Rep. Mike Collins Hosts Community Meeting
A number of businessmen and community leaders sat down Tuesday afternoon with Rep. Mike Collins in Jasper County to get to know the Congressman and their express concerns about what will happen in Washington in the coming months.
The meeting was put together by Development Authority of Jasper County Chairman David Dyer, and former state Rep. Susan Holmes introduced Mr. Collins to the group, several of whom already knew him.
Mrs. Holmes said that Rep. Collins was raised to be a leader, and has long been active in church and community. He said that his sons basically run the business (Collins Trucking), freeing him up represent this area in Congress.
Rep. Collins said they debated the rules for four days, and he said it was true, open debate. He said it is an “open house” and there will be no more 2,000 page bills. He said bills going forward will be single subject bills, and that proxy voting has been done away with.
Commission Chair Don Jernigan said the county has no emergency shelter, and asked the Congressman if that is something that he could help with.
Robert Cumbie stressed the importance of rural hospitals, and asked the Congressman to keep items that could hurt the hospital on his radar. Mr. Cumbie said that Jasper Memorial Hospital serves everyone…it can’t cherry-pick and doesn’t need to be hurt by services that can.
Jan Gaston also mentioned the vaccines that are required for health care workers and suggested that is hurting the workforce. A representative of Permatherm spoke the growth the local plant is experiencing, and said frankly, the less federal government the better.
Commissioner Jernigan also spoke to Rep. Collins about the Monticello Post Office which has no handicapped accessibility.
The group talked of the need to secure the borders, with Sheriff Donnie Pope saying that much of the methamphetamine that his deputies find comes across the southern border. Mr. Collins spoke to the fentanyl crisis, and says it is pushed by China. There was also talk on encouraging legal immigration.
Supt. Kenny Garland said the system is looking at building a college and career academy, as recent growth has increased the need.
The discussion lasted one and a half hours, during which time Rep. Collins outlined some of his goals, and he definitely heard from the people of Jasper County.
He told those gathered about his committee assignments, one of which is detailed below:
Tuesday, Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) was selected to serve as a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I) for the 118th Congress. Rep. Collins, who brings decades of experience in the trucking industry to the committee, released this statement following the announcement:
“As the owner of a successful trucking business, it is an honor to be selected for a seat on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Serving as the sole member of the Georgia Republican delegation on this committee, I look forward to working with Chairman Sam Graves on policies to build and maintain our nation’s vital transportation networks, which are pillars of America’s economic and national security. This committee will play an important role in the 118th Congress – from oversight of the Biden administration, to tackling ongoing energy and supply chain challenges, and reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration, we have a lot to get done for the American people. It’s time to roll up our sleeves, put the pedal to the metal, and get to work.”
Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.) released this statement following Representative Collins appointment to the committee: “I am excited to welcome Representative Collins to the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. I am confident he will be a valuable member of our Committee as we work to develop solutions to improve our infrastructure, strengthen transportation programs, and help alleviate ongoing energy and supply chain problems on behalf of the American people.”
Background
•Representative Collins is the first Georgia Republican to serve on T&I since the 116th Congress.
•Representative Collins is the first ever congressman from GA-10 to represent the district on T&I since its inception as the Public Works and Transportation Committee in 1947.
T&I has a broad jurisdiction that includes all matters relating to transportation including highways, bridges, railroads, aviation, and maritime and waterborne transit.
