Georgia 2025-2026 Regular Session

Georgia Senate Bill SR245 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New		Differences
1	1		25 LC 112 3036
2	2		Senate Resolution 245
3	3		By: Senators Gooch of the 51st, Echols of the 49th, Anavitarte of the 31st, Hatchett of the
4	4		50th, Watson of the 1st and others
5		-	ADOPTED SENATE
6	5		A RESOLUTION
7	6		Commending Doug Collins; and for other purposes.
8	7		1
9	8		WHEREAS, Doug Collins was nominated by the administration of President Donald J.2
10	9		Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate to be the United States Secretary of3
11	10		Veterans Affairs, bringing his unwavering commitment to seek justice on behalf of, and in4
12	11		support of, the valiant men and women who served and are currently serving our nation as5
13	12		well as their families; and6
14	13		WHEREAS, he attended North Hall High School in Gainesville, is a 1988 graduate of North7
15	14		Georgia College and State University, and obtained a master's degree in divinity from New8
16	15		Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary; and9
17	16		WHEREAS, Doug Collins has served the people of North Georgia and this nation with the10
18	17		utmost honor and integrity through the United States Air Force Reserves, pastoring 11
19	18		Chicopee Baptist Church in Gainesville, representing Georgia State House District 27 from12
20	19		2007 to 2013 while completing his law degree at Atlanta's John Marshall Law School, and13
21	20		becoming the United States Representative for the 9th Congressional District of Georgia14
22	21		from 2013 to 2021; and15
23	22		S. R. 245
24	23		- 1 - 25 LC 112 3036
25	24		WHEREAS, Doug Collins stood out as a friend to our nation's veterans and military families
26	25		16
27	26		through his development of legislation that opened access to healthcare, massively expanded17
28	27		much-needed mental health service availability, and increased accountability within the18
29	28		Department of Veterans Affairs; and19
30	29		WHEREAS, Doug Collins is a Colonel in the United States Air Force with decades of20
31	30		service to the military, including his deployment to Iraq, where he served in combat zones21
32	31		in support of fellow service members as a chaplain; and22
33	32		WHEREAS, his legislative successes are highlighted by leading the effort to reform the23
34	33		nation's criminal justice system with the bipartisan First Step Act, creating reforms that have24
35	34		reached countless Americans and their families by enhancing public safety and reducing25
36	35		recidivism for nonviolent offenders; and26
37	36		WHEREAS, during his service as Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, Doug27
38	37		Collins was a leader in helping shape national policy on many of the most critical issues of28
39	38		today, from criminal justice reform to intellectual property and guarding our constitutional29
40	39		principles; and30
41	40		WHEREAS, his broad vision for the needs of veterans, acquired through his life as a military31
42	41		veteran, qualifies him to further the department's mission of delivering world-class care and32
43	42		support for our nation's heroes, and he is the first Iraq War veteran to serve as Secretary of33
44	43		Veterans Affairs; and34
45	44		WHEREAS, he never misses the opportunity to promote initiatives that always place the35
46	45		safety, growth, and prosperity of our nation first.36
47	46		S. R. 245
48	47		- 2 - 25 LC 112 3036
49	48		NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body
50	49		37
51	50		commend Doug Collins upon his nomination to the Department of Veterans Affairs and38
52	51		extend their best wishes for his continued service.39
53	52		BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed40
54	53		to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the41
55	54		press.42
56	55		S. R. 245
57	56		- 3 -