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Senate Resolution 245
By: Senators Gooch of the 51st, Echols of the 49th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Hatchett of the
50th, Watson of the 1st and others
A RESOLUTION
Commending Doug Collins; and for other purposes.
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WHEREAS, Doug Collins was nominated by the administration of President Donald J.2
Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate to be the United States Secretary of3
Veterans Affairs, bringing his unwavering commitment to seek justice on behalf of, and in4
support of, the valiant men and women who served and are currently serving our nation as5
well as their families; and6
WHEREAS, he attended North Hall High School in Gainesville, is a 1988 graduate of North7
Georgia College and State University, and obtained a master's degree in divinity from New8
Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary; and9
WHEREAS, Doug Collins has served the people of North Georgia and this nation with the10
utmost honor and integrity through the United States Air Force Reserves, pastoring 11
Chicopee Baptist Church in Gainesville, representing Georgia State House District 27 from12
2007 to 2013 while completing his law degree at Atlanta's John Marshall Law School, and13
becoming the United States Representative for the 9th Congressional District of Georgia14
from 2013 to 2021; and15
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WHEREAS, Doug Collins stood out as a friend to our nation's veterans and military families
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through his development of legislation that opened access to healthcare, massively expanded17
much-needed mental health service availability, and increased accountability within the18
Department of Veterans Affairs; and19
WHEREAS, Doug Collins is a Colonel in the United States Air Force with decades of20
service to the military, including his deployment to Iraq, where he served in combat zones21
in support of fellow service members as a chaplain; and22
WHEREAS, his legislative successes are highlighted by leading the effort to reform the23
nation's criminal justice system with the bipartisan First Step Act, creating reforms that have24
reached countless Americans and their families by enhancing public safety and reducing25
recidivism for nonviolent offenders; and26
WHEREAS, during his service as Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, Doug27
Collins was a leader in helping shape national policy on many of the most critical issues of28
today, from criminal justice reform to intellectual property and guarding our constitutional29
principles; and30
WHEREAS, his broad vision for the needs of veterans, acquired through his life as a military31
veteran, qualifies him to further the department's mission of delivering world-class care and32
support for our nation's heroes, and he is the first Iraq War veteran to serve as Secretary of33
Veterans Affairs; and34
WHEREAS, he never misses the opportunity to promote initiatives that always place the35
safety, growth, and prosperity of our nation first.36
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
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commend Doug Collins upon his nomination to the Department of Veterans Affairs and38
extend their best wishes for his continued service.39
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed40
to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the41
press.42
S. R. 245
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