Doug Collins

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I support S. 2896, the JACK Act. This bill applies to the penalties for failure to disclose under the Lobbying Disclosure Act, failure to disclose State or Federal court convictions for the offences of bribery, extortion, embezzlement, fraud, and tax evasion. Mr. Speaker, I would urge all my colleagues to support this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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 S. 2896, currently under consideration.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2896) to require disclosure by lobbyists of convictions for bribery, extortion, embezzlement, illegal kickbacks, tax evasion, fraud, conflicts of interest, making false statements, perjury, or money laundering.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, again I just want to emphasize it couldn't be a better day for us, especially with the First Step Act and the things we are moving forward on criminal justice. I join the gentlewoman from Texas in saying this is a good bill, and I urge adoption. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this legislation takes a number of positive steps to protect children; for example, it reauthorizes the appropriation of Federal grant funds until 2023 for the Department of Justice programs to prevent child abuse and assist victims of such crimes. In doing so, the bill also provides important liability protection for mandatory reporters such as, and including, pediatricians, educators, and law enforcement. This will protect these individuals from criminal and civil liability from not just reporting suspected child abuse, which they are mandated to do, but also for assisting with investigations of suspected child abuse. Mr. Speaker, as a father, I can think of no greater responsibility than protecting the most vulnerable among us, our children. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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 S. 2961, currently under consideration.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 2961) to reauthorize subtitle A of the Victims of Child Abuse Act of 1990.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of H.R. 7093, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, this bill is in part a response to the work of the current committee's Over-Criminalization Task Force. The Judiciary Committee created this task force to look at the growing problems of over-criminalization and over-Federalization of criminal law. The bill before us adheres to these principles by eliminating several sections of the Federal Criminal Code that have either never been charged, criminalized conduct that should not land someone in Federal prison, such as unauthorized use of the Woodsy Owl image or slogan, or both. This is a sensible, good-government measure, and I urge my colleagues to support it. Mr. Speaker, I would also like to thank the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Chabot) for his work on this bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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 to H.R. 7093, currently under consideration.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 7093) to eliminate unused sections of the United States Code, and for other purposes.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I urge adoption of H.R. 5075, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I strongly urge my colleagues to support H.R. 5075, the Ashanti Alert Act of 2018. This bill directs the Department of Justice to establish a national communications network, the Ashanti Alert Communications Network, to support the regional and local search efforts for missing adults. It fills the gap between the AMBER Alert and the Silver Alert. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Congressman Scott Taylor for championing this bill. 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 within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 5075, currently under consideration.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 5075) to encourage, enhance, and integrate Ashanti Alert plans throughout the United States, and for other purposes.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

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

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, as we close up this debate, this is one of those times when I really come to this well and understand and discuss from this podium that those things we do here matter. There are so many times we pass paper around this floor, we pass it and talk about bills in terms of line numbers and what it will do here, the code numbers, but at the end of the day, this is one that actually has faces behind the line. It has the faces of those who are currently incarcerated that now have a chance to have some programs so that when they do get out, they go home and are productive citizens. It has faces behind the lines of those right now who will be making mistakes, making bad choices even as we speak here on this floor, Mr. Speaker, but will have the opportunity to have a redemption in their life. We have heard opposition, and there have been some others who have opposition. It has even been said, ``You are soft on crime; you are not helping law enforcement''; although, we have folks like the International Association of Chiefs of Police, Fraternal Order of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National District Attorneys Association, some that don't want to come on, and I understand that. But I stand before you as a son of a Georgia State Trooper, someone who has been there when I watched my father go out and do his job when others didn't want to, when I know that this bill will help in the long run not only helping with not only the redemptive part, but also making sure that when people come out, they are not committing more crimes. When we are saving money and helping people, we are helping law enforcement do their job when we understand this. I have also heard from others who have sort of dismissed the data from States that said that this is not something that is evidence based. It is working in conservative States. It is working in some liberal States, but it is working in places like Georgia and Texas and Oklahoma and Kentucky. This is where this works. Some said, ``Well, we don't need to do anything because we need to punish them.'' Some are so looking backwards that all I will say to this is, Mr. Speaker, how is it working for us right now? Over 50 percent of these folks are recidivizing a short time after getting out of prison. These are folks going back in and committing more crimes. If we can do something to stop that, then this is something worth standing for; this is worth the time and the effort. When we come here today, we come here today to go back to the old principle that I said is about M and M, money and morals, and that is the best place to be, Mr. Speaker. I urge adoption of this act, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I inform the gentlewoman that we are ready to close at this time, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Richmond), a gentleman who has become a friend on this issue, one that I remember sitting in Houston talking about this, and also to say, now it has become a reality.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), who has provided such leadership on this issue and many others for this Congress.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Gohmert).

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague, Chairman Goodlatte, as he is leaving now to continue his quest, going out running to another hearing, but I want to thank Chairman Goodlatte for all that he has done and everything that he has expressed not only for our committee, but also for this bill, and also for Mr. Nadler and his support coming forward in this. We appreciate the work they have done and what we are seeing today. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 756, the First Step Act. This is historic legislation that will make our communities safer, save taxpayer money, and start addressing the revolving door of incarceration and crime by helping formerly incarcerated prisoners get a second chance at life. I have said this so many times over the last couple of years. This is simply an M and M issue. This is about money and morals. This is about doing good with the taxpayer dollar and also giving people a chance, from a moral perspective, to have a second chance. The legislation we are considering today is the culmination of extensive work with our colleagues across the aisle and in the Senate. I can proudly say that this is a truly bipartisan, bicameral bill. I thank my friend and colleague Hakeem Jeffries, who has been instrumental in this effort. We wouldn't be here today without his commitment to improving not only the justice system but individual lives. He has been a partner in many things, and this is the culmination of a large step. I thank him for that. This bill is the result of compromise reached through extensive negotiations with the House, the Senate, and the White House, all of which want to address serious problems within our Federal criminal justice system. The Federal prison population has increased from less than 25,000 in 1980 to over 183,000 today. Each year, tens of thousands of Federal prisoners return to their communities after completing their sentences. In fact, Mr. Speaker, if you take State, Federal, and local individuals incarcerated, 95 percent of them, at some point, will come home. That is a question for each of us. That is a moral imperative on each of us, on how we are punishing and also how we are preparing them for reentry. Unfortunately, almost half of these individuals reoffend after release. This cycle of recidivism drains taxpayer dollars, strains the limited resources at the Department of Justice, and undermines community safety. First, this legislation will provide low-risk inmates with the incentives and the resources they need to develop new skills and break their bad habits so that they emerge from prison as Americans ready to be productive members of society instead of repeat offenders. Secondly, the legislation includes carefully tailored sentencing reforms to address inherent disparities in our sentencing laws while keeping violent criminals from the incentives and benefits of the bill. Amending our sentencing laws requires care and balance, and I believe the negotiations over this bill have resulted in that balance. After many years of seeing how this has worked on the State level, through many studies and many evidence-based approaches, we are seeing this work. Finally, the legislation includes the Second Chance Reauthorization Act, authored by my friend and colleague Congressman Sensenbrenner. This legislation will reauthorize and reform grant programs that have been crucial to States working to improve reentrance services and to increase public safety. This is also sort of special from my perspective as well, for in my home State of Georgia, Governor Nathan Deal, a former distinguished Member of this body, went home and began spearheading criminal justice reform legislation that has made Georgia safer while saving taxpayer dollars. States like Georgia, Texas, and South Carolina have shown us that you can reduce both crime rates and incarceration rates through evidence- based approaches and carefully tailored sentencing laws. The First Step Act, which is based on these States' successful reforms, uses evidence-based approaches to drive down the recidivism rate among Federal prisoners. Also, Mr. Speaker, President Trump recently said this is an issue that unifies people, and it has unified a broad range of my colleagues in the Congress. Speaker Ryan has led on this issue for a long time, and today's bill would not be possible without his work and the work of Chairman Goodlatte, Congressman Jeffries, Sheila Jackson Lee, our majority leader, and so many others. As we continued on, it also transcended the House and went into the Senate, where Chairman Grassley and Senators Cornyn, Perdue, Lee, Durbin, and Whitehouse have negotiated tirelessly, and many legislators have worked to reach this compromise. Yes, it is a compromise. It is something that we have worked on and studied and worked to find something that works for the American people. I would also like to thank Jared Kushner and the Office of American Innovation for all their work and support in this legislation. When he came to the table, he came to the table with a full-on passion to find results and to get solutions. For that, Jared has been invaluable in this process. Mr. Speaker, when I came to Washington, I came to legislate. I came to be a part of representing my district and my State and this country. I am proud that my colleagues and I were able to do so here with the First Step Act, a bill that gives prisoners a second chance and makes communities safer. Finally, there is a group out there that is pretty amazing, a group from both sides of the political spectrum: hundreds upon thousands of advocates across the country, adding their voices to the reform effort. Their commitment, focus, and drive helped us get to this point, and today, we have a chance to move forward with historic, meaningful legislation to improve lives, make communities safer, save taxpayer money, and make the judiciary system fairer. Mr. Speaker, as Members well know, none of us stand here without help from others. I am blessed in my office to have people who are dedicated to not only finding solutions but sticking with it. Jon Ferro in my office, who is my counsel, has worked on this tirelessly. In fact, Mr. Speaker, I am probably going to have to have some days built in for him to take off because he has not slept much in the last month. But he has tirelessly fought for this and worked with both the Senate and the White House to make sure this is an approach that will work and do what is intended. And Erica Barker in my office, who, even with the trials of going through her own law school experience, has been invaluable, along with the rest of my office and the rest of the folks that we named already. This is the time to pass something that makes sense, that has been studied, that is backed up by evidence. It is a thing that the Founders, I believe, had envisioned. We fight where we need to, but when we can find agreement, we find agreement for the American people. Again, Mr. Speaker, it is about ``M and M's.'' It is about monies and morals, being smart on money and giving the people the chance that they need. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the opening of the new Lanier Technical College campus. In the words of Dr. Ray Perren, ``This campus was built not only for the students of 2018 but for those who choose technical education in 2078.'' The new campus includes six buildings for technical education instruction, an economic development and campus support building, instructional building, and an administrative building and student center. Lanier Tech's new campus was specifically designed to serve students by offering flexible training requirements, workforce training, and appropriate skills for an evolving job market. The $150-million campus will be open for classes in January 2019 and will accommodate more than 5,000 students, nearly doubling Lanier Tech's current capacity. This will, undoubtedly, improve upon their stellar job placement rate. Throughout the nation, communities have grown tired of paying astronomical prices for degrees that quickly become outdated. A technical education provides stability in an ever-changing economy, in industries that regularly create meaningful career opportunities. Mr. Speaker, I celebrate this investment in technical education for our local community, and I look forward to the positive impact this will have throughout Northeast Georgia.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize a company that has acknowledged the value that Northeast Georgians bring to the table and is relocating its headquarters from California to Hall County, Georgia later this year. Fox Factory Holding Corp., is widely known as a leader in developing shocks on mountain bikes and on vehicles like the Ford F-150 Raptor. The company also designs and manufactures performance-defining ride dynamics products for on-and off-road vehicles, all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, specialty vehicles, and motorcycles. Fox currently has offices in Braselton and sponsored two off-road courses at Road Atlanta last year. Fox will soon relocate its corporate headquarters to its Braselton office. In early 2020, the company expects to have completely transitioned into a new 23-acre site at Gainesville Industrial Park West. Fox plans to invest up to $50 million in the facility, which will be focused on manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution. The move is expected to create up to 800 jobs and boost the local economy. From dining establishments to engineering and construction, local businesses will be positively impacted by the move. I welcome Fox Factory Holding Corp. to Northeast Georgia, and I look forward to our shared success ahead.

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia

Mr. COLLINS of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the University of North Georgia faculty, students, and community volunteers who have been working with Gainesville students to improve their reading skills through the Casper Mobile Literacy Program. This program was initiated by Dr. Annmarie Jackson, an assistant professor of education at the University of North Georgia. Dr. Jackson noticed her department had a component focused on reading but lacked a component focusing on literacy. In the spring of 2018, the program began serving around 30 students in kindergarten through fifth grade who attend Riverbend Elementary School. Many of the children in the program are reading below their grade level and would not be able to attend a literacy clinic or obtain a tutor aside from access to the Casper Mobile Literacy Program. The program welcomes students after school on Tuesdays and Thursdays to receive support in reading and writing. Dr. Jackson and her volunteers lead the students through an engagement activity, guided reading, vocabulary review, and extension activities related to the reading selections. I commend Dr. Jackson and the University of North Georgia faculty members, students, and community members who volunteer their time each week to help the children in our community become stronger readers.