E-Newsletter
E-Newsletter
July 1, 2005
Dear Friends:
Last Monday, I joined Rep. Mark Souder (R-IN), chairman of the U.S. House Government Reform Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources, for a field hearing at Hamline University to assess the exploding problem of methamphetamine trafficking and abuse in the U.S. According to Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension 2003 estimate, 80% of the methamphetamine in our state comes from Mexico. Mexico needs to take greater action to fighting methamphetamine "super-labs" and the drug gangs that traffic the drug. Banning Sudafed and eliminating every lab in Minnesota is important but will do almost nothing if we do not stop meth at its source - Mexico. I also called for greater support to federal, state and local law enforcement to target drug gangs. Click here to read my full statement at the hearing.
Last week, the Bush Administration was forced to acknowledge a $1 billion-plus shortfall in veterans' health care funding for this year. The U.S. House passed a supplemental appropriation bill of $975 million to address the shortfall. This is an important first step, but it does not solve a preventable problem.
According to the New York Times, the Bush Administration severely underestimated the number of returning Iraq and Afghanistan personnel needing treatment, despite the warnings from veterans organizations. The original budget estimate of 23,553 returned veterans needing care this year ballooned to 103,000. There is no excuse for treating the needs of wounded and damaged soldiers as a budgetary afterthought. Especially as our nation celebrates our freedom this July 4th, we should be caring for our veterans and not shortchanging them. Click here to read more.
More than 500 athletes from across the United States gathered in the Twin Cities this week to compete in the 25th National Veterans Wheelchair Games. This was the largest annual wheelchair sports event in the world, bringing together athletes who are experienced, world-class Paralympic competitors as well as veterans recently injured in Iraq and Afghanistan and other conflicts. Athletes proved that severe physical disabilities cannot diminish the human spirit. Click here to read my letter to the editor on the Veterans Wheelchair games.
I wish you a safe and happy July 4th!
Sincerely,
Betty McCollum
Serving Minnesota's Fourth District
http://www.mccollum.house.gov/vertical/Sites/%7B6CD95013-7C42-4AD8-A464-EB8D8679E9C9%7D/uploads/%7BE51A77BA-3A14-4A30-8103-55CC5E19797D%7D.PDF