman McCollum believes access to health care, like civil rights, is a social justice issue. It should be a right for all Americans. The new health care reform law that went into effect in 2010 takes a significant step towards protecting Americans from insurance company discrimination and providing greater access to health care.

Unfortunately, the new Republican majority in the House of Representatives believes health care is a commodity - a service - that some people can afford and other cannot. The first major legislative action by the GOP majority will be to repeal new patients' rights and put insurance companies back in charge where:

• Children with pre-existing conditions are denied coverage.

• Young people age 26 can't stay on their parents' plans.

• Pregnant women and breast and prostate cancer patients could be thrown off the insurance rolls.

• Seniors pay more for their drugs.

• The deficit increases by $230 billion.

• Small businesses pay higher taxes.

Congresswoman McCollum will vote against repealing these most basic patient protections and will continue to fight to ensure Americans have access to quality, affordable health care. This is a matter of social justice which she believes Dr. King would be fighting for as well.