Betty McCollum

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to a dedicated public safety professional who was taken from us much too soon. Metro Transit Police Lieutenant Beverly Rodriguez was just 40 years old when she died on Sunday, June 22, 2025, in a tragic accident. Her death is a deep and profound loss for her family, especially her two sons Macallen and Macody, the Metro Transit Police Department, and our entire east metro community. Ms. Rodriguez, posthumously and deservingly promoted to Lieutenant on June 23, 2025, served as a Metro Transit police officer for more than eight years. Lieutenant Rodriguez was a compassionate leader who served as head of the Homeless Action Team (HAT), building real relationships with those experiencing homelessness and personally guiding hundreds toward housing stability and hope. In addition to her police duties, Lieutenant Rodriguez served as Northern Vice President of the National Latino Peace Officers Association, where she was described as ``a compassionate advocate, a trusted mentor, and a tireless servant.'' I extend my deepest condolences to Lieutenant Rodriguez's family, friends, and colleagues. Her heroic works will never be forgotten.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in full support of this resolution, and I thank Congresswoman Morrison on behalf of the entire Minnesota delegation for bringing us together. We must stand united to condemn the assassination of Minnesota Speaker Emerita Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, and the attempted murder of Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette. Political violence targeted these two great servants who exemplified the best of Minnesota values: hard work, respect, inclusion, and, yes, caring for our neighbors. Minnesotans are devastated by these heinous acts, and our communities are feeling shock, grief, and distraught. We know that this whole Nation has joined in mourning with us, but this wasn't just an attack on our dedicated public servants and their families. It was an attack on our democratic system of government. Democracy embraces the civil exchange of ideas and the open debate of policy. It is a commitment to disagree with one another while respecting the rule of law. That is how democracy thrives. Violent rhetoric, threats, and physical attacks driven by political ideology must not be tolerated by any of us if our democracy is to survive. This resolution is an opportunity for us to speak with one voice to condemn the attacks on Minnesota's elected officials. All Americans, especially our leaders, must unequivocally denounce acts of political violence. Mr. Speaker, I urge every Member of this House to stand with Minnesotans, to stand with our Nation, and to stand with our democracy by voting for the adoption of this resolution.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, 9 days ago, Minnesota suffered the unbearable loss of one of our Nation's finest public servants. The targeted assassination of Melissa and Mark Hortman casts a long shadow of grief not only over Minnesota but our Nation. Under her leadership, Speaker Hortman left the State of Minnesota better than she found it. She exemplified our values of hard work, respect, inclusion, and civil engagement. As we mourn the loss of Melissa and Mark, I join Minnesotans to pray for Senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette, as they recover. As Minnesota's top leader in Human Services, Senator Hoffman shepherded historic investments for the most vulnerable among us: the elderly; those with disabilities, both seen and unseen; and those recovering from addiction. The grief that Minnesotans have endured in the days since this tragedy has been agonizing. As we come together to heal, may we find comfort in the words of Melissa and Mark's children: Hope and resilience are the enemy of fear.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 4, the Recissions Act of 2025, because this bill undermines and outright destroys long-held, bipartisan American values at home and abroad. I'll start right here at home. This bill makes an unprecedented attack on public media that Americans rely on for unfettered access to information, educational programming for kids, cultural programming, as well as nationwide emergency alerting. Spanning many different Administrations, public media has received bipartisan support for the past 50 years because Congress has continuously recognized that access to public media is in the public's best interest. That's why Congress has always forward-funded public media--to ensure the consistent access to nonpartisan, unbiased information for Americans in every state, regardless of which party controls the White House. These airwaves belong to every American--and they're a bargain: public media receives less than 0.01 percent of federal spending, and yet it provides essential services to every citizen in every part of this country. That's roughly $1.60 per taxpayer. Public media is the country's only local, no-cost, commercial-free, nonprofit news and information service, and passing this bill puts this service at great risk. For stations like Minnesota Public Radio, valued services will be eroded. For many smaller stations in rural communities across the country, these cuts will prove utterly devastating. They will not survive, resulting in news deserts for these communities. This bill also rescinds billions of dollars in lifesaving and life- affirming international assistance--another in a long line of cruel decisions from this administration to abdicate U.S. leadership abroad and put millions of lives at risk. If enacted, H.R. 4 will rescind over $8.3 billion in foreign assistance funding already appropriated by Congress on a bipartisan basis. The recissions in this bill will cut lifesaving food assistance for families, emergency services for families fleeing conflict, agriculture development programs, and core nutrition services for children under five--just to name a few. This bill even goes as far as to cut the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, a historically bipartisan and uncontroversial program that has saved an estimated 26 billion lives since its inception. Not only will this bill have devastating impacts on the lives of millions of children and families around the world; the cuts in this bill will actively make our country less safe. Our Nation's ability to prevent conflict, eradicate extremism, and promote democracy will be utterly destroyed--and our adversaries are eager to step in. Mr. Speaker, for these reasons and many more, I strongly oppose this legislation and encourage my colleagues to do the same.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to S. 331, the HALT Fentanyl Act. This bill is not a solution to the proliferation of Fentanyl Related Substances (FRS) in America. We need legislation and investments in health interventions that will save lives while taking meaningful action to stop illicit drug sales. S. 331 would permanently criminalize all FRS based solely on their molecular structure. This would seriously hamper the medical community from working on the development of treatments to fentanyl overdose or other medically beneficial FRSs. The HALT Fentanyl Act also imposes harmful mandatory minimum sentences. Decades of research shows that mandatory minimum laws that focus solely on supply reduction and incarceration are not effective in slowing the flow of illicit drugs into our country or the rates of overdoses in our communities. In fact, the current fentanyl epidemic has been found to have its roots in crackdowns on prescription opioids and heroin that were not paired with evidence-based overdose prevention and treatment services. We should be pursuing policy solutions that incorporate evidence-based strategies to addiction and overdose prevention that are rooted in health and science, not just increasing criminalization. Congress should bring forward a comprehensive bill that reflects the input of medical professionals, addiction specialists, researchers, and law enforcement. Republicans are trying to present a ``quick and easy'' solution to a complex problem.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, last week the Republican Majority in the House of Representatives decided that they know better than the residents of the District of Columbia what their local government needs. All Members of Congress are sent here by our constituents to represent their interests, and to vote on matters of federal importance. We aren't sent here to rule on specific local ordinances or funding decisions made by the cities and counties in any of our districts. Yet Republicans have brought three bills to the floor--H.R. 884, H.R. 2056, and H.R. 2096--to do exactly that. They want to tell the District of Columbia's 700,000 residents that the laws and policies they have voted for, and that were crafted by their local elected officials, are null and void. Mr. Speaker, none of us ran for or were elected to serve as D.C. Council members. I've been a city council member. It's a very different job, with a direct line of responsibility to the residents who elect you to deal with everything from potholes to public safety. That local representation and local responsiveness is a key part of our democracy, and Republicans are proposing to strip that local self-governance away from the residents of the District of Columbia. If Republicans want to take steps to address an issue with national importance, they can bring forward a bill that enforces it nationally. I will not vote for these attempts to decide those issues for a single district at the local level, whether in the District of Columbia or in the districts of any Member here. One of the bills before us last week, H.R. 884, would repeal D.C.'s local law that allows noncitizens to vote in local elections. I have serious concerns with allowing noncitizens who do not hold a green card to vote in local elections, but this is the wrong way to go about addressing that. I voted present because I can't support repealing a local D.C. law, but I do support having a conversation about how we define voter eligibility nationwide. I voted No on H.R. 2096, the Protecting Our Nation's Capital Emergency Act, because it would repeal part of a local D.C. law to give the police department increased authority to address incidents of serious misconduct and discipline officers. I voted No on H.R. 2056 because we shouldn't be nullifying a local law to tell an individual police department where they must divert their resources and how they can best serve their community, including residents who are immigrants. Mr. Speaker, I respect the will of D.C. residents to shape their local government through their local elections, and that is why I do not support H.R. 2096, H.R. 2056 or H.R. 884.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Chair, I will vote in support of H.R. 2483, the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) Reauthorization Act of 2025. This bill, which was first signed into law in 2018, aims to fight the opioid epidemic in our country by improving access to treatment, increasing recovery opportunities, and strengthening prevention initiatives. The opioid epidemic has devastated communities and torn apart families across our country, and H.R. 2483 is the latest in a long line of bipartisan efforts to address this problem and ensure Americans get the help they need without stigma or other barriers. However, we must acknowledge that this legislation came to the House Floor at a time when the Trump administration is systematically dismantling our Nation's mental health and substance use treatment programs. In the last several months, the administration has announced plans to eliminate the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) as an independent division of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), fired hundreds of SAMHSA employees, rescinded over $1 billion in state funding to treat mental health and substance use disorders, and proposed eliminating some of the very programs that are authorized in the SUPPORT Act. House Republicans have also just voted to make the largest health care cut in history in their so-called ``Big Beautiful Bill'', taking away Medicaid from millions of Americans. While I will vote in favor of the SUPPORT Act, my concern is that this Republican led Congress has authorized these programs with no one left at the agencies to see them through.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join thousands of my constituents from the Cambodian, Hmong, Lao and Vietnamese Diaspora communities in Minnesota and across the country to mark the 50th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam War. As we commemorate this painful legacy, we also mark the 50th anniversary of the resettlement of more than 1 million Southeast Asian refugees to the United States of America after the war. Minnesota is home to 95,000 Hmong, 33,000 Vietnamese, 16,000 Cambodians and 12,000 Lao Americans. These vibrant communities are flourishing and making tremendous contributions to our social, economic, political, and cultural lives. Southeast Asian Minnesotans are thriving throughout our state as entrepreneurs, professionals, engineers, and in the skilled tradesmen and women; serving our community as teachers, law enforcement officers, nurses, and medical doctors; and serving our nation and state in the Armed Forces and the Minnesota National Guard. These new Americans' success stories exemplify the spirit of resilience. Many have overcome tremendous difficulties and challenges in pursuing the American dream, especially Hmong and Laotian war veterans who fought alongside American forces during the secret war in Laos, and who continue to cope with the trauma of war, mental health challenges and other legacies of war. Recently, it was an honor to address the Hmong National Development (HND) Conference in Minnesota and commemorate the historic 50th anniversary celebration of Hmong refugees' resettlement to America. As home of one of the largest Hmong American populations outside of Southeast Asia, I am very proud to have six Hmong American state legislators representing constituents in my district! In total, 9 lawmakers of Hmong descent represent legislative districts at the Minnesota State Capitol. As we celebrate Asian Pacific Heritage Month this year, it is a time to pause and reflect on these significant and historic milestones. It is also a time to look to the future. I am grateful for the rich cultural diversity our Southeast Asian Diaspora communities have brought to our nation and to Minnesota's Fourth Congressional District over the last fifty years. I look forward to the continued growth, success, partnership and collaboration with our Southeast Asian neighbors. Mr. Speaker, please join me in commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War and the resettlement of Southeast Asian refugees to America.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 881, the DHS Restrictions on Confucius Institutes and Chinese Entities of Concern Act. H.R. 881 is a solution in search of a problem. In 2018, Congress passed provisions prohibiting the Department of Defense from providing funds to any U.S. institution of higher education that hosts a Confucius Institute, unless that institution receives a waiver from the Department. Since its passage, no waivers have been issued, and the number of Confucius Institutes in the United States has declined from a peak of 118 in 2017 to fewer than five today. The current protections against Chinese intellectual property theft through Confucius Institutes have worked, and Congress should not place additional burdens on our colleges, universities, and their students. Mr. Speaker, instead of addressing the harms of the President's on- again-off-again tariffs, or working to address rising costs for American consumers, Republicans used this week to negotiate their Reckless Budget Scheme and rename a body of water. My constituents do not want Congress to give trillions of dollars of tax cuts to billionaires. They do not want cuts to SNAP or Medicaid, vital lifelines in my home state of Minnesota. It's time Congress starts working to address the real issues--starting with passing full year appropriations bills. I am ready to get to work.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, House Republicans just wasted another week in Washington with no legislation to show for it that would address our shrinking economy or rising cost of living. Instead, they launched a series of attacks on a national park, an endangered species, and the ability of states to set strong standards to protect the air that we breathe. H.J. Res. 60 would prevent the National Park Service from regulating motor vehicle use in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, where just 6 percent of the roads had safeguards put in place to restrict the damage that off-road vehicles had caused. This was a narrowly focused rule to target protections in sensitive areas for the cultural sites, native wildlife, and other natural resources that the Park contains. H.J. Res 87, H.J. Res. 88, and H.J. Res. 89 all attempt to misuse the Congressional Review Act (CRA) process to overturn decisions at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce air pollution. Under the Clean Air Act (CAA), California can apply for waivers to set its own vehicle emissions standards, and other states can adopt California's exact regulations under certain circumstances. The law explicitly grants these states the ability to protect their citizens from air pollution and address climate change with stronger standards, and in doing so they are saving Americans $89 billion in fuel costs through 2040. These Republican resolutions would make the air dirtier, raise costs for drivers, and also violate the law. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the Senate Parliamentarian have already made it clear that CAA waivers do not qualify as a target for a CRA. These decisions are not rules subject to review, but House Republicans are ignoring the law to try to set a precedent for drastically expanding what other protections for the American people they can undermine with a CRA. As if all this wasn't enough, Republicans wrapped up the week with an attack on an endangered species of smelt in the San Francisco Bay- Delta. Delisting a fish won't solve the water shortage problems of the West; it is a distraction from the real issues of climate change, outdated infrastructure, and competing water allocations. Furthermore, this smelt is a critical part of the foodweb in an ecosystem on the verge of collapse. H.J. Res. 78 would not only overturn the current listing of the longfin smelt but prevent it from ever being listed in the future, no matter how much the threat to this species and its estuary increased. I voted against all five of the Congressional Review Act resolutions that were brought to the floor this week, and I urge the Republican House Majority to stop bringing these harmful and nonsensical attacks on our public health and the environment to the House floor. Stripping away protections for our wildlife, for our national parks, and for the very air in our lungs doesn't improve Americans lives.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 22, the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, or the SAVE Act, which does nothing to protect voting rights. House Republicans are advancing a bill that would disenfranchise millions of women and other Americans through a federal takeover of state election administration that makes it harder to vote. Sixty-nine million American women--one out of four Americans would face an additional burden to register to vote simply because they changed their last name after marriage. Simply put, this Republican bill is about voter suppression. In 2012, Minnesotans rightly rejected a state constitutional amendment that would have imposed voter ID requirements. Each election, Minnesotans turn out at the highest levels in the nation to participate in elections that are free, fair, and secure. Under the guise of election integrity, the Republicans' H.R. 22 would require Minnesotans and every American to provide burdensome ``documentary proof of citizenship''--similar to what Minnesotans already rejected--in order to participate in federal elections. Standard REAL IDs, Tribal IDs and military IDs alone do not meet this bill's extreme criteria. Married women or others whose name doesn't match their birth certificate would be required to present a passport with their current name to prove their identity and citizenship. In states like Minnesota with same-day registration, all new registrants, and those updating their registration as the result of a move or a name change, would be mandated to present their birth certificate and matching ID or a passport at the polls in order to vote. Nearly half of Minnesotans don't have a passport, meaning millions of voters would need to obtain one. Collectively, Minnesotans could be forced to spend over $320 million dollars, with passport applications costing more than $130 each and taking weeks for processing. Republicans have essentially mandated a poll tax to access the fundamental right to vote. Congress should be following Minnesota's lead and working to make it easier for Americans to vote, not putting up roadblocks. Congress should pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act that would reinstate many of the protections in the Civil Rights Act of 1965 that were undercut by the Supreme Court in their Shelby County v. Holder decision in 2013. The bill would expand automatic voter registration and allows for same day voter registration and protects against race- based discrimination at the ballot box. The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act passed the House in 2021, but House Republicans have continued to refuse to bring the bill to the House Floor for a vote. Again, I oppose H.R. 22, the Republican SAVE Act, and I urge my colleagues to join me in voting NO.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 1526, the No Rogue Rulings Act of 2025. Just as House and Senate Republicans have ceded their constitutional responsibility to conduct oversight on the Executive Branch, Republicans want to force federal judges to give up their power of judicial review. The duty and responsibility of federal courts is to review laws and policies that have a national impact. Federal courts are not local courts. By design their role is national and is not limited to one state or one county. Limiting the ability of federal courts to carry out their duty would undermine the rights and freedoms of all Americans. The No Rogue Rulings Act of 2025 would prevent federal district court judges from providing nationwide injunction relief when one of President Trump's executive orders, policies, or actions violates people's constitutional rights and freedoms. Nationwide injunctions are issued against the federal government when its actions are unconstitutional and have a broad national effect. If a federal judge can no longer issue a national injunction, the Administration could continue to violate the rights of the American people until the case reaches the Supreme Court. This bill is designed to drastically limit federal judges' ability to prevent unconstitutional actions from doing broad harm. It is about giving more power to Donald Trump. Donald Trump is losing in court because he keeps trying to do unlawful and unconstitutional things, not because of judicial overreach. This bill a scheme to give more power to the President, making it easier for him to carry out his illegal actions without consequence. I urge my colleagues to reject this bill.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, the Republican's Reckless Budget Scheme is back on the House floor today, proposing the same devastating cuts to our families and communities in exchange for massive tax breaks for Elon Musk, President Trump, and their billionaire buddies. I am joining every Democrat in the House and Senate in opposing this resolution. Apparently, Republicans weren't paying attention when Americans across the country took to the streets last weekend to tell them to keep their hands off our healthcare, our education, and food assistance for our children, our elders, and our neighbors in need. I was there speaking to my constituents, and I heard them loud and clear. This is not the direction the American people want our country to go. But despite that, House Republicans are using their majority to advance an agenda that serves the wealthiest Americans at the expense of our Nation's working families. The Republican budget is a framework that instructs the Energy and Commerce Committee to cut $880 billion. That level of cut is impossible without decimating Medicaid. The Agriculture Committee will have to find at least $230 billion in cuts, which threatens food assistance like SNAP even as food prices are rising. Let's be clear: Republicans are using these cuts to our neighbors to offset their tax breaks for giant corporations and billionaires like Elon Musk. And even after all these cruel cuts, their budget will still burden Americans with trillions of dollars in new debt. President Trump's `Big Beautiful Bill' doesn't do anything to address the high cost of living or fix the economic mess created by the President's trade war. In fact, it adds more burden for Minnesota families who are looking for help with the rising cost of living. Nearly 1.3 million Minnesotans--about one quarter of our state--are covered by Medicaid. A cut of this magnitude would have severe consequences for health care access for the families, seniors, people with disabilities, and especially children who rely on this coverage. That includes 172,000 of my constituents here in the Fourth District, 90,000 of whom are children on CHIP. In our district, 54,000 Minnesotans rely on SNAP to put food on the table. SNAP assistance is particularly important to children as well as many seniors on a fixed income. The health and well-being of our communities are under attack by this Republican majority. Mr. Speaker, I am voting no on this betrayal of our values and our constituents, and I will continue to oppose all Republican efforts to take away food, healthcare, and basic government services that Minnesotans rely on.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the life of an iconic figure in the world of wildlife photography, Jim Brandenburg. Jim passed away at home in Minnesota on April 4, 2025, at the age of 79. He is survived by his spouse, Judy, daughter Heidi and her husband Nels Pierson, and grandchildren Olivia, Liam, and Lindsey. Born and raised in Minnesota, Brandenburg's career began in the early 1970s, and he quickly gained recognition for his ability to humanize animals through images. His work as a staff photographer for National Geographic further solidified his reputation in the field of wildlife photography. He was named Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 1988, and Magazine Photographer of the Year by the National Press Photographers Association in 1981 and 1983. Of the 40 most important nature photographs of all time, chosen by the International League of Conservation Photographers, four are by Jim Brandenburg. In 2023, Jim became one of just six photographers to earn the National Geographic Lifetime Achievement Award. Jim's ability to artfully capture the unique and beautiful landscapes and wildlife of Minnesota is perhaps his clearest legacy. By choosing to focus his lens on the animals of the Upper Midwest, he highlighted the exceptional ecosystems and biodiversity of our region, including wolves. In fact, two of his most renowned photographs are of wolves: one capturing a white wolf leaping between ice floes in the Arctic, the other a gray wolf staring directly into his lens, watching Jim from behind a tree in his own backyard in northern Minnesota. Jim's work conveys his deep respect and empathy for the animals he photographs, which helped him to capture moments that transcend mere documentation. His photographs invite viewers to pause and consider the lives of the creatures that share our planet. In addition to his photographic contributions, Jim Brandenburg has been a tireless advocate for conservation. His work has been instrumental in raising awareness about the environmental challenges facing the Upper Midwest and advocating for the preservation of wilderness areas including Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. Jim also worked with another famous adventurer-advocate from Minnesota, the explorer Will Steger, helping to document Will's polar expeditions. The United Nations Environmental Programme awarded Jim the World Achievement Award in recognition of his work to raise public awareness of the need to protect our planet's natural habitats. Jim Brandenburg's legacy extends far beyond his photographic achievements. He has inspired photographers, conservationists, and nature lovers with his unique ability for capturing the soul of the wild. Through his work, he has shown us that nature is something to be cherished and protected. As we reflect on his life and career, we must honor not only his photographic contributions but also his commitment to the preservation of the natural world for future generations. Mr. Speaker, please join me in celebrating the remarkable life and work of Jim Brandenburg.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise to honor the life of an extraordinary member of my community, Mr. Gordan Willis Kirk, or Gordy as everyone knew him, passed away on March 2, 3 weeks shy of his 102nd birthday. A proud member of St. Paul's Rondo neighborhood, Gordy was a World War II combat veteran who bravely served his country at a time when the ranks of our Armed Forces were segregated. His company in the Third Army, 4th Armored Division fought during the liberation of France, including the Battle of the Bulge, where he suffered from frostbite. Gordy was an extraordinary advocate for his fellow veterans. In 1986, he was the first African-American VFW district officer in Minnesota. He was instrumental in establishing the Twin Star VFW Post 8854. Gordy was a special person in my community, and I am so proud to have called him my friend. His legacy will continue to inspire me and others for generations to come. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to read my extension of remarks.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the life of an extraordinary man, cherished community member and dedicated veteran, Mr. Gordon Willis Kirk, affectionately known as ``Gordy.'' Gordy passed away on March 2, 2025, just three weeks shy of his 102nd birthday. He is preceded in death by his loving spouse Gwendolyn and their legacy lives on through their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. Born in Helena, Montana, Gordy and his family moved to Saint Paul at the age of 10 for his father's work with the Northern Pacific Railway during the Great Depression. He graduated from Saint Paul's Marshall High School in 1942. Gordy is a product of Saint Paul's Rondo neighborhood, a predominantly African American community, most of which was demolished to make way for Interstate 94 in the late 1950's. Throughout his life, Gordy remained a tireless advocate for the Old Rondo neighborhood by keeping its history alive and seeking healing and reconciliation by preserving its rich heritage and culture. Gordy was a proud veteran of World War II. Bravely serving in combat, Gordy became a Quartermaster with a trucking company, Third Army, Fourth Armor Division (Patton's Vanguard) on the front lines in the European Theatre from 1943 to 1945 at a time when the ranks of U.S. servicemen were segregated. The company landed at Omaha Beach six days after D-Day, was with General Patton at Saint-Lo, fought at Verdun and the Battle of the Bulge where he suffered frostbite on his hands during the winter. He stated that he felt fortunate that he was in battle on the front lines and came home whole. Gordy's courage was demonstrated well before he was deployed to Europe. Following his enlistment in the U.S. Army in 1943, he and his fellow enlisted men departed by train for basic training at Fort Wolter, Mineral Wells, Texas. While in route the train stopped at a station; the African American men were told to leave the Pullman passenger cars they had been traveling in and go to the Jim Crow car-- with its much less desirable accommodations. He refused, as did other enlisted men. He and the men essentially said, ``If we're good enough to fight for our country like other enlisted men, then we're good enough to ride in a Pullman car like they do.'' The train was held up for six hours as the railroad located another Pullman car for the group. Upon returning to Saint Paul, Gordy drove a streetcar from 1947 to 1952 until streetcars were replaced by buses. He then went to work on the railroad as a waiter. He next went to work for Braniff Airways as a skycap, joining Northwest Airlines in 1960 where Gordy has a long and successful career, eventually becoming the head skycap, retiring in 1993. His extraordinary commitment to his fellow veterans and their families compares to none. As a long-time leader and advocate in Minnesota's veterans community, Gordy became the first African American VFW District Officer in Minnesota in 1986. He rose through the leadership ranks of the Fourth District as well as the state and national VFW organizations--advocating for all veterans while seeking to bring diversity to the ranks of our state's veterans organizations and ensuring that all veterans are welcome. Gordy was instrumental in establishing the Twin Star VFW Post 8854, which was located on Concordia Avenue in the Rondo neighborhood until 2008 when the hall closed, with Gordy serving as the Post's Commander. Until well into his 90's, Gordy was a VFW Hospital Representative at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, acting as an advocate for veterans attempting to resolve issues experienced by veterans at the Medical Center. When once asked the question, do any special veterans and their cases come to mind, and his response was ``every veteran is special to me!'' Gordy was very special to me and to the constituents of Minnesota's Fourth Congressional District. It was my privilege to nominate Gordy for a Minnesota Humanities Center Veterans Voices Legacy Award which I presented to him on September 11, 2016, for his outstanding work in service to others. It was an honor to call Gordy a friend. He has been an inspiration to me and his legacy will continue to inspire many for generations to come. Mr. Speaker, please join me in celebrating the remarkable life and the dedicated work of Mr. Gordon ``Gordy'' Willis Kirk.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, in the last election, then-candidate Trump ran on lowering costs for American families. He owned the issue on the campaign trail, and he won. I had hoped that he would follow through on his promise to ``lower costs on day one.'' But instead of working to lower costs, the President has waged an unprompted trade war with Canada that will cost Americans when they heat their homes, feed their families, run their small businesses, or tend to their farm. It's been one week since President Trump imposed twenty-five percent tariffs on Canada. In retaliation, Ontario imposed a twenty-five percent surcharge on electricity exported to Minnesota, Michigan, and New York. This will directly impact Minnesotans' energy bills. Minnesotans and consumers across this country will feel the impact of Trump's tariffs at the grocery stores when they buy products like pork, produce, or eggs. With the uncertainty of Trump's tariffs, small business owners aren't able to plan ahead for their businesses. Trump has small business owners on a rollercoaster, trying to predict the extra costs they will pay in this escalating trade war. Last week, my office met with Traci Tapani, a Co-President of Wyoming Machine, a small family-owned sheet metal fabricator in Stacy, MN who relies on Canadian aluminum for their operations. The past few weeks have been filled with uncertainty for their business, not knowing if Trump would roll back or increase the tariffs. And just today, Trump imposed additional tariffs imported aluminum, bringing the total tariffs on Canadian aluminum up to fifty percent. This will force small businesses like Wyoming Machine to adjust their operations once again. Trump isn't hurting Canada or Ontario with this trade war He is hurting small business owners. Trump's tariffs are also hurting farmers across this country who will incur greater costs when purchasing potash, a soil fertilizer often imported from Canada. And by inciting these trade wars, Trump is cutting off essential export markets for our farmers. Americans know these tariffs are going to hit us hard. Our financial markets are in free fall because Americans fear this trade war will push us into a recession. Dr. John Spry, an economist at the University of St Thomas, has estimated that as long as the Trump tariffs are in place, Americans will spend one-hundred dollars more on everyday goods each month. In my district, I'm hearing that working families and seniors on fixed incomes need relief from the high cost of living. They can't afford to add money for tariffs to their already tight monthly budgets. Not only are the President's tariffs hurting my constituents, but he is also damaging our relationship with Canada: an ally, a partner, and for many--a good neighbor. Other than oil and electricity, Canada imports more goods from the United States than we import from Canada. They are our best customer, and we should not alienate our best customer. I'm a former social studies teacher. I know that tariffs can be a useful tool. But these tariffs on Canada are unprompted, unnecessary, and make no sense at all. As a Minnesotan, the only thing I want to fight with Canadians about is who has the better hockey team and who can catch the most fish in the others' waters.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this full-year CR. This bill abdicates our constitutional responsibilities to direct funding and it gives it to Elon Musk and Mr. Trump. It undercuts the separations of powers in our Constitution. This CR cuts $13 billion from domestic priorities that Americans rely on. Let's talk specifically about the $2.2 billion reduction to healthcare. Here are a few examples: $280 million cut from NIH means cuts to research and clinical trials. Fewer lives will be saved. The bill removes congressional directions for CDC funding. That is how we detect and control health threats at home and abroad. There is an $891 million reduction to HHS investments. That will lead to more healthcare workforce shortages. The ramifications of these cuts will be felt everywhere but especially by the most vulnerable Americans who are already hurting from the illegal cuts Elon Musk is making to healthcare grants and research. This CR includes a $17 million reduction to Indian Health Service facilities, which are already falling apart. The bill shortchanges our veterans by failing to include $22 billion in advance funding for the VA Toxic Exposure Fund. That jeopardizes the healthcare of our veterans exposed to burn pits and Agent Orange. The bill cuts DOD medical research by over $850 million. This will obstruct new cures for cancer and infectious diseases. These just aren't funding cuts. The Republicans are cutting cures and treatments and hopes for healthier American families. This is before we know what Elon Musk has in store for Social Security disability, Medicaid, and Medicare. A full-year CR is a disaster, and it does not have to be this way. The American people deserve better. I urge my colleagues to defeat this PQ and bring forward a short-term CR, and let's get to work.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this full- year continuing resolution. Let's call the CR what it is. It is a Republican majority abdicating our constitutional responsibilities. Republicans have turned over congressional power to direct funding to Elon Musk and President Trump. The Republican appropriations process for fiscal year 2025 has been a disaster. Republicans have had 18 months to write, pass, and negotiate these spending bills. They failed. The Republican leadership never wanted to negotiate with Democrats, which their slim majority in the House would have required. Here we are stuck with a full-year CR, something that has never happened in the history of this Nation. It is a complete failure to govern. To make things worse, the CR cuts $13 billion from domestic priorities that Americans rely on. I will mention a few, like lifesaving medical research at the NIH. Rent assistance for low-income working families is cut. Republicans failed to include $22 billion in advanced appropriation funding for the VA toxic exposure fund. This jeopardizes the health of our veterans exposed to burn pits and, yes, Agent Orange. Community projects submitted by our constituents for police and first responders have also been eliminated by this bill. For the Defense Department, the bill reduces DOD medical research by about 50 percent. It will obstruct the search for new cures for cancer and infectious diseases. Republicans also underfunded military training exercises, which will mean the readiness of our troops will be put at risk. They cut DOD technology research and development funding, which helps us keep our edge over our adversaries. Simply put, this CR is a disaster, and it did not have to be this way. The American people deserve better, and I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this Republican failure.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, on the morning of February 24, 2025, I was attending the University of Minnesota's National Security Research & Innovation Day in my district, and the flight I took back to Washington, D.C. was delayed departing from Minnesota. This resulted in my absence from the House during three suspension votes on February 24, 2025. Had I been present, I would have voted AYE on Roll Call No. 43, H.R. 825, the Assisting Small Businesses Not Fraudsters Act; Roll Call No. 44, H.R. 832, the Small Business Advocacy Improvements Act; and Roll Call No. 45, H.R. 818, the SPUR Act.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition H.R. 35. This bill is a solution that has already been addressed in law. Right now, the House of Representatives has important work to do. The deadline to fund the government is only one month away, and the price of eggs is skyrocketing under President Trump. But instead of addressing these problems, Republicans put forward the same messaging bill we voted on last Congress. To be clear, fleeing the border patrol already carries criminal and legal penalties under current law, and a conviction for fleeing border patrol already makes a person deportable. This bill is poorly written and politicizes a tragedy. It does nothing to make our border more secure or fix our broken immigration system. Republicans continue to demonstrate they are not willing to work toward real solutions to bring order to the border and fix our immigration system. This is another bill in a series of Republican slippery-slope immigration bills that erodes the rights of everyone present in the United States, including green card holders, students, temporary workers, DACA recipients, and even citizens. It attacks due process under the United States Constitution and targets immigrants who are lawfully in the United States. In H.R. 35, there is no requirement that a noncitizen actually be charged by law enforcement, making a person deportable without even being convicted of a crime. Our Constitution holds that in the United States, you are innocent until you are proven guilty. This bill undermines that basic principle.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 33, the United States-Taiwan Expedited Double-Tax Relief Act. When a United States resident or business has income subject to taxation in another country, or vice-versa, they face double taxation and must pay both U.S. taxes and taxes of the other nation. However, the United States may enter into a tax treaty with a country to mitigate this double-taxation for residents and companies earning income in each of the countries. The United States has entered into these bilateral tax treaties with 60 other countries. The United States and China have a bilateral tax treaty dating to 1984, which sets the reciprocal rate of withholding at a reduced rate of 10 percent. However, this treaty has not covered residents of Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Macau. H.R. 33 would create a legislative fix to the double-taxation of Taiwanese residents and companies earning income in the United States by reducing the withholding tax rates on certain on U.S. income from 30 percent to 10 percent. These provisions would not go into effect until Taiwan provides those same benefits to U.S. persons and businesses. This bill would bring our tax policy for Taiwan into alignment with the rates in our tax treaty with China. In 2022, I was proud to support the CHIPS and Science Act (Pub. L. 117-167), a law to bring semiconductor supply chains back to the United States. CHIPS investments are already creating jobs and improving our national security, including through a $123 million award to Polar Semiconductor in Minnesota that will double their production capacity for sensor and power chips. Taiwan leads the market in semiconductor manufacturing and thanks to the CHIPS and Science Act, the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TCMC) announced last April that it would make an over $65 billion investment in a semiconductor factory in Arizona, the largest direct foreign investment in a new project in United States history. Passage of H.R. 33 will incentivize further investment from Taiwan into the United States which will create more jobs for hardworking Americans and strengthen our domestic supply chains. I join my colleagues in supporting this legislation.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise to pay tribute to the life of an extraordinary man, Peter Yarrow, of the legendary folk trio, Peter, Paul and Mary. Peter passed away at home in New York City on January 7, 2025, at the age of 86. He is survived by his spouse, Mary Beth McCarthy Yarrow, children Christopher Yarrow and Bethany Yarrow and his beloved granddaughter, Valentina. The son of Ukrainian Jewish Immigrants, Peter was born and raised in New York City, attended New York's High School of Music and Arts, and graduated from Cornell University in 1959. While at Cornell, Peter took an American Folk Literature course in which singing and guitar playing were prerequisites. Thus began a career that would span the ages. Upon graduating, Peter moved to New York City and began a successful run in the Greenwich Village folk movement with the purpose of creating community through music. Peter, Paul and Mary debuted in 1961, enjoyed huge success with six top 10 hits on the Billboard ``Hot 100'' and five Grammy Awards. Peter's gift for songwriting produced some of the most poignant songs Peter, Paul & Mary have recorded, including ``Puff, the Magic Dragon,'' ``Day is Done,'' ``Light One Candle,'' and ``The Great Mandala.'' Peter had a firm and devout commitment to activism and organizing. He devoted his time and talents to the Civil Rights Movement which brought Peter, Paul and Mary to Washington in 1963, to participate in both the historic March on Washington led by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and the historic Selma-Montgomery March in 1965. Peter was a founding board member of the Newport Folk Festival and used his organizing skills to shine light on merging folk performers and songwriters to a wider audience. He was a leader in the Peace/Anti-Vietnam war movement, the equal rights movement, deeply committed to protecting the environment, gender equality, ending homelessness, supporting the hospice care movement, public broadcasting and education. In 1999, Peter founded the non-profit education and advocacy organization, Operation Respect. Operation Respect's classroom based ``Don't Laugh at Me'' curriculum was created to combat school bullying, promote tolerance and provide children with the tools necessary to express their feelings constructively, resolve conflict peacefully, celebrate diversity and engage with each other cooperatively and compassionately. Operation Respect's success has reached over 22,000 US schools and expanded globally, including Ukraine, Israel, Jordan, Palestine, Hong Kong, Croatia, Canada and Japan with the aim of fostering dialogue and understanding around the world. Operation Respect has found that schools committed to establishing a respectful, safe and compassionate learning environment, experience improvements in academic achievement, student attendance and staff retention, at the same tune reducing bullying, violence and other behavioral issues. It was an honor to call Peter a friend. I'm grateful for his kindness, compassion, commitment to peace, promotion of human rights, and boundless talent which has been an inspiration for me and will continue to inspire many for generations to come. Mr. Speaker, please join me in celebrating the remarkable life and the visionary work of Peter Yarrow.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 28, which would open the door to invasive surveillance and physical inspections of young women and girls as a condition of their participation in sports. Sports should be safe, accessible, and fair for everyone. Participating in sports helps young people develop skills like leadership and teamwork and builds their self-esteem. All children, no matter their gender, should have the opportunity to develop these skills in a supportive community. Instead, this Republican-led Child Predator Empowerment Act puts the privacy, security, mental health, and physical well-being of young female athletes at risk. H.R. 28 would allow anyone to challenge and target kids with questions about their gender. It would subject minors to deeply personal questions about their bodies and to physical inspections of their genitals by strangers without their parents present. The reality is that there are already athletic associations that take issues like fairness and safety into account when determining gender- based eligibility guidelines for different sports at different levels of competition. Professional athletic organizing bodies like the International Olympic Committee and National Collegiate Athletic Association have already addressed participation for trans athletes within their respective sports. There is bipartisan recognition of the damaging impact of a complete ban on the participation of transgender children in youth sports, as evidenced by the vetoes issued by Utah Governor Spencer Cox, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum in response to similar legislation introduced and passed by their respective legislatures. If we want to take action in this Congress to truly support female athletes and women's sports, then we could address issues like equal pay, ending institutional mistreatment of female athletes, and broadening opportunities for participation for historically excluded communities. We could work to protect athletes from sexual abuse, instead of taking up a bill that creates new conditions that predators can exploit. The majority of athlete sexual assault cases involve coaches, trainers, or other sports administrators, who could be inspecting young women and girls under this law. The enforcement of H.R. 28 would cause lasting damage to student athletes and to school-based athletics, all while isolating and stigmatizing transgender and intersex youth. I urge my colleagues to vote against this deeply misguided legislation.

Ms. McCOLLUM

Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 30. H.R. 30 undermines the basic constitutional protection of a person being innocent until proven guilty. It subjects immigrants, including those who have been victims of domestic violence, to new grounds of inadmissibility and deportability that do not require a conviction in court. This is an ominous step toward the erosion of the rights of all people in the United States, including citizens. The U.S. immigration system has been broken for decades. Every bipartisan proposal to fix it has been fractured by Republicans' refusal to work with Democrats to find effective solutions. Now, as we begin the 119th Congress with Republicans again in the majority, they continue to reject a bipartisan way forward to find real solutions. Instead, Republicans have chosen to bring more deeply flawed messaging bills to the House floor. This legislation does not just target people who are in the United States illegally. Its impact will be felt by many of our neighbors, from green card holders and students to temporary workers and DACA recipients. Here's the bottom line: under our existing immigration laws, people who commit domestic violence, sexual offenses, or other heinous crimes are already inadmissible and removable. This bill does not secure the border, nor does it work to fix our immigration system. It only puts innocent people, legally present in the United States, at risk of deportation. Republicans must begin to work toward bipartisan, constructive solutions to fix our broken immigration system.