St. Paul Reporter

Rep. Betty McCollum, a U.S. Congress member representing Minnesota’s 4th district since 2001, shared a series of tweets on January 21, 2025, concerning the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA) and its environmental significance.

In her first tweet, Rep. McCollum highlighted the natural features of the BWCA: "The Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCA) is a system of pristine lakes, forests, rivers, streams, and portage routes located entirely within the Superior National Forest. Voyageurs National Park, situated to the northwest of the BWCA, is Minnesota's only national park."

Continuing her appreciation for the region's natural beauty in a subsequent tweet posted moments later, she wrote about its unique environment: "The Boundary Waters contain indescribable natural wonders. Pitch-black midnight skies littered with stars and constellations; dense, untouched forests as far as the eye can see; water so pure you can literally drink it straight from the lake."

However, in another tweet at 18:41:16 UTC on January 21st, McCollum expressed concern over potential threats to this environment due to political actions: "But on the campaign trail, Donald Trump threatened to completely disregard the scientific evidence and allow toxic mining pollution to wreak havoc on the Boundary Waters. Project 2025 proposes revoking the 20-year mining ban."