Doug Collins

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, again, that is fine. I think the National District Attorneys Association also would agree that this is something that should be studied, but not mandated. And I think the amendment here goes farther than most of us are feeling comfortable with in that regard. I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I claim the time in opposition, but I am not necessarily opposed.

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

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition, although at this point I am not necessarily opposed.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Chair, I claim the time in opposition to the amendment, even though I am not opposed to it.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.

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

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Chair, again, I have been on this side, and I would love to see more cooperation, especially since this is one of the areas I do believe, Mr. Chair, we can actually have agreement on. The chairman and I have talked about this a great deal, and others, members of our Judiciary Committee. The FIRST STEP Act, criminal justice reform is something that I have been working on for many years. I think the issue of women incarceration is definitely something that needs to be looked at. Again, my concern with this program is the diversion of dollars that go through these programs to programs that already exist, and I am not sure how we are prioritizing these anymore. Even the numbers given were based over a number-of-years period, not a single-year period. When we were doing the FIRST STEP Act and doing some of the incarceration numbers, these numbers were a lot lower in the Federal prison of those actually pregnant at the time. So again, I don't, by any means, demean or try to talk badly about an amendment in the sense that it is not intended well. I think the problem is the underlying issues are already there. The underlying stuff is there. I appreciate her bringing that out. We just disagree that this would be the place to do this. There are other places we could work on this, and I think criminal justice reform is a great place to put this. I do commend the gentlewoman for bringing it. Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, thus far, I have released five transcripts from the Committee on the Judiciary's investigation into apparent wrongdoing at the FBI and the Justice Department. Today, I am releasing the sixth. The American people deserve transparency. They deserve to know what transpired at the highest levels of the FBI and at the origin of the probe into President Trump's campaign. Madam Speaker, I include the link www.dougcollins.house.gov/priestap in the Record so the American people can review the transcripts of Bill Priestap's interview. Out of an abundance of caution, this transcript has a limited number of narrowly tailored redactions related only to confidential sources and methods, nonpublic information about ongoing investigations, and nonmaterial personal information. I will continue to work to release as many transcripts as possible. The American people deserve the truth.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize Captain Jeffrey Sean Shoemaker, of the Hall County Sheriff's Office who recently graduated from the FBI National Academy in Quantico. Captain Shoemaker has demonstrated a commitment to being a part of the next generation of law enforcement leadership. His career in public service is a remarkable example of the devotion and reverence to our country and its success that many in law enforcement share. The FBI National Academy provides law enforcement officers across the country with the most up to date tools and training necessary to fight crime on a multilateral front. Programs such as the FBI National Academy course will help with the prevention and prosecution of even the most heinous crimes. My father was a State Trooper for the State of Georgia, and he was relentless in his duty to protect and serve. As such, I am particularly appreciative of Captain Shoemaker's duty to serving the Hall County Sheriff's Office and I would like to take this opportunity to commemorate all women and men who serve in law enforcement. Their adherence to justice safeguards our liberties. Furthermore, I congratulate Captain Jeffrey Sean Shoemaker on his completion of the program and I hope that he continues to find a sense of meaning and purpose in service to his country and the people of Georgia.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to commemorate the 70th anniversary of Jacobs Media. Founded in 1949 by John W. Jacobs, Jr., Jacobs Media is a family owned-media company based in my hometown of Gainesville, Georgia. On April 2, 1949, Jacobs Media successfully brought North Georgia our first FM radio station, WDUN. For 70 years, Jacobs Media has provided North Georgians with news, weather, sports, and variety of local and syndicated talk. In addition to bringing North Georgia our first FM radio station, Jacobs Media also launched the region's first cable company and online newspaper. They have continued to thrive under the leadership of John W. ``Jay'' Jacobs III, as AccessWDUN is now the most read website for local news in North Georgia, reaching nearly 4.25 million views per month. Access to free and trustworthy news is at the very core of our democracy. Each day, North Georgians turn to radio and online news to understand what is happening in our nation's capital and in their own backyard. While many families and businesses throughout the region are hindered by limited internet access, WDUN's various media platforms have worked to ensure our communities have access to a variety of news. On behalf of the Ninth District, I want to thank Jacobs Media for seven decades of service to North Georgia and congratulate them on their incredible success. We look forward to witnessing their continued growth as they enter yet another decade.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, thus far, I have released four transcripts of interviews from the Judiciary Committee into the apparent wrongdoing at the FBI and the Justice Department. Today, I release the fifth. The American people deserve transparency, they deserve to know what transpired at the highest levels of the FBI, and the origin of the probe into President Trump's campaign. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I request the link, dougcollins.house.gov/ nellieohr be placed in the Record so the American people can review the transcript of Nellie Ohr's interview. I will continue to work to release as many transcripts as possible. The American people deserve the truth.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Madam Speaker, over the past few weeks, I have released the transcripts of the interviews from Peter Strzok, Bruce Ohr, and Lisa Page from the Judiciary Committee's investigation into apparent wrongdoing at the FBI and DOJ. I have said I would make additional transcripts from the investigation public, and I am here today to keep that promise. As I stated then, our interview transcripts were pertinent to congressional investigation. But the 115th Congress ended, the investigation was closed, and copies were shared with certain Members of Congress. Madam Speaker, I request that the link www.dougcollins.house.gov/ papadopoulos be placed in the Record so the American people can review the transcript of George Papadopoulos. The American people deserve to know the origins of the probe against President Trump's campaign. I will continue to release as many transcripts as possible. The American people deserve transparency.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I intend to support this resolution, but as a matter of time and coming through this week, I have 30 minutes, so I might as well talk about a resolution that is a restatement of the regulation. I want to provide some background on the special counsel's regulations. Special Counsel Mueller is operating under a different regulatory framework from the independent counsel statute that gave us the Starr report. The Clinton administration Justice Department, which was led by Attorney General Janet Reno, Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder, and Neal Katyal, drafted the special counsel regulations in effect today. They established a regulatory framework that gives the Attorney General flexibility. Attorney General Barr has a few options when he receives the information from Mr. Mueller. He can give Congress the complete report or a summary, or he can simply tell Congress that the Mueller investigation has concluded. The Clinton administration regulations do not require a full report to Congress. However, during his confirmation, Attorney General Barr said he wants to be ``transparent'' with Congress and the public ``consistent with the rules and the law.'' I have no reason to think Attorney General Barr would back away from those statements he made before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Mr. Speaker, I believe he is truthful and will be truthful to his word to make as much public as he possibly can. The American people should not expect another Starr report. The Clinton Justice Department made sure another President would not have salacious stories aired before the American people. Janet Reno herself testified before Congress in 1999 that it was a bad idea for independent counsels to publish final reports. Many Members of the Democratic majority in Congress today voted against the public release of materials related to the Starr report. Mr. Speaker, I include in the Record a narrative related to a roll call vote from the 105th Congress. For the Record, I note that the following Democratic Members voted against the release of the Starr materials: Speaker Pelosi, Majority Whip Clyburn, Chairman Nadler, Chairman Cummings, Chairman Engel, Chairman Waters, Ms. Jackson Lee, Mr. Markey, Chair Lofgren, and Chairman Neal, among others. It is amazing that we have now changed our perspective on that, in light of a Republican in the White House. Again, this resolution simply, basically, restates the regulations that are currently in place that were written under the Clinton Department of Justice. It is going to go forward. The new Attorney General has said he wants to make as much public to the American people as he legally can. I believe in transparency. I believe that there are many other things we could be working on, but I am happy to support a resolution that is actually just a restatement of the regulatory burden already placed upon the Attorney General. Mr. Speaker, 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. Mr. Speaker, as I said today, and it is interesting to me--I think this is the funny part of this, because so many times we would come up here and we retreat to our partisan sides and we say, I am going to be a ``yes''; you are going to be a ``no.'' The sad part about it is the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Cohen), my colleague, I said ``yes'' on Monday night. I said ``yes'' to the resolution on Monday night. Yet it seems like somehow, through the process: Well, we need everybody to come together. We have talked about this. It is nothing but a restatement of the regulation. Attorney General Barr will follow the regulation. He has said so. He has been in committee, and during his time of confirmation, he has said so. I think what we need to understand here, and maybe we also need to throw this out here, and maybe this is something because I have heard a lot of my colleagues across the aisle talk about what they believe should be in this report. Well, maybe I have a problem and maybe a news flash to give them: What happens when it comes back and says none of this was true, the President did not do anything wrong? Then the meltdown will occur. I heard probably, earlier, just one of my colleagues actually on the other side stated that the elections has thrown chaos into the system. No, the reason the election has thrown chaos is because President Trump won and the Democratic candidate didn't know where Wisconsin was. You all remedied that this time, though. The Democratic candidate for President will actually have been to Wisconsin by the election day next time. There are other reasons to do this. Transparency is good. As we go forward, my hope would be, on this issue, let's let the report be given to the Attorney General. Let's let the Attorney General do the regulations and follow the regulations and give as much as he has said in his confirmation hearing: that he wants to be transparent, he wants to be a part, he wants this to come out, because he understands the questions and the turmoil that this has caused. So I have nothing to believe that this would not be true. There is nothing that has been presented here today to think that it wouldn't be true. That is what makes this resolution even more amazing to me: Nothing has been presented that Mr. Barr would not do what the regulations say. Now, there may be more on it and everything else, but let's talk about what actually the resolution says, and that is what it says. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I just want to say thank you to the chairman. I appreciate it. Mr. Hurd was on his way over here. I did my best song and dance. It didn't last long enough. I am from the South. I am bad because I can't dance that well. So I appreciate the gentleman giving him that moment.

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

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. I wouldn't want to do it either, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Wow.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Wow. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, for enlightening us on that. It is okay, basically, if you impugn the integrity of a sitting member of the Cabinet. I guess we just learned something new today. That is encouraging. As far as Members of the House, I get that it is not in the rules, but it also shouldn't be a part of this debate. This is a simple resolution. It simply restates the regulation. Don't make it any more or any less than what it is. That is why we are here. We are going to approve this, we are going to vote for it, but let's not make it any more than what it is. Let's continue on so we can get a vote, everybody can go home, and maybe we will come back and actually vote on legislation that actually matters. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.