--- title: SR 245. Collins, Doug; commend collection: bills id: 2025-2026/sr245 cite_as: SR 245, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr245 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr245.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr245/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70706 date: 2025-03-18 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-08-28 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr244.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr246.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 434 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr245.md?full=1 bill_number: SR 245 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: Senate bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-03-18 last_action: Senate Passed/Adopted sponsors: - Steve Gooch - Drew Echols - Jason Anavitarte - Bo Hatchett - Ben Watson - Brandon Beach - Billy Hickman - Matt Brass - Sam Watson - Timothy Bearden - Mike Hodges - Blake Tillery - Ricky Williams - Brian Strickland - Greg Dolezal - Randy Robertson - John Albers - Carden Summers - Bill Cowsert - Max Burns - Chuck Hufstetler - Chuck Payne - Lee Anderson - John Kennedy - Kay Kirkpatrick text_version: Enrolled has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/SR245/2025 upstream_id: 1980046 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - veterans affairs - commendation resolution - Doug Collins - Georgia Senate --- # SR 245. Collins, Doug; commend ## Text 25 LC 112 3036 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 ADOPTED SENATE A RESOLUTION Commending Doug Collins; and for other purposes. 1 WHEREAS, Doug Collins was nominated by the administration of Pr esident Donald J.2 Trump and confirmed by the United States Senate to be the Unite d 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 Congressi onal District of Georgia14 from 2013 to 2021; and15 S. R. 245 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3036 WHEREAS, Doug Collins stood out as a friend to our nation's veterans and military families16 through his development of legislation that opened access to healthcare, massively expanded17 much-needed mental health service availability, and increased a ccountability within the18 Department of Veterans Affairs; and19 WHEREAS, Doug Collins is a Colonel in the United States Air For ce 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 t he 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 pub lic 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 S. R. 245 - 2 - 25 LC 112 3036 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body37 commend Doug Collins upon his nomination to the Department of V eterans 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 - 3 - ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia Senate resolution commends Doug Collins, a North Georgia native and former congressman, on his confirmation as United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia Senate, not a law that changes anyone's rights or obligations. It recognizes Doug Collins, who grew up in the Gainesville area, served in the Georgia House and then the U.S. House representing Georgia's 9th Congressional District, and later became a chaplain and Colonel in the Air Force Reserves with service in Iraq. The resolution highlights his role in passing the federal First Step Act on criminal justice reform and his work on veterans' health care and mental health services. It formally congratulates him on being nominated and confirmed as U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs and directs the Secretary of the Senate to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. ### What it does - Formally commends Doug Collins by name for his nomination and Senate confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs. - Recites his biography, military service, and legislative record as the basis for the Senate's praise. - Directs the Secretary of the Senate to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. - Creates no new law, funding, or regulatory change; it is a statement of praise rather than an operative statute. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names Doug Collins. It has no legal effect on the public, but it reflects the Georgia Senate's view on a federal appointee connected to Georgia, particularly relevant to veterans and military families who interact with the Department of Veterans Affairs. ### Why it matters Because this is a commendation rather than a law, it does not change any rights, funding, or agency operations in Georgia. Its significance is symbolic: it records the Georgia Senate's formal recognition of a Georgia native's rise to a top federal post overseeing veterans' affairs. ### Key provisions - The whereas clauses describe Collins's education, military career, time in the Georgia House and U.S. House, and legislative record, including work on the First Step Act. - The resolved clause commends Collins on his nomination to the Department of Veterans Affairs and wishes him well in his continued service. - A further resolved clause directs the Secretary of the Senate to make copies available to the public and press. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-03-18) - Last action: Senate Passed/Adopted (2025-03-18) - Sponsors: Steve Gooch, Drew Echols, Jason Anavitarte, Bo Hatchett, Ben Watson, Brandon Beach, Billy Hickman, Matt Brass, Sam Watson, Timothy Bearden, Mike Hodges, Blake Tillery, Ricky Williams, Brian Strickland, Greg Dolezal, Randy Robertson, John Albers, Carden Summers, Bill Cowsert, Max Burns, Chuck Hufstetler, Chuck Payne, Lee Anderson, John Kennedy, Kay Kirkpatrick - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/70706 > The history, votes, and amendments (434 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/sr245.md?full=1