Live Call-In with Congressman Doug Collins

State & National

Due to the upcoming election BKP states that we need to meet the candidates. This morning, we start with Congressman Doug Collins. We discuss beginning to campaign again, the senate race, social distancing, ballot harvesting, and much more! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lOlhVOYFRoE&feature=youtu.be

 

Collins urges Windstream to provide increased access to rural broadband

Press Release, State & National

GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Reps. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), Austin Scott (R-Ga.), and Sanford Bishop (D-Ga.) today sent a letter to Windstream underscoring the importance of providing increased access to broadband – particularly in rural areas – in the midst of COVID-19.

“As representatives of thousands of Windstream customers, we write today regarding the impact coronavirus has had on broadband access in rural communities throughout Georgia,” they wrote. “In the past, we have written to you regarding the inadequate internet service our constituents are receiving despite your company’s acceptance of federal dollars to expand access. While we know Windstream has upgraded some areas that are more populated and less rural, many of our constituents continue to struggle with poor broadband speeds.”

For years, Windstream customers across Georgia have consistently struggled to gain access to reliable broadband speeds. Congress has taken significant steps toward expanding rural broadband infrastructure in recent years, including securing federal funding to providers in rural areas. However, some carriers – like Windstream – have failed to provide adequate broadband speeds to consumers despite collecting taxpayer dollars. As this pandemic is forcing more and more Georgians to rely on the internet, access to reliable broadband is more critical than ever before.

“Due to the coronavirus outbreak, thousands of Georgians are being forced to work, learn, and recreate from home. This undoubtedly has increased the strain on the networks your consumers depend upon. Over the past several years, we have heard complaints of a network that is overburdened and cannot keep up during peak use. Even though we have been calling for increased internet access in rural areas for years, this moment in time shows that Windstream has yet to meet the mark.”

Read the full letter here.

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

Politics, State & National

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.

Rep. Collins: “Speaker Will Keep Us Through Christmas” for Tax Bill

GMFTO, News, Politics

9th Congressional district Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA) spoke exclusively to FYNTV on Friday’s edition of Good Morning From the Office. Collins spoke on a multitude of issues, from the executive actions regarding Obamacare, to his personal crusade for adequate internet service and competition in rural Northeast Georgia. However, his remarks regarding tax reform were quite revealing. According to Collins, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan (R-WI) has informed House members that he will keep the House in session, if necessary, throughout the Christmas recess in order to pass tax reform.

The tax question is asked around the 11:00 minute mark of the FULL INTERVIEW below.

BKP: From the House side, will we get tax reform?

Rep. Collins: Yes. I feel very comfortable, in fact, it is the top priority for us in leadership, and the speaker. In fact, the speaker put us on notice yesterday (Thursday) that he would keep us through Christmas or any other holiday to make sure it gets done this year. It was very disturbing to hear some members of the Senate saying “Well, we gotta negotiate, it may be the first of the year” No. It’s time to get behind the American people, time to get behind the President and pass tax reform. It’s way past due.

Congressman Collins Talks Health Care, Tax Reform and Still Supporting President Trump

Politics

Georgia’s 9th District Congressman Doug Collins talks with BKP today about the health care bill. Collins also states that he believes and hopes they will be able to start working on the tax reform this year. BKP also asks the Congressman if he is still a supporter of President Donald Trump. Lastly Collins discusses issues that he and his team are working on that are more specifically focused in the 9th District: Dodd Frank Act, the VA – veteran’s health care, police week, and human trafficing week.

Collins Fights to Protect Due Process in Civil Asset Forfeiture Cases

Featured, Politics

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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.

“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,” says Collins.

“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.

Collins Supports Protecting Second Amendment Rights for Veterans

Featured, Politics

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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.

“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.”

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.

 

Stephens County and Flowery Branch Students Admitted to Service Academies

Announcements, Featured

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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.” 

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

Featured, Politics

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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.”

 

President’s Budget Includes Collins’ Immigration Policy

Politics
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.

“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,” said Collins.

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.

Collins Bill to Honor Fallen Marine Sent to President’s Desk

Press Release, State & National

COLLINS BILL TO HONOR FALLEN CLERMONT MARINE SENT TO PRESIDENT’S DESK

WASHINGTON—The Senate last night voted unanimously to pass H.R. 3821, legislation to rename Georgia’s Clermont Post Office in honor of Zack T. Addington. Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) introduced the bill this September, and it passed the House in November.

“Lance Corporal Zack Addington represents the selfless courage that’s cultivated in northeast Georgia, and I’m excited to see this bill leave Congress and head to the president’s desk for his signature,” said Collins.

Collins also honored Addington when he spoke about the bill on the House floor.

Background:

Known to his neighbors as Zack, Addington joined the United States Marine Corps in 1967. A native of Clermont, he became a rifleman in the 3rd Marine Division of the Fleet Marine Force and deployed to Vietnam that year. Addington was promoted to Lance Corporal and served his country honorably until he was killed in action in May 1968.

That June, Addington received the Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal and Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon in recognition of his service there.

Ga 9th District Congressman Collins on Tax Reform passed in the House

Politics

Congressman Collins had the privilege to gavel in the passing of the Tax Reform Bill. The bill passed in the House on Nov. 16 with 227 votes. Of the 227 votes, there were absolutely no Democrat supporters on this bill. Collins says the passing of this bill strictly by Republican votes shows that Republicans can come together to get the 218, or over 218, requirement. This tax plan is designed to give people a tax break; to put money back into their pockets, but doing so in a way that will stimulate the economy for small businesses.

Collins Welcomes Neighbors to Town Hall

Politics
“I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent the values and priorities of our community, and that starts with listening to its residents.”

GAINESVILLE, Ga.—Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) is holding a town hall meeting in Gainesville this Wednesday.

“Washington needs to hear the voice of northeast Georgia, and I’m looking forward to continuing conversations with neighbors this week.

“Whether I’m working for rural broadband access, fighting for criminal justice reform or advocating for local residents in the face of federal bureaucracy, I’m grateful for the opportunity to represent the values and priorities of our community, and that starts with listening to its residents,” said Collins.

Collins will also update residents on the progress being made by the unified government led by President Trump. Since January, the American economy has added more than one million new jobs. Congress and the White House have eliminated billions of dollars in regulatory burdens and are working together on comprehensive tax reform.

All Ninth District residents are welcome, and details are below.

What: Town hall meeting

When: 5:30 p.m.August 9, 2017

Where: Gainesville Public Safety Building

City Courtroom

701 Queen City Parkway

Gainesville, GA 30501

Who: Rep. Doug Collins and Constituents of Georgia’s Ninth District

Security: For the security of all in attendance, please be advised that no bags or signs will be permitted.

Background: Collins has held public meetings over the August district work period every year that he has served as the U.S. Representative for the Ninth District of Georgia.

In addition to holding public meetings over this period, Collins welcomes residents to join him for interactive telephone town hall conversations regularly while Congress is in session. Thousands of residents from across the twenty counties of northeast Georgia participate in these interactive events, and Collins has held six telephone town halls this year.

To learn more about these live conversations or sign up to participate in a future event, residents may visit his site.

Washington, D.C. Office:
1504 Longworth H.O.B.
Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone: (202) 225-9893

District Office:
210 Washington St. NW, Suite 202
Gainesville, GA 30501
Phone: (770) 297-3388

Collins Petitions USDA for Improved Poultry Line Speeds

Politics

Collins Petitions USDA for Improved Poultry Line Speeds

WASHINGTON—Today Congressman Doug Collins (R-Gainesville) sent a letter to Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue urging him to consider implementing policies that would make U.S. poultry processing facilities more competitive in the global marketplace.

Currently, poultry producers in South America, Asia, Canada, and Europe are safely operating at line speeds that outpace the maximum speeds allowed in American facilities, which represents a significant disadvantage to northeast Georgia’s poultry industry and America’s domestic production. Agriculture remains a vital dimension of Georgia’s economy, while poultry production generates more than $18 billion for the state economy and $10.9 billion for the Ninth District economy annually.

 

Collins Advocates for Improved Neonatal VA Benefits

Featured, News

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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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BKP Interviews Congressman Collins regarding Government Shutdown and More

Politics, State & National

Tune in as BKP interviews our very own 9th District Congressman Doug Collins on the current government issues and day 3 of the government shut down. Hear how Collins feels about the situation and what needs to happen to resolve the issues at hand.

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