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GA 9th District Congressman Collins (R) Interview on the new Tax Bill and its passing

Politics, State & National December 19, 2017 , by Staff Admin

Georgia’s 9th District Congressman Doug Collins joined us for a brief phone interview this morning. He started out the interview by saying today is going to be a good day and a good day for the American people. The new Tax Bill should be on the President’s desk by the end of the week, Collins said. This new bill will do away with the Obamacare/health insurance mandate. The American people will no longer be “forced” to purchase health insurance. BKP went on to ask Collins about topics such as the government funding, a possible spending resolution, Russian dossier on going investigation, and a possible 2nd council. Collins finished the interview with a comment about President Trump’s National Security speech. “We have a world that is unstable but a leader who wants to keep America safe and keep our leadership in the world.” As always we would like to thank Congressman Collins for taking time to speak with us.

President’s Budget Includes Collins’ Immigration Policy

Politics May 23, 2017 , by Cub Staff NL

May 23, 2017

President’s Budget Includes Collins’ Immigration Policy

“I support the president’s strong response to illegal immigration and am pleased to see my legislation mirrored in his first full budget. American taxpayers deserve to see the fruits of their labor returned to their families rather than passed on to individuals who undermine our legal system.”

WASHINGTON—President Trump’s FY 2018 budget incorporates a tax accountability policy that parallels legislation introduced by Congressman Doug Collins (R-Ga.) this February. The president’s budget can include policy recommendations, and Collins’ Tax Credit Accountability Act would prevent individuals residing in the United States illegally from receiving the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).

Currently, Obama-era policies allow illegal immigrants to claim the EITC retroactively, even if they have not paid taxes on previous income. In fact, illegal immigrants who were granted de facto amnesty under the Obama Administration could receive refund checks larger than their original tax liabilities. This process has been made possible by the executive decision to award illegal aliens Social Security numbers as part of amnesty.

Collins’ bill would correct this imbalance by preventing illegal residents from benefiting financially from breaking U.S. laws.

This budget represents the first time the White House has considered the perspective of the taxpayer, rather than looking only at where the money is flowing, in drafting its budget requests.

Congressman Doug Collins President Trump

Collins, Kilmer Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Stop the Outsourcing of American Jobs

Featured, Politics March 23, 2017 , by Content Admin

Jessica Andrews
(202) 225-9893
[email protected]

March 23, 2017

Collins, Kilmer Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Stop the Outsourcing of American Jobs

“We can’t allow the law to be exploited to displace American workers and send their jobs abroad. The Keeping American Jobs Act protects American workers by preventing bad actors from abusing the system in order to offshore jobs.”

WASHINGTON—Today, Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA) and Doug Collins (R-GA) reintroduced a bill to prevent employers from sending jobs overseas by abusing a temporary visa program. The legislation would stop employers that are awarded temporary visas through the H-1B program from using them to train workers in the United States then move those jobs to another country.

H-1B visas allow American businesses to hire foreign professionals if skilled American workers are unavailable to fill job openings. The employees must have expertise in fields like science and technology and generally have college degrees. This week, 60 Minutes reported that unscrupulous employers have utilized the program to bring foreign workers in and displace American jobs. This follows reports last year that American workers were forced to train H1B visa holders to do their job so that the jobs could be permanently outsourced to foreign workers.

“Our policies should promote jobs in America,” said Kilmer. “They shouldn’t be about sending jobs done by hard working Americans overseas. That’s why I’m continuing my push with Representative Collins to keep H-1B visas from ever being used to send any job to another country.”

“Protecting American jobs is crucial in order for our economy to continue to gain strength and momentum,” said Collins. “Companies have the opportunity to bring workers from overseas on H-1B visas in the event that qualified Americans aren’t available, but we can’t allow the law to be exploited to displace American workers and send their jobs abroad. The Keeping American Jobs Act protects American workers by preventing bad actors from abusing the system in order to offshore jobs.”

Congressman Doug Collins

American Health Care Act – Dead! Tax Reform Stuck in Gridlock Trump Ready to Work with Democrats

Featured, Politics March 27, 2017 , by Staff Admin

GA 9th District Congressman, Doug Collins, was the floor leader Friday for the American Health Care Act Debate. We asked Congressman Collins if the Health Care Bill was dead? Could they overcome Republican gridlock in the House to take on President Donald Trump’s Tax Reform Policy? You will be shocked to hear the Congressman’s answer! Collins goes on to talk about how this bill would have defunded planned parenthood. You will hear the Congressman’s frustration that that did not happen.

American Health Care Act Barack Obama Congress Congressman Doug Collins Democrats Freedom Caucus Obama Care Paul Ryan President Donald Trump Repeal and Replace Republicans Tax Reform White House

Collins Fights to Protect Due Process in Civil Asset Forfeiture Cases

Featured, Politics March 30, 2017 , by Content Admin

Jessica Andrews
(202) 225-9893
[email protected]

March 30, 2017

Collins Fights to Protect Due Process in Civil Asset Forfeiture Cases

“Our citizens and my neighbors deserve robust protections surrounding their property and due process rights. Government bureaucrats should not be allowed to seize privately held assets without meeting a higher burden of proof than the ‘preponderance of evidence’ statute currently in effect.”

WASHINGTON—Congressman Doug Collins (R-Ga.) is a co-sponsor of legislation introduced to increase the accountability and oversight of federal civil asset seizure and forfeiture cases. The Deterring Undue Enforcement by Protecting Rights of Citizens from Excessive Searches and Seizures Act of 2017 (DUE PROCESS Act) includes a variety of reforms to the status quo that would better protect citizens from undue government seizure.

“Americans also deserve access to counsel in these cases, which can become difficult because civil asset forfeiture procedures inherently throw victims into a Catch-22 situation: Property owners need attorneys to recover their assets, but they are often unable to hire counsel because their assets have been frozen at the discretion of the Internal Revenue Service. The DUE PROCESS Act strengthens these and other legal protections that are necessary to guard innocent Americans from cases of destructive government overreach.”

In addition, the bill would allow individuals to recover attorney fees in cases in which the court finds in the victim’s favor and would require the government to notify individuals within 30 days of seizing their property. Currently, the government has 60 days to inform property owners of civil asset forfeitures.

Congressman Doug Collins

Collins Introduces Legislation to Increase Drug Pricing Transparency

Featured, Politics March 3, 2017 , by Content Admin

Jessica Andrews
(202) 225-9893
[email protected]

March 2, 2017

Collins Introduces Legislation to Increase Drug Pricing Transparency

WASHINGTON—Today Congressman Doug Collins (R-Ga.) introduced H.R. 1316, The Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act, to protect taxpayers and the community pharmacists who serve them by requiring greater transparency from pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).

PBMs are the middlemen that employers and federal programs use to set formularies, or lists of drugs covered by insurers, for consumers on their health plans. PBMs also use Maximum Allowable Cost (MAC) lists to set reimbursement rates for prescription drugs sold in pharmacies. PBMs have historically refused to explain, either to pharmacies or to the federal programs they represent, their process for setting pharmacy reimbursement prices.

PBMs also claim to deliver cost savings by passing along rebates to federal programs like Medicare Part D, TRICARE, and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). However, PBMs’ lack of transparency makes it impossible to determine whether these savings are being passed to federal programs or are increasing the PBMs’ bottom line.

“PBMs engage in predatory practices designed to boost their own profit margins at the expense of insurers, contracting pharmacies, patients, and—in their relationships with federal programs—taxpayers. The lack of transparency in their operations has allowed them to control the market unjustly, with the result that these companies withhold savings that they have promised to pass on,” explains Collins.

In their relationships with community pharmacies, PBMs often change the prices on their MAC lists, often to rates that reimburse pharmacies significantly below pharmacies’ acquisition costs for prescription drugs, which forces community pharmacies to sell prescriptions at a loss. Because of PBMs’ failure to regularly update MAC pricing lists, the true cost of prescription drugs is hidden from employers, consumers, pharmacists, and the federal government. As these pharmacies lose money and are driven out of business, patients lose access to the medical services offered by their local pharmacists.

“I’m introducing a bipartisan bill to ensure that PBMs update their MAC lists for Medicare Part D, TRICARE, and FEHBP every seven days to protect competitive pricing and to preserve pharmacy access and choice for patients. The Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act provides essential oversight to prevent waste, fraud, and the abuse of taxpayer funds and better protects patient privacy,” Collins said.

Support for this legislation extends across the aisle, and Congressman Dave Loebsack (D-Iowa) is the bill’s lead Democratic co-sponsor. Other original co-sponsors for H.R. 1316 include Reps. Brian Babin (R-Texas), Rod Blum (R-Iowa), Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), John Duncan, Jr. (R-Tenn.), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.), and John Sarbanes (D-Md.).

“Whether it is in large cities, or small towns, pharmacists across the country serve as the first line of health care services for many patients. I appreciate all of their hard work to serve our communities and to provide quality, affordable and personal care,” said Loebsack.

“However, I also recognize how challenging it can be for some small pharmacists to compete with bigger companies. One pressing challenge facing many community pharmacists is the ambiguity and uncertainty surrounding the reimbursement of generic drugs. To help address this problem, I am proud to join my colleague Rep. Collins to reintroduce the Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act, which also helps ensure federal health plan reimbursements to pharmacies to keep pace with generic drug prices.”

“I have always said that sunlight is the best disinfectant, and that is what this critical legislation will do with prescription drug pricing. For too long, Pharmacy Benefit Managers have been able to hide behind a curtain in the drug pricing chain as families across the country watch the prices of their lifesaving medications soar. As a pharmacist for more than 30 years, I saw firsthand the distress of families attempting to balance their health care needs with their bottom line when the cost of their prescription medications was on the rise and unpredictable. That is why the Prescription Drug Price Transparency Act is so important. The legislation will provide some light to how PBMs determine the pricing reimbursement of prescription drugs, which will provide greater transparency on how drug prices are set so patients can finally get the truth about drug pricing increases,” said Carter, a pharmacist himself.

“I am pleased to join Rep. Collins in introducing this legislation that is critical to protecting our seniors and pharmacists from being ripped off by these PBMs, whose practices are unfair and wasteful. It’s time for transparency, so we can hold PBMs accountable for their roles in our drug price crisis,“ Duncan said.

The National Community Pharmacists Association, the Community Oncology Alliance, and the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy have endorsed this legislation.

Congressman Doug Collins

Stephens County and Flowery Branch Students Admitted to Service Academies

Announcements, Featured March 10, 2017 , by Content Admin

Jessica Andrews
(202) 225-9893
[email protected]

March 10, 2017

Stephens County and Flowery Branch Students Admitted to Service Academies

WASHINGTON— Congressman Doug Collins (R-Ga.) is pleased to announce that Nikhil Patel and Braden Parks have received fully qualified offers of admission to attend U.S. Military Service Academies as part of the class of 2021. Congressman Collins had the honor of nominating both Patel and Parks for admission this year. The two young men have demonstrated a high level of academic excellence and dedication to their communities.

Nikhil Patel is a senior at Stephens County High School in Toccoa, Georgia. He has continuously excelled in honors courses and has held multiple leadership positions for various organizations. Nikhil has been offered full admission to the United States Military Academy in West Point, New York.

“Nikhil has a track record of treating others with respect while balancing academic and athletic endeavors. He has demonstrated character as a leader at Stephens County, and I’m proud to see him represent our community at West Point,” said Collins.

Braden Parks has been offered admission to the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. He attends Flowery Branch High School and was the Unit Commander of his Junior Air Force ROTC program, in addition to being a member of the AP Scholars Program and Captain of the fencing team.

“It’s my privilege to congratulate Braden on his admission to the Air Force Academy,” said Collins. “As an Air Force Reservist, I know that this young man’s abilities and dedication will help him serve our country well.”

Congressman Doug Collins

COLLINS STATEMENT ON AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT

Featured, Politics March 8, 2017 , by Content Admin

COLLINS STATEMENT ON AMERICAN HEALTH CARE ACT

03/07/17

WASHINGTON—Congressman Doug Collins (R-Ga.) has released the following statement in response to the introduction of the American Health Care Act:

“With the American Health Care Act, our unified government has begun the process of doing what we promised to do—repealing and replacing the disaster that is Obamacare. We’ve listened to the millions of Americans hurt by the misnamed Affordable Care Act and those whose hopes were dashed by its broken promises.

“The process of making quality health care affordable and accessible for every American starts with the repeal of Obamacare, with removing the government from the doctor/patient relationship and giving the insurance market the opportunity to rebuild from the havoc Obamacare has wrought on it. On this front, the repeal of the individual mandate is crucial. It means that people can have access to the health care that works best for them, instead of being forced by the government into expensive insurance plans that keep substantive health care out of reach. Moreover, Republicans are remembering both our neighbors and our future neighbors: The American Health Care Act prohibits federal money from flowing to abortion providers like Planned Parenthood.

“President Trump has a common-sense approach to health care reform and has said that this bill is the first step in that process. Our unified government has moved to stop the suffering caused by Obamacare, and I look forward to considering the American Health Care Act in the House.”

American Health Care Act Congressman Doug Collins

Collins Supports Protecting Second Amendment Rights for Veterans

Featured, Politics March 17, 2017 , by Content Admin

Jessica Andrews
(202) 225-9893
[email protected]

March 16, 2017

Collins Supports Protecting Second Amendment Rights for Veterans

“It is odd that federal entities seem to find certain liberties—like the right to bear arms—less inalienable than others. I will continue to guard the constitutional rights of all Americans against groups that would undermine them, and I look forward to seeing due process restored in the question of veterans’ Second Amendment rights.”

WASHINGTON—Congressman Doug Collins (R-Ga.) voted today to support H.R. 1181, The Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act, to guard veterans’ right to bear arms and to due process under the law.

Currently, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) labels veterans as “mentally defective” if they receive assistance from an appointed fiduciary. In the VA system, attaching this label to a veteran sends his or her name to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Inclusion on the NICS list prohibits an individual from buying or possessing a gun. Under the VA’s system, individuals can be added to the system without any judicial determination, meaning veterans are deprived of their Second Amendment rights without due process.

“As a military chaplain, I find it disheartening that the VA allows bureaucrats to make determinations about a veteran’s constitutional right under the pretext of mental health care. Under the Veterans Second Amendment Protection Act, a judicial determination—rather than a bureaucratic label—would be necessary to report a veteran’s name to NICS,” said Collins.

Collins also cosponsored a similar piece of legislation, H.J.Res. 40, a joint resolution of disapproval of the Social Security Administration’s implementation of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007, which effectively denied millions of Social Security recipients their Second and Fourth Amendment rights. President Trump signed this resolution into law last month.

Congressman Doug Collins

Remembering the Forgotten: Collins Statement on President’s Joint Session Address

Featured, Politics March 1, 2017 , by Content Admin

Jessica Andrews
(202) 225-9893
[email protected]

February 28, 2017

Remembering the Forgotten: Collins Statement on President’s Joint Session Address

WASHINGTON—Congressman Doug Collins (R-Ga.) attended President Donald Trump’s first address to Congress and issued the following statement in response:

“This evening, President Trump highlighted America’s forgotten men and women, the people who have felt strangely exempted from the promises of the American dream. Too many of our countrymen have watched their industries, schools, and communities wither under policies engineered by an administration that chronically underestimated our people.

“At their core, the November elections were decided by the Americans whom government forgot. Our nation renewed its conservative leadership in Congress and chose a president who would work with legislators rather than against them and against American citizens. Then and now, President Trump has reminded us that we cannot discount the Americans who have built up our economy only to have their own incomes siphoned off by taxes that target the middle class and by regulations that stamp out creativity.

“The 115th Congress joins the president in remembering individuals who have lost their access to tangible health care or jobs or basic liberties or all of the above, and we are responding both in word and deed. The House and Senate are writing, passing, and sending legislation to the White House as our people exchange a president who patronized them for a unified government that is working to empower them to write their own American stories.”

Congressman Doug Collins

Collins Advocates for Improved Neonatal VA Benefits

Featured, News February 8, 2017 , by Content Admin

Jessica Andrews
(202) 225-9893
[email protected]

February 7, 2017

Collins Advocates for Improved Neonatal VA Benefits

WASHINGTON—Today Congressman Doug Collins (R-Ga.) introduced H.R. 907, the Newborn Care Improvement Act, which would lengthen the amount of time newborns of female veterans can receive medical care through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Currently, female veterans can receive up to 42 days of post-delivery care from the VA, while their infants are limited to seven days of medical care. Veterans may face medical challenges linked to their service, including high-risk pregnancies. For example, females who give birth within a year of being affected by PTSD are 35% more likely to deliver prematurely, and that means greater health risks for their children.

“The women who serve our nation in the armed forces deserve our profound gratitude and respect, and we can demonstrate this by guaranteeing that these service members and their children receive meaningful care through the VA. Because female service members are expected to make up 11% of our total veteran population by 2020, we must ensure—now more than ever—that the VA is expanding care to meet their needs. One of the most critical needs of female veterans is appropriate pre- and post-natal coverage.

“New mothers receiving medical care from the VA should feel confident that they won’t have to wade through tough financial choices and confusing insurance options in order to obtain crucial care for their newborns. I’ve introduced the Newborn Care Improvement Act to make this level of care a reality by extending the length of time newborns can receive VA care to 42 days,” said Collins.

The bill has received widespread support from veterans advocacy groups, including Veterans of Foreign Wars, Paralyzed Veterans of America, the Military Order of the Purple Heart, the Non-Commissioned Officers Association, and the Blinded Veterans Association.

Original co-sponsors of the bipartisan bill include Reps. Mike Bishop (R-Mich.), Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Mike Coffman (R-Colo.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Walter Jones (R-N.C.), Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), John Lewis (D-Ga.), Bruce Poliquin (R-Maine), Keith Rothfus (R-Pa.), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-Calif.), Carol Shea-Porter (D-N.H.), Darren Soto (D-Fla.), David Valadao (R-Calif.), and Rob Woodall (R-Ga.).

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Congressman Doug Collins

OBAMACARE VICTIM ACCOMPANIES COLLINS TO JOINT SESSION

Featured, Politics February 28, 2017 , by Content Admin

OBAMACARE VICTIM ACCOMPANIES COLLINS TO JOINT SESSION

02/27/17

WASHINGTON—Congressman Doug Collins (R-Ga.) will attend President Donald Trump’s speech to the joint session of Congress with a guest from Toccoa, Georgia. Members of Congress each receive one guest ticket to the president’s annual speech.

Congressman Collins has invited his constituent Brittany Ivey to the joint session. The working mother and her husband have struggled under the consequences of the Affordable Care Act. Ivey was working part-time at a small business that provided her family with health insurance until the effects of Obamacare on the insurance market raised her premiums sharply. This drove the Ivey family into the individual market, where a mid-level plan took 65% of her monthly gross income—even after a small federal subsidy.

“There’s no better occasion than the president’s annual address to Congress to bring attention to the victims of the Affordable Care Act and the urgency of repealing Obamacare. Northeast Georgia is full of individuals who work tirelessly to care for their families, and Mrs. Ivey’s story illustrates the destruction wrought by the failed health care law,” said Collins.

“Unable to afford insurance through her employer, Mrs. Ivey turned to the federal exchange, where she obtained a plan that neither her nor her children’s doctor would accept. The government has robbed our loved ones of their access to affordable, meaningful health services, and the only remedy before us is to return competition and innovation to every dimension of our health care system by repealing Obamacare.”

“I’m looking forward to the president’s remarks on how our unified government is rescuing health care for millions of people injured by the misguided Affordable Care Act.”

Ivey is relieved that members of Congress seem to understand her family’s plight, and she is eager to see substantive health care reform.

“I’m grateful that Congress is taking action to fix our health care system. For the last several years, my family has experienced how Obamacare hurts hardworking, middle-class Americans. All I wanted was to be a stay-at-home mother to my daughter and sons, but the skyrocketing prices of health insurance drove me back into the labor market full-time,” explains Ivey.

“My husband and I have been punished for working hard, driven to the edge of financial disaster as we paid thousands and thousands of dollars in premiums for a federal plan that our doctors rejected. Even though we’re healthy, this law has crippled our family.”

President Trump is scheduled to address members of the House of Representatives and the Senate at 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 28.

Affordable Care Act Congressman Doug Collins

OPEN BOOK ON EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT PASSES HOUSE

Featured, Politics February 28, 2017 , by Content Admin

OPEN BOOK ON EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE ACT PASSES HOUSE

02/27/17

WASHINGTON—Today, the Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act, H.R. 1033, passed in the House with widespread bipartisan support. Congressman Doug Collins (R-Ga.) sponsored the bill in order to increase transparency among federal agencies as they apply the Equal Access to Justice Act (EAJA).

EAJA enables Americans with limited resources to seek redress against the government by requiring agencies to reimburse plaintiffs for their legal fees if the agency is found to have pursued an unjustified position in the case. Because these agencies have not been required to keep records of EAJA disbursements for two decades, however, the public has been unable to access information about how the government has handled these suits.

“Americans have a right to be protected from abusive litigation tactics at the hands of their government, tactics that infringe on their basic liberties. The Equal Access to Justice Act remains a key tool in giving individual citizens recourse to address federal agency misconduct. The Open Book Act gives taxpayers access to information about federal agency payments and legal positions in EAJA cases, strengthening the original law by ensuring that federal agencies apply it transparently and effectively,” said Collins.

“The passing of the Open Book Act in the House represents a step toward greater government transparency and a victory for the American people, and I look forward to seeing this bill pass in the Senate.”

Congressman Doug Collins

Congressman Collins Op-ed on Our Path Ahead in Washington Post Today

Featured, News November 30, 2016 , by Content Admin

Congressman Collins is already making good on his promise to bring Northeast Georgia values and vision to national conversations about our country’s path forward.

Click here for Washington Post Story GOP lawmaker: Our party must take back the ‘narrative of hope and inclusion’

Congressman Doug Collins

Collins: SCOTUS ruling a tragedy for women, states’ rights

Featured June 27, 2016 , by Staff Writer Regional

June 27, 2016

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Supreme Court struck down a state law regarding health and safety standards for Texas abortion clinics. In the case of Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, the Court voted 5-3 to strike down HB-2, a Texas law requiring abortion clinics to have admitting privileges at hospitals within 30 miles, and that abortion clinics must comply with state standards for outpatient surgical centers. The Court stated the law placed an “undue burden” in the way of women seeking an abortion. Congressman Collins, a Baptist pastor who signed an amicus brief in support of Texas earlier this year, issued the following statement in response to the ruling:

“The Court’s decision endangers women and removes valuable safety precautions, and is an erosion of states’ rights. The elected representatives of the Texas legislature passed this law to ensure patient safety in their state, and the law was signed by the Governor. The Supreme Court decision inserts the court into patient safety decisions where they don’t belong.”

“I have voted to protect the sanctity of life throughout my time in both the Georgia state legislature and the House of Representatives. This ruling will allow abortion clinics to proliferate with little oversight. As we saw with the case of Dr. Kermit Gosnell, whose abortion clinic was a real life house of horrors, these largely unregulated clinics jeopardize the lives of mothers and babies alike through the use of unsafe medical procedures. I stand by my pro-life principles, and will continue to speak out on the negative consequences the abortion industry has on our society.”