Congressman Collins Supports Bulletproof Vest Grant Program for Georgia Law Enforcement

 Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Judiciary Committee marked up S. 125, the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program Reauthorization Act. The bill, which Congressman Collins supported, passed out of Committee by voice vote. Congressman Collins issued the following statement after the markup:

“As the son of  Georgia State Trooper, I know how important it is to keep our law enforcement officers safe. This legislation reauthorizes a grant program to help local law enforcement purchase bulletproof vests for their officers. Twelve jurisdictions in Northeast Georgia have previously received grants under the program, enabling them to invest in a combined total of more than 150 bulletproof vests. We want to make sure they can continue to get the equipment they need to keep officers safe as they work to protect us and our communities. This bill, which has already passed the Senate, has broad bipartisan support and the backing of every major law enforcement organization. I am proud to support this legislation, and hope to see quick House passage and enactment into law.”

Below is a list of jurisdictions in Northeast Georgia that have received vests under the program:

Dawson County Gilmer County Jackson County Lumpkin County Pickens County Stephens County White County Elijay Gainesville Commerce

Clayton Toccoa

 

 

House Judiciary Passes Collins Bill to Protect American Jobs and Innovation

 Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Judiciary Committee marked up S. 1890, the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016. The bill, the House version of which was introduced by Congressman Collins, passed out of committee by a voice vote. Congressman Collins issued the following statement after the markup:

“Innovation, creativity, and hard work have made American companies successful and competitive in the global market,” said Congressman Collins. “However, inadequacy of current law and increasingly sophisticated methods to steal trade secrets have left American companies vulnerable. Trade secrets are the life blood of many companies and when they are stolen there is an almost immediate loss of value, which threatens American jobs and discourages research, investments, and competition. This legislation, which has more than 150 cosponsors in the House, takes steps to fix that problem. It will provide a uniform federal remedy and allow companies to preserve evidence, prevent disclosure, and authorize injunctions and damages. Under the Defend Trade Secrets Act, trade secrets will be afforded protections that apply to other forms of intellectual property such as copyrights, patents, and trademarks. The bill provides important protections that will help keep jobs here at home and discourage theft of intellectual property.

I thank Chairman Goodlatte and Ranking Member Conyers, and Reps. Nadler and Jeffries for their support and leadership on this bill,  and applaud Senators Hatch and Coons for their tireless efforts in the Senate to move this bill forward and get us to this point. I am encouraged that Leader McCarthy has scheduled the Defend Trade Secrets Act for floor consideration next week, and I look forward to voting for this bill in the full House.

 

“I want to applaud Congressman Doug Collins for his steadfast leadership on this important issue,” said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte. “Trade secrets are an increasingly important form of intellectual property that have become more vulnerable to theft as a result of our globalized economy.  Protecting the vital proprietary information of U.S. companies is essential to American competiveness, job creation, and ensuring a robust economy.”