Betty McCollum is a Democrat serving her fifth term in the United States Congress representing the families of Minnesota’s Fourth District. In 2000, Congresswoman McCollum made history as only the second Minnesota woman elected to serve in Congress since statehood in 1858. In the U.S. House of Representatives, she serves the residents of Minnesota's capital city, St. Paul, as well as Ramsey County, northern Dakota County and western Washington County.

In the 111th Congress, Congresswoman McCollum brings a common sense, Minnesota perspective to her work on the House Appropriations and House Budget Committees.

Throughout her career in public service, Congresswoman McCollum has been a champion for excellence in education, protecting the environment, expanding health care access and fiscal responsibility. In Congress, she is also working to defend workers’ rights and civil liberties at home, while ensuring human rights are protected around the world.

Education and health care are top policy priorities for both Minnesota families and Congresswoman McCollum. With over twenty institutions of higher learning located in the Fourth District alone, keeping higher education affordable, accessible and world-class is important. A strong proponent of public education, she supports keeping our schools accountable to parents and local officials. Congresswoman McCollum is a Member of the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations Subcommittee, which appropriates over $140 billion annually for domestic programs. She is also the author of a legislation to make healthcare a right for all Americans.

As a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the State Department and Foreign Operations, McCollum believes our nation's foreign policy must reflect the values of the American people. She is working to promote effective U.S. leadership in confronting the global AIDS pandemic while supporting investments that reduce extreme poverty and hunger while improving the status and health of women and children around the world. McCollum is a strong supporter of expanding the Peace Corps and a co-founder of the Congressional Global Health Caucus. Since 2002, McCollum has been an outspoken opponent of the U.S. invasion of Iraq, yet she has traveled into that war zone on two occasions to meet with U.S. troops and Iraqi leaders.

McCollum holds the prestigious position of Senior Democratic Whip within the House Democratic Caucus. Congresswoman McCollum is also one of three House members appointed to serve on the National Council on the Arts.

Prior to Congress, Congresswoman McCollum served in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 1993 to 2000 and was elected Assistant Leader three times by her Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party colleagues. From 1987 to 1992, she served her neighbors on the North St. Paul City Council.

In addition to elected office, Congresswoman McCollum's career has included teaching high school social science, as well as, 25 years in retail sales and management. She is a graduate of the College of St. Catherine, and the mother of two adult children. Congresswoman McCollum is a Minnesota native who grew up in South St. Paul, raised her family in North St. Paul and now lives in St. Paul.