Dear Neighbor,
It has been a great first month and a half. From the day I was sworn in, my team and I have been working to advance our shared values in Congress.
The Republican Majority in the House has been hard at work delivering for the American people. In the past few weeks, we have passed bills that, if enacted, would repeal the Covid public health emergency, end the Covid vaccine mandate for healthcare workers, and throw out laws passed by Washington D.C.’s city council that set criminals free and allow illegal immigrants to vote in our nation’s capital. We also passed a resolution condemning President Biden’s handling of the Chinese Spy Balloon that flew over our country, and another denouncing the horrors of socialism.
Here are a few more highlights.
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I was appointed Chairman of Research and Technology Subcommittee and Vice Chair of Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee
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Fellow Georgian Rep. Rich McCormick and I in the Science Committee’s Organizational Meeting on February 8. |
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Since our last newsletter, my committee and subcommittee assignments have been finalized: - Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
- Subcommittee Highways and Transit
- Subcommittee Aviation
- Subcommittee Water Resources and Environment
- House Natural Resources Committee
- Subcommittee Oversight and Investigations (Vice Chair)
- Subcommittee Energy and Mineral Resources
- Science, Space and Technology Committee
- Subcommittee Research and Technology (Chairman)
- Subcommittee Environment
As I work on these committees, my top goals will be to cut wasteful spending, ensure tax dollars spent wisely and efficiently, rebuild America’s crumbling infrastructure, keep us on the cutting edge of science research and technological innovation, to unleash our country’s unmatched energy production potential, and hold the Biden administration accountable for its many policy failures.
Our committee work got started over these past few weeks, and I asked questions of witnesses for the first time during a Transportation Committee hearing on aviation safety.
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The Acting Associate Administrator for Aviation Safety of the FAA was on the panel, and I questioned him about the agency’s priorities. FAA recently spent staff time and taxpayer money to change the NOTAM acronym from “Notice to Airmen” to “Notice to Air Missions.” The agency did so to appease the woke left and remove “man” from the program name, so I asked if that change was made in the name of safety. As you know, the NOTAM system failed on January 11, which led to the largest aviation grounding since 9/11 and a potential disaster. Be sure to watch the exchange.
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Spoke on the House Floor to honor Justice Clarence Thomas |
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Last week, I delivered a speech on the House floor to talk about Justice Clarence Thomas, a son of Georgia who exemplifies the American dream. I called on the Georgia State Legislature to finish the job it started last year and pass a resolution to put a statue of Justice Thomas under the gold dome of the state capitol.
Attended My First State of the Union Address (It was predictably bad)
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State of our union is so strong, they locked y’all out. |
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On February 7, President Biden delivered his fantasy version of the state of our union, but no amount of lipstick is going to make this pig pretty. With historically high inflation, an out-of-control southern border, and energy prices remaining stubbornly high, the Biden administration’s policies can only be characterized as an abject failure, and he indicated no intention of changing course.
For all nights for me not to wear my boots to something, the more that man spoke, the deeper it got in there. He even asked us to pass a “clean” debt limit increase. That's not going to happen. I spoke on the House floor the next day to set the record straight about his claims.
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Received the Seals of the United States Navy and the Space Force
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We’re in the process of visiting with the liaisons of all the branches of the military, and I recently had the pleasure of receiving the Seal of the Space Force from Brig. Gen. Benjamin Spencer of the Air Force and the Seal of the United States Navy by Captain Kyle Gantt. We will proudly display both seals in our office to honor all Guardians and Sailors for their service to our nation!
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On February 9, I joined Newsmax to discuss Biden’s State of the Union address, the Biden administration’s failure to act in a timely manner on the Chinese Spy Balloon, and liberal censorship of conservative voices.
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State Newswire | Rep. Collins calls Confucius Institutes 'propaganda machines' and a 'danger to our national security'
Congressman Mike Collins (R-Georgia) recently expressed concerns regarding Confucius Institutes funded and run by the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).
A spokesman for Collins, who represents Georgia’s 10th district, said the congressman will continue to vote against Chinese influence on American soil as he believes the CCP and affiliated organizations are dangerous to national security and the future of the younger generation. Studies have shown most Confucius Institutes have been shut down, but a few remain within American universities with different names and are still connected to the CCP.
A report from the National Association of Scholars (NAS) lists more than a dozen active Confucius Institutes at schools in the United States., including Stanford University, West Virginia University, and the University of Akron. The report found 104 Confucius Institutes that have either closed or are in the process of closing. At least 28 of those schools replaced the program with a similar one, and at least 58 have maintained close ties with their former Confucius Institute partners, including the CCP.
"Rep. Collins believes that Confucius Institutes are a danger not only to our national security but to the future of our kids," a spokesperson for Collins said. "These Chinese Communist Party propaganda machines are attempting to expand CCP influence and control to American institutions, which cannot be tolerated. Rep. Collins has voted to eliminate Chinese influence on our Strategic Petroleum Reserve and will continue fighting CCP influence across Georgia and the country."
Read more here
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The Covington News| Collins named to U.S. House committees overseeing DOT, NASA
U.S. Rep. Mike Collins, R-Jackson, was selected to serve as a member of three U.S. House committees recently as he begins his first term in office.
He was named to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I); House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology; and House Committee on Natural Resources for the 118th Congress.
Collins was elected to his inaugural term representing Georgia’s 10th Congressional District — which includes part of Newton County — in November.
He brings decades of experience in the trucking industry to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
“As the owner of a successful trucking business, it is an honor to be selected for a seat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee,” Collins said.
Read more here
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Atlanta Constitution Journal | THOMAS TIME?
In one of his first House speeches, U.S. Rep. Mike Collins vouched for a state legislative proposal to put a statue of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on the grounds of the state Capitol.
“Justice Thomas’ legacy of service and footprint on American jurisprudence is worthy of honor and commemoration,” the Republican said Tuesday.
He was invoking a controversial state Senate measure that failed to pass the Legislature last year — but retains support from key GOP leaders this year.
Collins represents a northeast Georgia district that does not include Thomas’ hometown of Pin Point on the state’s coast. Asked why he is championing the measure, his spokesman DJ Griffin responded:
“Rep. Collins thinks Justice Thomas is a great son of Georgia and exemplifies the American dream. State legislators had a great idea to honor him and he wanted to publicly endorse their effort.”
Read more here
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As always, my staff and I are here to help. If you need assistance with a federal agency or have comments or concerns to share with me, please do not hesitate to call my Monroe or Washington, D.C. offices. To receive frequent updates, I encourage you to visit my website, like my Facebook page, and follow me on Twitter. |
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Sincerely
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Mike Collins
Member of Congress
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