“Chaplains contribute to the holistic well-being of American troops, and to attack their role is to undermine the free exercise rights of all service members. I will continue to stand by Pease Air National Guard Base as it protects the freedom of the individuals who sacrifice to preserve the liberties of all Americans.”

WASHINGTON—Congressman Doug Collins (R-Ga.) and Senator James Lankford (R-Okla.) led a bicameral letter of support to Pease Air National Guard Base (ANGB) in response to a complaint that the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) lodged against the base. In its complaint, the FFRF argued that prayers led by a chaplain at Pease ANGB overstepped the separation of church and state.

The Air Force responded with a statement affirming that “chaplains provide, or provide for, the free exercise of religion” and “have consistently found the means to strike a balance between the tenants of their faith and the needs of the Airmen they serve.”

Members of both the House of Representatives and Senate penned a letter to Pease ANGB acknowledging that the Air Force’s response upholds the free exercise rights of both service members and chaplains in a national context in which religious freedom is under attack.

“The Air Force has again acted with courage and wisdom in affirming that our service men and women have the right to observe their respective religions or no religion at all. Chaplains contribute to the holistic well-being of American troops, and to attack their role is to undermine the free exercise rights of all service members. I will continue to stand by Pease Air National Guard Base as it protects the freedom of the individuals who sacrifice to preserve the liberties of all Americans,” said Collins.

Collins, a member of the Air Force Reserve, is the only military chaplain currently serving in the United States Congress.

December 23, 2016

WASHINGTON—The United Nations passed a resolution today condemning the construction of Israeli settlements, while the United States abstained from the Security Council vote. Congressman Doug Collins issued the following statement in response:

“The U.N. Security Council’s vote today continues the body’s pattern of undermining Israel as a sovereign, democratic nation. The United States’ failure to veto the measure, however, marks one of the most disturbing departures from the thoughtful precedent that has governed our relationship with Israel.

“It should concern every American that this administration seems to have forgotten the lessons of history in refusing to stand up for our friends in Israel. A sustainable, responsible approach to international relations means that the U.S. exercises foresight in defending its allies. We must understand that outrageous challenges to their sovereignty challenge our integrity as those who value justice in and among nations.

“In flouting American precedent by abstaining from today’s vote, the president has made the path toward peace between Israel and Palestine more challenging. And when a terrorist organization welcomes a new direction in American foreign policy, we should quickly reevaluate our own path—cowardice and capitulation on the world stage do nothing to advance peace in the Middle East or elsewhere.

“If this is the foreign policy the president plans to pursue at the end of his tenure, January 20 cannot arrive fast enough.”

WASHINGTON—Today Congressman Doug Collins helped the House of Representatives pass the FY17 NDAA Conference Report by an overwhelming margin of 375-34. This vital legislation authorizes a total of $619 billion to measures that provide for America’s common defense.

“While the president has sought to reduce our military capacity, today’s vote reverses that trend by authorizing $3.2 billion in readiness stabilization measures and providing service members with the  better pay and health care access they deserve,” says Collins.

“This NDAA also strengthens our fight against radical Islamic forces by keeping Guantanamo Bay operational and its prisoners off American soil. The House took further steps today to provide foreign security forces with resources to combat ISIS and to support our allies in Europe as they counter Russian acts of aggression or interference.”

The Senate is expected to vote on the conference agreement next week.

November 30, 2016

WASHINGTON—Today, the House passed the 21^st Century Cures Act to accelerate medical innovation, empower patients to take part in development efforts, and reform mental health care. The House Committee on Energy and Commerce worked across the aisle and with the medical community to develop the legislation.

21^st Century Cures models its mental health reform on Congressman Tim Murphy’s Helping Families in Mental Health Crisis Actand includes language from Congressman Doug Collins’ Comprehensive Justice and Mental Health Act. The Senate passed companion legislation for the Mental Health Act last year.

“The ongoing mental health crisis affects all of our communities, and we designed this legislation to bring relief to a system in which jails care for more mental health patients than medical facilities do,” says Collins.

“By supporting mental health courts and intervention teams and increasing training for law enforcement officers who are often the first to engage individuals with mental health conditions, we can better identify and treat people with these illnesses. The common-sense approach to mental health treatment complements criminal justice reform efforts and ultimately serves the law enforcement community, over-burdened court systems, mental health sufferers, and the taxpayers whose money goes to public health and safety measures.”

Congressman Collins and Senator Al Franken (D-MN) have been collaborating to address mental health issues as part of criminal justice reform measures since 2015, bringing legislation to the table in both houses.

The Senate HELP Committee has passed several individual companion bills to the Cures Act and is expected to vote on a package next week.

WASHINGTON—The United States Military Academy at West Point has offered admission to Jefferson High School’s Zack Boobas. Congressman Collins nominated Boobas for West Point and had the privilege of notifying him of his acceptance on Saturday.

Army has recruited the Nicholson native, who has excelled as a running back, punter, and safety, to play football there. Boobas is also the captain of Jefferson’s varsity football team and a member of the baseball and wrestling teams.

“Zack is a talented and ambitious young man who I believe will use his talent and leadership experience to serve the Army well. I am proud to have nominated him to West Point and look forward to watching him play football there,” said Collins.

Boobas has accepted admission to West Point and hopes to become an Army helicopter pilot, following in the footsteps of his father John, a commercial airline pilot.

WASHINGTON—Today the House passed H.R. 26, the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, by a vote of 237-187. The legislation would require that any major rules set forth by executive agencies be approved by both Congress and the president before taking effect.

Major rules are those with an economic impact of $100 million or more, which is calculated by the Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, part of the Office of Management and Budget.

“Over 150 billion dollars were added to the regulatory price tag last year alone, and that huge burden takes a toll on the American economy. When major rules are passed without enough consideration for the impact they may have on hardworking Americans, jobs are lost, prices rise, and our country loses more of its competitive edge,” said House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte.

On average, each U.S. household bears an annual economic weight of $15,000 in regulatory burdens.

“The House has again done its part to protect the voices and wallets of Americans by putting major regulations under the oversight of Congress. Now, my colleagues in the Senate have the opportunity and responsibility to send this bill to the White House. It’s time we restore accountability to the legislative process and ensure that the elected representatives of the people—not nameless bureaucrats—are the ones making the laws,” said Congressman Doug Collins, who introduced the bill on Tuesday.

President-elect Trump has said that he will sign the REINS Act into law should it pass in both chambers.