Doug Collins

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. General Leave

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on House Resolution 275, currently under consideration.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, thank goodness, hopefully, we will get this rule passed and we will get to this bill so the gentleman can be in support of it, that is as we move forward. Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, again, this is about policy. This is about moving forward in the modernization process. I believe that Ms. Hayden is fully qualified to be Librarian of Congress. I think the issue comes in the Copyright Register's Office, not the Librarian herself. There are some issues also. It has been interesting because I have been involved in this now my whole time in Congress, and this issue of copyright protection and intellectual property, I have to say Electronic Frontier Foundation are good folks, but we disagree, many of us in the content community and also the intellectual property, with the views of a more open or less inhibited copyright protection, which we believe is the very heartbeat of the innovative system. It is protecting the copyright as we go forward. So just simply to have somebody saying that they are looking out for the big guy, I am looking out for the single songwriter. I'm looking out for the person right now in their home pecking out their first novel, working on their first articles. These are the kinds of things that need protecting. This is the little guy we are talking about. This is making this modernization happen, and we are going to continue to move forward. We have differences of opinion. That is fine. But I think in looking at this big picture, we are talking about a Register's Office that has so much work in our economy as a whole, we are just simply looking toward the first step of modernization. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Again, regardless of the last discussion, there are things about this bill that I have talked about when we first started, and doing this actually brings us into a position of modernizing the Copyright Office, which has been discussed a long time. I do want to address, just briefly, that there has been some discussion about an IG report. There has been discussion about, especially, the former Register of Copyrights. As I made clear in the conference, this has nothing to do with that being brought up. Implying things that were out of this IG report was basically attempting a character assassination of the former Register of Copyrights. I think in doing so, it has to be understood that, even in that IG report that is discussed, one of the Library's own responses back to the concerns of the IG report was that, in 2015, the inspector general found that the Copyright Office was compliant with all library methodology. With respect to its primary software applications, the Electronic Copyright Office and Copyright Imaging System, which support registration and recordation functions and are managed by the CTO, were all in compliance. I think that is really interesting as we look at this. But also what this IG report actually did say was that there were a lot of other problems. In fact, the GAO report in 2015 said the Library does not have the leadership to address IT management. That is why the Copyright Office was having to look at this because, also, in August 2015, of the Library's poor response and modernization, which are things that we are looking toward and how much this affects our economy. Because of the Library's problems, the electronic licensing system went down; and for 10 days, no one could register a copyright. In fairness, you may not like this bill, you may not like the current structure, and that is fine; but when we discuss the Library, there are a lot of issues that I am sure will be addressed in the relevant committees in their oversight on this IG report. That is what they are designed to do. What we are designed to do here is also not take and pick and choose and cherry-pick what parts of the report we want to talk about because we are trying to justify the current Librarian's decision last fall. When we understand this, we will begin to move forward on the Copyright Modernization Act. Let's get back to the real functionality of what this is, not who we appoint or how they are appointed, but the fact that this matters to millions of people and also accounts for trillions of dollars in our industries across the world. The Register of Copyrights Selection and Accountability Act is an important and bipartisan step. I repeat again, it came out with a vote of 27-1 in the Judiciary Committee. Mr. Speaker, I serve on that committee. That is not a usual vote on legislation that is making a positive, large, lasting impact that we are seeing on this. It is the first step rather than the last step in modernization. As we look forward to this, I will simply say this is a good bill. It has been perfected by both Republicans and Democrats. As I have said before, Sheila Jackson Lee, the Congresswoman from Texas, was very helpful putting this package together, along with the chairman and ranking member on both sides of the aisle, as we come forward with this. It is sort of a shame that, when we come to this bill, we diverge into rabbit trails away from the real issue. The real issue is let's help those folks who depend on the Copyright Office. Let's make modernize it. Let's make it the tool it is supposed to be, and that is the adviser of the expert in these issues for Congress. When we do so, at that point in time our economy continues to flourish, we get aside from the theatrics, and we get back to the real importance of the bill.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize five residents of Hall County who left school to serve their nation in foreign wars and who have recently received honorary high school diplomas from the district. On March 27 at Gainesville First Baptist Church, Larry Dean Martin, Jimmy Arnold Thompson, James Curtis Reed, Lee M. Cain and Jerry Harold Peck received the diplomas they had previously sacrificed in order to fight for their county. Hall County Schools Superintendent Will Schofield commended these men for contributing to a number of initiatives in the Hall County community, including handing out Constitutions and participating in an educational veteran graduation ceremony. Mr. Martin and Mr. Thompson attended East Hall High School, Mr. Cain and Mr. Peck attended North Hall High School, and Mr. Reed attended Johnson High School. Mr. Cain served during WWII, while the other men all fought in Vietnam. Although the many years have passed since their military service, Mr. Schofield says that the men are gratified to be recognized by their community. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize these Georgians for their selfless service and their community involvement. They deserve our recognition and the diplomas that have been awarded to them because they chose to put others before themselves in our nation's time of need.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the courageous life of Bob Vass, who was a true public servant to the Hall County community. Mr. Vass was elected to be the sheriff of Hall County in 1992 and held that position for eight years before becoming a member of the State Board of Pardons and Parole. Our community will remember his dedication to the department and the citizens whom he served for years to come. When he wasn't enjoying his favorite meal at the Longstreet Cafe, Sheriff Vass was continuously telling his neighbors stories of his time in law enforcement and his work for the Georgia Olympic Games. During the Atlanta Olympics he was in charge of studying terrorism in preparation for welcoming the centennial games to our great state. No matter the capacity, Bob's contagious smile and great sense of humor made him a bright figure around Hall County. In addition to his work as a sheriff, he was a member of the Lanier Technical College Advisory Board, Edmonson-Telford Center for Children, and the Boy Scouts of America Board of Directors. In each of these roles, he worked selflessly to change the lives of hundreds of individuals in the northeast Georgia community. Mr. Speaker, while we mourn the loss of Sheriff Vass, we celebrate his many contributions to our state and the life of service that he led.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the life of longtime Gainesville journalist Ted Oglesby, who served his country and our hometown throughout most of his 84 years. Mr. Oglesby arrived in Gainesville, GA in 1958 out of the Air Force Reserves and began working for WDUN radio, a well-known station in northeast Georgia. He soon left to become sole owner and chief editor at the Gainesville Tribune. In 1968, he returned to military service and spent a year in Vietnam. During this time, Ted contributed to many missions that led him across the globe. He retired in 1981 as a Colonel in the Air Force, having received a Bronze Star for his meritorious service to our nation. After returning to civilian life in Gainesville, Mr. Oglesby again took up the pen and pad as a reporter. His work in politics earned him many Georgia Press Awards, and he retired as the Editorial Editor of the Gainesville Times. As the founder and longest serving chairman of the Small Business Development Center, Mr. Oglesby was well respected throughout his community. He hosted a Travel Club for the Georgia Retired Teachers association and served as a Life Deacon at Lakewood Baptist Church. He was honored by the Gainesville Kiwanis and was presented the Hixson Award for his outstanding community service, which spanned five decades. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to recognize Ted Oglesby, a man whose ambition was to be a ``servant to others.'' This remarkable man loved his country and his community and served them both diligently.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 1101, the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2017. Small businesses are the backbone of our economy, providing economic opportunity and employment for millions of Americans across our country. Too often, we have seen the economic engine stall due to intrusion and overregulation that come courtesy of the federal government. There are few places where this is more obvious than in the staggering health care costs small businesses face, costs which Obamacare have only driven up. Obamacare's burdensome mandates have driven premiums up and insurance providers out of the market, and small employers have found themselves increasingly unable to cover their employees. The big picture for small businesses is that the ACA has smothered patient choice and patient- centered care in the process of overregulating our job creators. In the House, we are empowering small businesses to fight back by increasing their bargaining power with insurance providers and leveling the playing field that they share with larger companies. The Small Business Health Fairness Act will help lower health care costs for employees by allowing small businesses to join together through association health plans. Ultimately, this bill will bring relief to American employees and their families by making insurance more affordable and accessible. H.R. 1101 is an important step toward empowering small businesses to care for their employees while prioritizing the job creation that strengthens our communities. At the same time, this bill would contribute to a patient-centered, competitive, and low-cost health care system for all Americans. I am proud to support this legislation as we return choice to our businesses and loved ones.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Dr. Tom Smiley, whose compassion and character have made him a true leader in Gainesville and northeast Georgia. Dr. Smiley grew up in Gumbranch, Georgia, where he received his call to preach. After graduating from Blue Mountain College in Mississippi, Pastor Tom attended Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and Columbia Theological Seminary, where he obtained his doctorate in ministry, with an emphasis on marriage and family ministry. As senior pastor of Lakewood Baptist Church, Dr. Smiley has led the congregation--including my own family--for over 25 years. The vision for Lakewood is to be a regional church that raises up fully devoted followers of Christ who are trained and equipped to love and reach lost people, locally and globally. In addition to his work at church, Pastor Tom has established himself as a successful writer, authoring three books: ``Runaway Lives,'' ``Angels All Around,'' and ``Uncommon Common Sense.'' Dr. Smiley is engaged with the Gainesville community at every level, and our neighbors have enjoyed his contributions as a Little League baseball and basketball coach, as well as the work that he does at the community YMCA branch. Dr. Smiley is my pastor and friend, and in every aspect of his life, he leads with grace and devotion. I am proud to welcome him here to our Nation's Capitol in Washington, D.C.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 209 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Austin Scott) to continue discussing the rule before us about the McCarran-Ferguson repeal.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I have no other speakers, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. I would just like to remind those from the House that if you do defeat this rule, you will not vote on this commonsense piece of legislation. So let's at least put the correct procedural order out there. We need to vote ``yes'' on this rule and get on to the underlying piece of legislation, which is a piece that has passed this House not only unanimously by voice vote in the Republican Congress but also with an overwhelming vote just recently in the Democratic administration as well. So we are moving forward on this. I think what is interesting here, and what I have worked on, and we are going to have a lot of discussion on for the next 2 days is repealing and replacing ObamaCare. I think it was interesting that my friend--we share many a night and day in the Rules Committee, we share different opinions, but he made mention of the elephant in the room. I will just make mention of the donkey in the room. It is amazing to me now that we are actually concerned about people losing health care. We are actually concerned about prices going up. We are actually concerned about these issues that have been going on for 7 years. We are having an $800 billion tax because we have removed the taxes and impediments of ObamaCare. We are actually--instead of mandating the folks that they buy insurance that they can't afford and can't use, we are actually getting a marketplace that will actually give them better choices and results. I think the interesting part here is not knowing the cost and benefits. Good gracious. All we have to do is look back over the last 7 years, Mr. Speaker. When we understand what is going on, let's also, as we throw out the discussion--it was made in comment by my friend, 7 years to fix. You can't fix broken in this regard. When he goes about it traditionally wrong, it is not fixing. When you take away the markets, when you take away the individual market, and when you are taking away the very incentives that actually are the underpinnings of our health care to enlarge and grow, if your goals were to reduce and expand, then you failed miserably. You have not reduced costs, they have gone up. You have not expanded choices, they have gone down. I have listened to it about as much as I can right now. We are going to have the next 2 days to give people health. It is why we are over here for the majority speaking because of the failure of the ACA in ObamaCare. When we understand that, then we can look at pieces of legislation like the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act that should have been part of this a long time ago. Yet, we choose to begin discussions about a failure. It is about a failure. Choose the status quo. Squint your eyes, look real hard, it is not getting worse, it is really okay, just help us tweak it, help it get better. It is not getting any better. In fact, any insurance company is on a death spiral. ObamaCare is failing. Some of the CBO estimates about increased costs 10 years out are based on ObamaCare pricing. There wouldn't even be an ObamaCare plan in 10 years because it won't be there. So we will have these arguments. We will have these discussions. But if you want to move forward a commonsense piece of legislation, if you want to move forward a bipartisan piece of legislation, if you want one that actually the American people sent us here to do to actually make things better, then vote ``yes'' on the rule and vote ``yes'' on the underlying bill because that is why we are here--real solutions from a real majority that will answer the questions and then gladly defend it to an American people who are tired of being told about and talked about and taking things away because we didn't read it to know what was in it. That is why, because you couldn't know what was in it. Now we are going to tell you what is in it, and we are going to put back a marketplace that actually works for Americans. When we do that, we will gladly put the market back there where they can actually have a plan they can afford and actually use. When we understand that, the health care and the plan we put forward will be one that works for the American people, not against them.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Polis), pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only. general leave

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Today I am pleased to bring forward this rule on behalf of the Rules Committee. The rule provides for consideration of H.R. 372, the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act. The rule provides for 1 hour of debate for the bill, equally divided between the chairman and ranking member of the Judiciary Committee. The rule also provides for a motion to recommit. Yesterday, the Rules Committee had the opportunity to hear from Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte and Congressman David Cicilline on behalf of the Judiciary Committee. I thank Chairman Goodlatte and the Judiciary Committee staff for their work on this legislation. As a member of the Judiciary Committee, I had the opportunity to review this legislation at both a committee hearing and a markup. We heard from several witnesses at the Judiciary Committee hearing, including the bill's primary sponsor, Congressman Paul Gosar of Arizona. In addition to the bill's sponsor and the Judiciary Committee, I would also like to recognize one of my colleagues from Georgia, Representative Austin Scott, for his interest in this topic and leadership on this legislation. Congressman Austin Scott of Georgia testified before the Judiciary Committee on this bill and has worked actively to highlight this issue. The issue of competition in the health insurance marketplace is not a new one, but it is one that deserves more attention. Legislation similar to the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act passed the House under a Democrat-led Congress in 2010 and under a Republican Congress in 2012. Mr. Speaker, much of our attention on the floor this week is focused on making health care more affordable and accessible to the American people. The Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act is part of that plan. From shore to shore, we have seen and heard stories about the soaring costs of health care and the health insurance markets that have been hamstrung by ACA regulations. As a result, insurers have fled the exchanges while consumer choice and access to quality care have disappeared along with them. Today, more than ever, we need to institute reforms that restore options for Americans by encouraging healthy competition in the health insurance market. The problem actually dates back to the 1940s, and the Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act helps address a problem that has increasingly demanded attention. In 1944, Mr. Speaker, the Supreme Court held, for the first time, that insurance was part of interstate commerce and was, therefore, subject to Federal antitrust laws. Congress responded a year later by passing the McCarran-Ferguson Act, which established certain exemptions from the Federal antitrust regulations for the business of insurance. That law remains in place today, and reexamining it in the context of our health insurance market has received bipartisan support. The Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act would amend the 1945 McCarran-Ferguson Act to apply our three main antitrust laws--the Clayton Act, the Sherman Act, and the FTC Act--to the health insurance industry. To be clear, this bill does not impose new or radical regulations upon the health insurance industry. It merely applies longstanding antitrust laws to the business of health insurance, laws that have applied to the rest of the economy for decades. By restoring the application of our competition and antitrust laws to the health insurance industry, we strengthen the foundation for a competitive health insurance market. The high prices and lack of choices that patients find in health insurance flow back from a lack of competition in the market and a barrage of regulations. So it is past time that we reestablish a basis for a system in which insurance providers compete for customers in a patient-driven marketplace. While we work to bring common sense back to health care, we also have to look at the broad context of where the industry is and how it got there. In that spirit, this bill recognizes the importance of open and free competition across the economy, including the healthcare marketplace. Part of the government's role is to guard the American people rather than creating special interest exemptions that ultimately work against the hardworking citizens. H.R. 372 establishes that there is no basis for further exemption of the health insurance industry from the Federal antitrust law. Importantly, however, H.R. 372 also contains narrowly defined safe harbors to protect historically procompetitive collaborative activities that are unique to the business of insurance, including the collection and distribution of historical loss data and the performance of actuarial services that do not involve a restraint of trade. The Competitive Health Insurance Reform Act is not a magic pill or a silver bullet, but it is a key component of our broader plan to restore competition and common sense to the healthcare marketplace. The principles captured by this bill are part of our House Republican Better Way plan and a part of our plan to address the harm done that ObamaCare has brought on our healthcare system and those who depend on it. I look forward to the underlying legislation once again receiving broad support from both sides of the aisle. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and to include any extraneous material on House Resolution 209, currently under consideration.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. When we understand this, I understand the discussions, and I understand the issues we have here, but not with this. Make your vote. But don't cloak it. Don't call it crazy people. Congressman Mast, that ain't what they are. They are hurting. They need help. If this is an impediment to that, then vote ``yes.'' If you want to vote ``no,'' fine, vote ``no.'' But at least get the issue right. The issue is that the Veterans Affairs is saying: We are going to take your constitutional right away without adjudication and make you do it on your own because we have an opinion about this that we think could happen because you have got a fiduciary, you can't do it on your own. When we understand what is really at the heart of this, I would encourage all to say: you know, the veterans, you just overstepped your bounds here. We are going to put this back where it needs to be, and then we are going to get on to the real issues of veterans who are needing help. I know my Florida appreciates that. We have talked about it before. These veterans need help. Our VA needs help. Our hospitals need help. The money and time that are spent to help these folks when they come back--they are not crazy, they are not defective. They are just people who have been through a tough time, and they need a little kindness, compassion, and help. They are not broken. I broke my leg. I stepped on a piece of glass, and I cut my achilles. That is what happened to me. But if my mind-- everybody said: Your cast looks interesting. Nobody talks about it, though, if I came home to say: I am depressed. I have an issue. We start backing away. We have got to break that in our country. Mental health has got to be a priority--this--to be against this and claim what we are claiming here on the floor is wrong.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate my colleague from the Rules Committee yielding me time. I can't be in any more agreement with my friend from Florida just now. We talked about this actually in the Rules Committee yesterday. If you look at the actual language in the rule, it gets down to the fact that you are adjudicated a mental defective. That is language that has to be stopped in this. I know my friend from the Rules Committee, and we serve on Judiciary together, we are going to actually look into this. Because if we really want to start talking about veterans and suicide, then we need to start addressing it head-on in real terms and in real ways with the issues that they face and not simply saying that we are going to take a right away. It is amazing to me that we are discussing this issue. What about the other amendments? Well, we are just going to do the Second Amendment. In fact, what is happening right now among many, and for those who need to understand this, many of our VA colleagues who want to go to the Veterans Administration, have stopped going. If we want to actually worry about some of this stuff that they are worrying about with their mental health, then we need to take impediments away from them getting help, to let them know that just because they have problems that they can't process, getting help from the VA is something that should not be predicated on a fiduciary or somebody helping them. If they have got real issues, then follow the law. Follow the law. Adjudicate this. Don't give just simple carte blanche to say: We are going to take this away, and then, oh, by the way, go fix it yourself. I said yesterday in the Rules Committee: I am still in the Air Force. I am an attorney and a chaplain. I served in Iraq. I have delivered these death notifications. I have counseled those who have called saying: I don't find a reason to live, Chaplain. When we begin to throw around loosely these terms as we did yesterday in committee, when we send letters that say: if you vote for this, then you are actually making it free and easier--I think was the wording--to get guns to veterans. This is why this problem breaks down. This is why we use veterans as pawns. If you are against this, vote ``no,'' but don't use the cover of saying that you are helping people on suicide. Get to the issues.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the economic growth that Jackson County has experienced over the past year. The investment of new companies in the Ninth District of Georgia has brought hundreds of new jobs to our community, and it is my hope that this growth will continue for years to come. For many years, companies have made their home alongside Interstate 85 in the middle of Jackson County. The continued growth of e-commerce, in addition to the demand for expedited shipping by customers, has made it necessary for companies such as Amazon, Williams-Sonoma, and Whole Foods to acquire regional distribution centers. We are eager to welcome these companies, as well as many others, to northeast Georgia. In addition to the settlement of new companies in Jackson County, there have been multiple expansions that have been announced by already existing businesses and health centers. The continued growth of these companies shows that they have found a community in the Ninth District that is conducive to their businesses' future. The number of companies that have decided to absorb industrial space in our district represents another notable step towards increased economic strength for our community. However, Jackson County is continuing to invest not only in the economic sector, but in the future of young men and women by creating a college and career academy. In fall of 2017, the county will submit a proposal for this academy, which has the potential to attract new industries to northeast Georgia, as well as to educate the young men and women of our community. Mr. Speaker, I applaud this holistic approach to community growth on the part of Jackson County.