Doug Collins

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 2673, United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act. S. 2673 includes language from the Israel QME Enhancement Act. The Israel QME Enhancement Act is a bill that I sponsored and was supported unanimously by this body. Israel's qualitative military edge is the ability to maintain quality arms against numerically superior odds. My bill provided for a review of Israel's QME at shorter intervals, from 4 years to 2 years, and I am honored the review language made it into the Strategic Partnership Act. Both pieces of legislation recognize Israel's residence in a neighborhood of bad actors. Over the decades since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, it has endured several extended armed conflicts with its neighbors. From the Israeli War of Independence in 1948 through Operation Protective Edge, the latest conflict with Hamas, Israel has endured constant threats. Another constant is that Israel has been able to depend upon the U.S. for military assistance. During the Yom Kippur War in 1973, the U.S. conducted one of the largest airlifts in U.S. history to assist Israel. Today, we stand on the floor of the House in support of a bill to increase its military assistance and to increase the help to our friend Israel.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak on something very dear to my heart. The duty of a military chaplain is to help guide the hearts and minds of the soldiers that he serves with or she serves with, and that comes from a perspective of a background of their own faith, but also the respect of the faiths of others that they serve with, making sure that all feel a responsibility to not only do their job, their mission, but also to themselves, that they are being all that they can be in their own careers, in their own missions. But just again, here we go again, as the old saying goes. Recently, in my district, an Army chaplain gave a suicide awareness and prevention brief as required by the Army and received a letter of concern in his official record. A letter of concern is a means to admonish a soldier's actions. The chaplain did not infringe upon anyone's rights, did not receive any complaints from anyone being briefed that day; but after the chaplain's actions were reviewed, he was considered to have not violated any Army regulation or policy, yet his negative counseling remains, simply because at a time in which our society is dealing with soldiers and airmen who are struggling with depression and struggling with suicide rates, he had the audacity to share his own experience with depression and how his faith helped him. What is a chaplain supposed to do except to share from his own heart in a way that is encouraging to others whether they have faith or no faith? I hope--no, I pray--this counseling record will reflect soon his innocence. The Military Association of Atheists & Freethinkers decided to characterize the chaplain's briefing as evangelism in mental health training. The MAAF goes on to say that receiving Christian doctrine as a way to combat depression and suicidal thoughts would increase the amount of suicides in the military. This statement belittles the belief of soldiers who feel their faith may help them through difficult and troubling times. Apparently, the MAAF feel only their systems of beliefs are worth propagating and any others are irrelevant, if not damaging, to a soldier's emotional health. As a military chaplain, all I have to say to the MAAF is that if it protects and helps someone value life, keep their own life, then what they need to do is be reminded that they have an opinion, and so does everyone else. It is time that they lived up to their own thoughts, that thoughts matter, and that what this chaplain did should be reversed. It should not reflect on his record. When you have someone actually in the game trying to help, it is not the time for little people on the outside to criticize. They need to get a new direction and a new focus, and this chaplain needs to be restored and this letter removed.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Rules Committee. I rise in strong support of this rule and the underlying legislation, H.R. 5682, to authorize the construction of the Keystone pipeline. You know, it is not every day that I come back--and we have been gone for awhile from debating while we have been out actually campaigning and listening to the American people, and the American people spoke rather loudly last week, and it is good to come back and begin to put into practice what they have said. In fact, it is amazing to me how debates that went on so far here and coming to the floor--in fact, from people that normally we never disagree on--I am actually bringing to the floor a little bit of bipartisanship here. In fact, I know that some will think there is no better argument for the pipeline--in fact, there is no better one that I have heard than one that I read in the paper today from a distinguished colleague in the other Chamber just across the way who does not share the Republican point of view. He said in regards to the Keystone pipeline: It would be a tremendous windfall for all of us. It is something we can count on. I can't for the life of me understand why we haven't, to date, been able to move this piece of legislation forward. Well, good grief, neither do I. In fact, if I was to spend the rest of my 5 minutes just trying to understand why the Senate can't move bills, we would be here all night, Mr. Speaker. The gentleman from the other side, the other body, the Senate, summed it up clearly. He said: I don't understand why we can't move stuff. What I have also missed, Mr. Speaker, coming back to the floor of the House, is things that I have never heard before, I mean, not at least in north Georgia where I am from. When we talk about jobs--and I have heard it talked about here on the floor of the House this afternoon; in fact, it was said that this is a waste of taxpayer money. To bring bills like this up, that it is a waste of taxpayer money. What is a waste of taxpayer money is the House Republicans passing jobs bills for Americans regardless of their party, jobs for them, and having them sit in a Senate that never woke up. That is a waste of taxpayer money. Where do I go to get my money back from that side of the aisle? You know what is another thing that is amazing to me today, I actually heard something, Mr. Speaker, and you may have to help me with this because I don't understand because it was just said here on the floor of the House that this bill was a special interest earmark. I have never heard jobs described as a special interest earmark. Are you telling me that the Congress, in looking to give people jobs, is a special interest earmark? I think that is exactly what we are supposed to be doing. Are you kidding? This is exactly what the election was about just a couple of days ago. It is exactly what the American people spoke of. It is exactly what they are tired of--of government standing in the way of jobs. Emergency legislation, an ``emergency rule,'' another term I have just heard on the House floor just a few minutes ago, that we were coming to the floor with an emergency rule and that we were going to do something special. Undoubtedly, they have never met somebody who does not have a job. I have been without a job. And if you were to tell me that I could get a job when I was looking for a job, that is emergency legislation. It is whatever it is, and I am looking for a job, and there are millions of families looking for jobs. Special interests it is not; it is the work of this body. And to say it is a waste of time, have we lost that much of our vision of what the American people sent us here to do? Are there things that we could bring up? I appreciate my friend from Colorado. Are there a multitude of bills we could bring up? Yes. But as my parents once told me, they said: Doug, that is the supper you are getting tonight. You either eat it or go to bed hungry. The bill we have before us is a jobs bill--42,000 jobs--puts millions of people in jobs and the economy back together again in a way that helps our economy and helps the world, but yet all we are worried about is what could be. Well, what could be is not good enough for somebody who can't pay their house payment, who can't send their kids to school. It is bad. If you are watching and if you want to think about this right now, there is a clear difference. And the clear difference is that the Republicans have listened to the folks at the ball fields, have listened to the folks at the churches and the synagogues, who have heard ``I need a job.'' I want to work together for good jobs, and we will get to better jobs; but what is before us right now, Mr. Speaker, is this bill. This is the bill that is before us, and there is bipartisan support for this. And we can claim what is not in it. We can claim what it is. But I would never ever want to come to this podium, Mr. Speaker, and ever say that a jobs bill is an earmark, that a jobs bill is something that we shouldn't be taking up or that it is a waste of time, because when we say that bills like this are a waste of time, then we might as well say to people on the unemployment line, ``You are a waste of time,'' and this Republican will never do that because the American people expect better from us. That is why this rule needs to pass; that is why this bill needs to pass; and that is why this Republican majority will do what it is sent here to do--govern.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I want to highlight the good work of B.R.A.K.E.S. (Be Responsible and Keep Everyone Safe), a charitable organization that is taking meaningful steps to reduce the number of traffic-related injuries and deaths by training and educating teenage drivers and their parents about the importance of safe, responsible driving. B.R.A.K.E.S. was born out of the personal tragedy of National Hot Rod Association drag racing star Doug Herbert. In January 2008, Herbert lost his two young sons, Jon and James, in a car accident. His loss led him to create a driving program that same year to help prevent other families from experiencing similar grief by teaching young drivers more conscientious and confident skills behind the wheel. More than 5,000 American teenagers lose their lives in traffic accidents each year. B.R.A.K.E.S. is working to reduce this staggering number of deaths by providing free advanced driver's education in a program entitled the Teen Pro-Active Driving Course. This program goes beyond conventional driver's education to target specific driving situations responsible for many traffic accidents involving teens. Based in North Carolina, B.R.A.K.E.S. is making an impact nationwide. More than 11,000 teenage drivers and their parents have attended the B.R.A.K.E.S. program in 10 states. Participants have traveled from 29 states and 2 countries to attend these training events. The group is constantly seeking additional locations so even more young American drivers and their families can experience the peace of mind that comes with this specialized training. Last month, I visited a B.R.A.K.E.S. program with my teenage son Cameron and was truly impressed by what they do. I consider it a privilege to share what B.R.A.K.E.S. is accomplishing in the lives of thousands of teenage drivers, and I wish them continued success in their mission.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the chairman for yielding. I appreciate the opportunity to speak on this rule and the underlying legislation, which I support, because included in the underlying legislation is H.R. 1493, the Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlement Act, that I authored. I support these bills that the House will debate and vote on because they will make a difference in the lives of and make them more affordable for families in Georgia and all across America. You see, Mr. Speaker, the Republican solutions that are offered in these bills that are being brought to the floor today are solutions for moms and dads who can't find full-time employment, who can't afford to buy a full tank of gas, who sit down at the kitchen table with a heavy heart because they can't afford the basics that they just heard their child talk about that they wanted. Mr. Speaker, America is searching for the things that matter. They are wanting their government to work and they are wanting their government to put ideas to paper. It is not the ideas simply spoken on the floor, but it is the ideas and the dreams and the hopes of every family as they come together wanting a better life, and they want the government not to impede those areas and actually to encourage them. These bills don't represent just the hard work of my colleagues. They represent the hopes and dreams of Americans who have given up on our government. House Republicans stand united with one goal: to restore what has been lost. To restore the jobs, the affordable housing, the quality education, the ability to start a business in your home and to see it flourish. I support these bills to expand domestic energy production because each job it creates equals a family that can put food on the table, buy school uniforms, and do the things that they want to do, not what government dictates. I am a Republican because I believe that government exists to help, not hinder its citizens. I support these solutions because I firmly believe every family in this Nation should be able to afford life and everything that it entails. Remember, our Founders said it is the pursuit of happiness, not a guarantee of happiness. And too many times coming from Washington we want to say we will guarantee your happiness. That is not what the Founders said. In fact, what the Founders said is the government will provide the basis for you to go pursue your own happiness, to provide lifelong tools to those who have fallen on hard times, to help moms who are struggling to provide for their kids and have no one to help them. This is the type of government that I believe in, and this is the type of government Republicans in the House are committed to fighting for. Unfortunately, many times what happens, I believe, is that the Republicans are the ones that have the ability and the track record to create a Federal Government who keeps our Nation safe from terrorism, who gives parents more control over their children's education, and encourages startups and businesses to grow and hire more and more people. Unfortunately, many times in our debates over priorities and jobs, we come and paint with broad strokes. We paint with broad strokes, saying that if you want to get government out of the business of hindering businesses through regulation after regulation after regulation--not to destroy quality of life, but to improve business and maintain both-- that you are simply destroying the things that built America. Those are broad strokes that the American people, Mr. Speaker, are no longer buying. They are no longer buying a government that simply gets in the way and does not encourage. I support these solutions on the floor today because I support a government that works, not a government that works against its people. The Republicans are putting forward on this floor today not just simply partisan bills that have been attacked, but these are bipartisan bills being put forward. I agree with many on the floor today, but it is time that the system work, and it is time for the United States Senate to work. If they don't like our ideas, they should put their own ideas on paper and send them back over, instead of hindering what is going on and having a debate that simply rounds up in this room right here, with friends on both sides of the aisle frustrated with the process. Before I came to Congress, I was a pastor. I am still a chaplain in the United States military. The greatest thing that I see for people today is that they have lost trust, unfortunately. They have broke a breach of faith with us. I believe when we decide that government should be about the people and for the people, then we are doing exactly what we are supposed to be doing; and that is to encourage, as our Founders said, the pursuit of happiness and not the guarantee of happiness. When we do that, Mr. Speaker, that is Republican principles at play, that is Republican solutions, and that is what these bills offer today. Don't buy the other argument. Buy the Republican principles that we will help those who need help, and that is the American citizen. That is what I believe in. That is the government I want to see work, not one that hinders people.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, let's be sort of open and transparent, which is what the American people want here. There is not a bill that hits the floor of this House that is not a message bill. It sends a message of the priorities of the Congress. It sends a message of the priorities of the people that we represent. Yes, they are messaging bills. They are messaging bills for Florida. They are messaging bills for Georgia. They are messaging bills for the American people. What happened in this instance is the message was loud and clear from the executive office, saying: I don't care what the law says, I am going to do it anyway. That is a bad message, Mr. President, and we need to stop it.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this rule and the underlying legislation. This rule will expand the regulatory jurisdiction of the EPA and Corps and, in turn, place more restrictions on landowners who will fall under this new umbrella of jurisdiction. It has been said many times from others that our side is, at best, uncaring about the environment and, at worst, we actually want to make the environment terrible. I think what we have got to deal with here is the Clean Water Act has provided a good parameter and needs to be continued to work because it has a clear direction and a clear parameter of how you bring in bodies of water and what is under that jurisdiction. I think what has happened here and what is a concern that I have heard from my constituents especially in north Georgia, and all over the country as I have traveled in the past few weeks talking in different parts of the country, is about what is the actual role in dealing with this waters of the USA and what are we taking jurisdiction from. This is not just an agricultural issue, Madam Speaker. This is also an internal issue for the rural and urban areas, because what is being talked about here is taking under consideration navigable waterways that have never been thought of in my part of the world, many times, as any more than a dry ditch, and they will simply say: We are not dealing with dry ditches. In fact, a dry ditch will not be uncovered. However, there is a caveat that basically says that when water from that dry ditch flows into another waterway, then it could be considered navigable. And I don't know about anybody else, Madam Speaker, but in my part of the world, I have never seen a ditch run uphill and stop. A ditch is running to somewhere. This is simply a landgrab that takes land away from owners who could use this land in very productive and very carefully thought-out ways in their own localities and States, and actually takes it away. This is nothing more, frankly, than a landgrab that is based on a desire to put political agendas ahead of property owners. That is why I support the rule and I will support the underlying bill dealing with the Waters of the USA Act. I rise also in support of our underlying bill, as well. And we have got to understand that the law clearly states the President shall notify Congress of any release of Guantanamo Bay detainees. It clearly states this. And if changing or breaking that law isn't enough, the President released five of the most dangerous detainees held at Guantanamo Bay. These Taliban leaders have orchestrated plans to engage in hostilities against Americans and in association with al Qaeda. By his own admission, there is the possibility that these detainees would return to the fight. As someone who has been in that fight over the past 10 years and has been over there, they do not need any help. They do not need their poster heroes coming back to them and giving them support, even though they have been off the battlefield. This was wrong. My friend from Florida says they are message bills.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. As I have been listening here just for the last few moments--and at this point, as the song says, ``We are over halfway there''--of listening through these what many people would say are just post office namings, if you listen to the stories that are being told, these are the stories of America, these are the stories of those who serve, those who gave their life, those who served us in other ways in their communities. For that reason, if no other, this should be mandatory to watch in the elementary schools and high schools all across this country because this is what we are talking about is the best of America. With that, I would ask support of passage of H.R. 5019, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I appreciate my colleagues and what they have shared about a former colleague. I think once served here we are always colleagues, and I think the example that he set is one that is well worth remembering. I appreciate the gentlelady from Texas for bringing this and look forward to supporting it, and would ask that all Members support the passage of H.R. 78. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill under consideration.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 78) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4110 Almeda Road in Houston, Texas, as the ``George Thomas `Mickey' Leland Post Office Building.''

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, at this point I have no other speakers and am ready to close.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 78, which was introduced by Representative Sheila Jackson Lee of Texas. H.R. 78 would designate the post office located at 4110 Almeda Road in Houston, Texas, as the George Thomas ``Mickey'' Leland Post Office Building. Mickey Leland was an effective spokesman for disadvantaged people across the United States and the world. During his six terms in Congress and 6 years as a Texas State legislator, he strongly advocated for civil rights, hunger relief, and health care for the poor. He helped establish the House Select Committee on Hunger, of which he was chairman. Under Mickey's leadership, the Select Committee reemphasized the priority of hunger and the alleviation of poverty within the foreign assistance programs of the United States. He succeeded in expanding funding for primary health care in developing countries and fought against the injustice of apartheid in South Africa. Additionally, his legislative initiatives included establishing the National Commission on Infant Mortality, providing better access to fresh food for at-risk women, children, and infants, and instituting the first comprehensive services for the homeless. Mickey was a powerful advocate on other causes as well. While chairing the House Select Committee on Hunger, he was a member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Subcommittees on Telecommunications and Finance, Health and the Environment, and Energy and Power. He chaired the Subcommittee on Postal Operations and Services, and he served on the Committee on Post Office and Civil Service and the Subcommittee on Compensation and Employment. Tragically, Mickey was killed in a plane crash, along with 15 others, following a humanitarian mission to Ethiopia. He was survived by his wife, Alison, and three children: Jarrett, Austin, and Cameron. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring the legacy and example of Mickey Leland by passing H.R. 78. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 2678, which was introduced by Representative Joe Garcia of Florida. This bill would designate the postal facility located at 10360 Southwest 186th Street in Miami, Florida, as the Larcenia J. Bullard Post Office Building. Larcenia Bullard was a schoolteacher and member of the Florida State senate representing the 39th district from 2002 to 2012. She also served in the Florida State House of Representatives from 1992 to 2000. Born Larcenia Dunbar on July 21, 1947, she was a graduate of Antioch College in Ohio and moved to the Miami area from Philadelphia in the early 1980s. She earned her master's degree from Southeastern Nova University and taught first grade but had developed a desire for public service while working on political campaigns in high school and decided to run for office. She was elected to the Florida State House of Representatives in 1992. When she left the State house in 2000, she managed her husband Edward's successful campaign to succeed her. Likewise, her son, Dwight, succeeded her as a State senator following her retirement. Larcenia Bullard is remembered as a woman of integrity with a great sense of humor, caring spirit, and a heart of gold. While she fought passionately for her convictions, she treated everyone, including her opponents, with respect and dignity. At the time of her passing, Florida State Senate President Don Gaetz said: Every hard fight in committee or tough debate on the senate floor always ended with her warmly embracing those with whom she disagreed and assuring them of her love. Madam Speaker, Larcenia's example is one that all Members of this body would do well to follow. She died in March of 2013 in the town of her birth, Allendale, South Carolina, while on vacation with her family. In addition to her husband, Edward, and son, Dwight, she was survived by her son, Vincent; daughter, Edwina; and her grandchildren. Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in honoring the legacy of this great woman and public servant by passing H.R. 2678. With that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, we have no more speakers, and we are ready to close.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I object to the vote on the ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a quorum is not present.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, again, I appreciate the gentleman from Florida bringing forth an example of a fine public servant, and I would urge all Members to support passage of H.R. 2678. With that, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, it was stated in my remarks previously that Ms. Jenkins, sadly, passed away October 31, 2001. I think from her faith background and for her children, it was a sad day, but it was also a happy day, because every time we remember those such as we are remembering today, there was a birth and there was a death-- and we are remembering the death--but in between there is a dash or a space. Those lives that we memorialize today on the House floor are in that dash or space. So, for me, the dates mean a birth and a death, but it is the nondate in the middle that makes what we are doing here today so special in the lives of these individuals. With that, I would urge all to support H.R. 3957, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, we have no other speakers and are ready to close. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 3957, which was introduced by Representative Gregory Meeks of New York, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 218-10 Merrick Boulevard in Springfield Gardens, New York, as the Cynthia Jenkins Post Office Building. Essie Cynthia Jenkins served the communities of Jamaica, St. Albans, Springfield Gardens, and Rosedale, New York, for 12 years as a New York assemblywoman. She made history by being the first African American woman elected to represent southeast Queens. Ms. Jenkins served as chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Affirmative Action and a delegate to both the Governor's and White House Conferences on Libraries. She was also instrumental in the State's decision to make a 250-bed Veterans' Home to St. Albans in the 1980s. Prior to her career in public service, Ms. Jenkins was a librarian for 23 years, working in every southeast Queens branch library. In 1966, she earned a Master of Library Science degree from Pratt Institute. It was around this time when she met her husband, Joseph Jenkins. The two had a son, Joseph Jenkins, Jr., who credits his mother's strong spiritual beliefs and active membership in the Springfield Gardens United Methodist Church with his decision to become an ordained minister at the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Bay Shore, Long Island. Ms. Jenkins, sadly, passed away on October 31, 2001, at the age of 77; however, her passion for learning lives on. Her undergraduate alma mater, the University of Louisville, named a scholarship in her honor, known as the Essie Jenkins Torchbearer Endowment, established in 1999. Since then, many young people have had the opportunity to go to college, thanks in part to the dedication and trailblazing efforts of this remarkable woman. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in passing H.R. 3957, and with that, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, as has been stated by my friend, Reverend Davis, and also by my dear friend from Florida (Ms. Ros- Lehtinen), at this point, you do not have to live many decades to live a full and vibrant life. This young man proved that you can live a full life if you live each of your days to their fullest. To his credit, we will be proving this, that spirit of living a life that is full and in service to others. With that, I would ask all of my colleagues to support H.R. 5030, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ros-Lehtinen), and it is with great joy that I look forward to her remarks and her speaking on this important measure.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on the bill which is now under consideration.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 5030) to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 13500 SW 250 Street in Princeton, Florida, as the ``Corporal Christian A. Guzman Rivera Post Office Building''.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on this bill which is under consideration.