Dear Fourth District Constituent,
As the Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, this week I led Democrats in the first budget oversight hearings of this session of Congress for the Departments of the Air Force and the Army. Unfortunately, Congress lacks vital details on spending priorities for the Air Force, Space Force, and Army, because President Trump is more than four months late in delivering his budget request for the next fiscal year to Congress.
The Trump administration has failed to give Congress the information we've requested on personnel cuts, funding cuts, and hundreds of billions of dollars in Fiscal Year 2025 spending. As Congress works to develop the Fiscal Year 2026 spending plan, one of my roles will be in conducting oversight of the Administration to understand how your tax dollars are being spent by the Armed Forces under the direction of the Trump White House.
These hearings are a critical part of getting those answers for the American public. I will continue to work to hold Trump’s Department of Defense accountable for excess military spending and cost overruns on major programs.
Star Tribune Op-Ed: Trump’s Pressure Plan for Ukraine Would Bring False Peace
This week in the Minnesota Star Tribune, I explain why forcing Ukraine into a peace deal on Putin’s terms would have serious long-term consequences for the national security of Ukraine, Europe, and the United States. Read below or
click here to read the op-ed for free on the Minnesota Star Tribune website.
Last month, President Donald Trump outlined his “peace plan” to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As he pressured Ukraine to agree to the proposal, Russia launched devastating attacks on civilians in Kyiv. At least 12 civilians were killed, and several residential buildings were destroyed on April 24. The strikes should be a wake-up call to the Trump administration: Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted. Should the U.S. force Ukraine into a peace deal on Putin’s terms, it will have serious long-term consequences — not only for Ukraine and Europe, but for the national security of the U.S. and the future of peace on our planet.
For over three years, Ukrainians have bravely defended their democracy from Putin’s savage invasion. At his direction, Russian troops have brazenly killed more than 12,000 civilians, destroying apartment complexes, schools, hospitals and shopping malls, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. The world will never forget the atrocities of the Bucha massacre. Ukrainian civilians were executed in the streets and in their homes by Russian soldiers. Approximately 20,000 Ukrainian children have been abducted by Russia, in many cases after their parents were murdered by Russian forces. The war crimes orchestrated by Putin are too many to list, which is precisely why the Trump administration must tread carefully in their negotiations to bring the war to an end.
Rescuers work on a site of a residential building destroyed by a Russian strike in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine, on May 1. (Kateryna Klochko/The Associated Press, via Minnesota Star Tribune)
To be clear: I strongly support an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As one of only 133 members of the House of Representatives to vote against authorizing the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, I have a record of opposing endless war. But an end to this war must accomplish two things: First, Ukraine must have security guarantees by their fellow democracies to ensure that they will never again face the horrific destruction wrought by Putin. Second, no agreement can include formal recognition by the U.S. that illegally seized territories belong to Russia. Unfortunately, Trump‘s reported plan fails on both accounts.
Under Trump‘s proposal, the U.S. would formally recognize the Crimean Peninsula, illegally seized by Putin in 2014, as Russian territory. The U.S. would also de facto recognize Russian control over portions of four Ukrainian districts that have fallen during Russia’s invasion. The people of Ukraine would forever be denied the opportunity to ascend to NATO membership, the U.S. Treasury would lift sanctions on Russia and the U.S. would resume diplomatic and economic relations. In return, Ukraine would receive vague security guarantees to be determined later, likely without the participation of the United States.
When pressed for details on Russian concessions during an Oval Office news event, Trump said: “Stopping the war, stopping taking the whole country. Pretty big concession.” His comments are deeply alarming. Trump seems to be negotiating solely on Putin’s terms. This is not a plan for lasting peace. It is a plan to surrender a sovereign, democratic nation.
Forcing Trump‘s proposal upon Ukraine would have steep consequences for Ukraine and Europe. Russia’s militarized economy will continue to produce munitions, drones and other weapons of war on a vast scale. Russia’s military will rebuild positions on the borders of NATO nations like Finland, Poland and the Baltic states. Without security guarantees, Ukraine would be left twisting in the wind until Putin feels his military can advance his imperial ambitions. Ukrainian democracy will wither under a Russian sword of Damocles. It is Ukraine’s future at stake, and Ukrainians must have a say in how this war ends.
In the long term, Trump‘s plan would lead to something far more sinister: The destruction of our rules-based international order and validation by the U.S. that the seizure of one nation’s sovereign territory by another is justified. This is precisely what the post-World War II international order, led by the U.S., was designed to stop. A global system in which nations can illegally seize territory from one another based on the whims of a dictator is what resulted in more than 100 million dead in the cataclysms of World Wars I and II.
If Trump‘s plan is adopted, this is the world order that the U.S. leaves in its wake. Putin’s invasion of Ukraine will be the blueprint for any tyrant inclined to expand his nation’s territory. Do we think the People’s Republic of China would hesitate to use this plan as pretext for a future invasion of Taiwan? Of course not.
America must not lead the world back to an unstable and violent pre-World War II order where might makes right. Forcing Ukraine to accept Trump‘s current proposal would bring false peace — and will end in greater disaster for us all.
Defending the Mighty Mississippi
On Thursday, the nonprofit advocacy organization American Rivers invited me to speak at their congressional briefing on America’s Most Endangered Rivers of 2025. The Mississippi River was named their number one most endangered river this year. The future of this great river depends on our actions today, which is why I recently reintroduced the Mississippi River Restoration and Resilience Initiative (MRRRI) Act. This legislation would ensure that the Mississippi river can continue its role as a vital ecosystem, while also providing for the nation that surrounds it.
Congresswoman McCollum with leaders from American Rivers.
20 million people rely on the Mississippi as the source of their drinking water, and millions rely on the waterway for transporting goods. Taking care of our rivers is not a Democratic or Republican issue, but an American one. With strong bipartisan support, I hope we can see MRRRI become law, and the Great Mississippi protected for generations to come.
Meeting with Minnesota's Family Farmers
On Tuesday I met with Members of the Minnesota Farmers Union, including my former Minnesota State House Colleague Ted Winter, to discuss issues facing Minnesota Farmers. Uncertainty around tariffs, federal grant freezes, cuts to FDA food safety inspections, cuts to SNAP nutrition assistance, and decreased market access were among the most alarming of their many concerns. The Farmers Union recently published their report “Voices Need to be Heard, Peoples Town Halls” which highlights the concerns of more than 600 Farmers Union members from around the state. The report highlights the negative impacts of President Trump’s tariffs and the uncertainty around Republicans' plan to gut Medicaid and SNAP.
Highlighting Youth Leaders from the East Metro
On Wednesday, I met with winners of the Group Youth Advocates of the Year Award from the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids to discuss their work protecting their peers and community from the harms of tobacco. Thank you to Clara Seeley, Summer Belfanz, Katie Engman, and Mỹ Linh Nguyễn for your advocacy!
Congresswoman McCollum met with student advocates from the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids.
Congratulations Saint Paul’s Small Business Leaders
I'd like to congratulate Saint Paul’s own John B. Yang and Digital Synergy, whose hard work and dedication was recognized by U.S. Small Business Administration as the 2025 Veteran Champion of the Year.
This week, my staff attended the Saint Paul Area Chamber's Small Business Summit and Expo to celebrate America’s entrepreneurs and small businesses – the backbone of our economy. I also want to highlight the hard work of the folks at the Saint Paul Area Chamber as well as Minnesota’s Small Business Administration Field Office, who work diligently to support Minnesota’s small businesses. This exemplary public-private partnership is vital to the success of our communities, our state, and our country.
Announcing the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for Minnesota's Fourth District
I’m excited to announce my office’s participation in the 2025 Congressional App Challenge! Middle and high school students in the Fourth District with an interest for coding are encouraged to create and submit an app to solve a problem, or provide education or entertainment. Learn more about the rules and important deadlines
here.
