Doug Collins (politician) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Doug Collins
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Official portrait, 2025
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| 12th United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs | |
| Assumed office February 5, 2025 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Denis McDonough |
| Acting Director of the United States Office of Government Ethics | |
| Assumed office February 12, 2025 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Shelley Finlayson (acting) |
| Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee | |
| In office January 3, 2019 – March 12, 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Jerry Nadler |
| Succeeded by | Jim Jordan |
| Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference | |
| In office January 3, 2017 – January 3, 2019 |
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| Leader | Paul Ryan |
| Preceded by | Lynn Jenkins |
| Succeeded by | Mark Walker |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Georgia's 9th district |
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| In office January 3, 2013 – January 3, 2021 |
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| Preceded by | Tom Graves (redistricting) |
| Succeeded by | Andrew Clyde |
| Member of the Georgia House of Representatives from the 27th district |
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| In office January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2013 |
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| Preceded by | Stacey Reece |
| Succeeded by | Lee Hawkins |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Douglas Allen Collins
August 16, 1966 Gainesville, Georgia, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse |
Lisa Jordan
(m. 1988) |
| Children | 3 |
| Education | University of North Georgia (BA) New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (MDiv) Atlanta's John Marshall Law School (JD) |
| Military service | |
| Branch/service |
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| Years of service | 2002–present |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit |
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| Battles/wars | |
Douglas Allen Collins (born August 16, 1966) is an American lawyer and politician. He is also a veteran of the Air Force. Since 2025, he has been serving as the 12th United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Before this role, Mr. Collins was a member of the Republican Party. He served as a U.S. representative for Georgia's 9th congressional district from 2013 to 2021. He also served in the Georgia House of Representatives from 2007 to 2013. Mr. Collins is a chaplain in the U.S. Air Force Reserve and holds the rank of colonel.
In 2020, Mr. Collins ran for a U.S. Senate seat in Georgia but did not win. After leaving Congress, he worked as a legal advisor for Donald Trump. In November 2024, President-elect Trump chose him to be the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The Senate approved his nomination in February 2025, and he started his new job shortly after.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Mr. Collins was born in Gainesville, Georgia. His father worked as a Georgia State Trooper for over 30 years. Doug Collins graduated from North Hall High School.
He went to North Georgia College & State University, where he earned a degree in political science and criminal law in 1988. Later, he studied at the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, getting his Master of Divinity degree in 1996. In 2007, he earned his law degree from Atlanta's John Marshall Law School.
Career Highlights
Before becoming a politician, Mr. Collins had several different jobs. He interned for a U.S. representative and sold safety products. For over a decade, from 1994 to 2005, he was a senior pastor at Chicopee Baptist Church. He also co-owned a scrapbooking store with his wife, Lisa. Since 2010, he has worked as a lawyer and is a managing partner at a law firm.
Military Service
In the late 1980s, Mr. Collins served two years in the United States Navy as a navy chaplain. After the September 11 attacks, he joined the United States Air Force Reserve Command. He continues to serve as a chaplain there today, holding the rank of Colonel.
As part of the 94th Airlift Wing, Mr. Collins was sent to Balad Air Base in Iraq for five months in 2008 during the Iraq War.
Georgia State Representative (2007-2013)
Mr. Collins served three terms in the Georgia House of Representatives. He represented Georgia's 27th district from 2007 to 2013.
Elections to the State House
When the previous state representative decided not to run again, Mr. Collins ran for the open seat. He won both the primary and general elections without anyone running against him. He was also reelected without opposition in 2008 and 2010.
Key Actions in the State House
In 2011, Mr. Collins supported a plan to change Georgia's HOPE Scholarship program. This plan aimed to save money by slightly reducing scholarships and raising the required test scores and grades. He believed these changes were needed to keep the program strong.
He also supported changing Georgia's constitution in 2012. This change would allow for more charter schools across the state.
State House Committees
From 2011 to 2012, Mr. Collins was one of three administrative floor leaders for Georgia Governor Nathan Deal. He served on several important committees, including:
- House Appropriations (Secretary)
- Judiciary Non-Civil
- Public Safety & Homeland Security
- Health & Human Services
- Defense and Veterans Affairs
U.S. House of Representatives (2013-2021)
2012 Election to Congress
In 2012, Mr. Collins ran for Congress in Georgia's 9th congressional district. This district was known for being very Republican. He faced two other candidates in the Republican primary election.
Mr. Collins finished first in the primary. Because no one won more than half the votes, a second election, called a runoff, was held. Mr. Collins won the runoff election. In the main election, he easily defeated his Democratic opponent.
2018 Election to Congress
After running unopposed in 2016, Mr. Collins ran for reelection in 2018. He won by a large margin against his Democratic challenger.
Congressional Committees
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During his time in the U.S. House of Representatives, Mr. Collins served on several important committees:
- United States House Committee on Rules
- United States House Committee on the Judiciary
- Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet
- Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law
- Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
- Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, U.S. Postal Service and the Census
- Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Job Creation and Regulatory Affairs
Other Groups
Mr. Collins was also a member of the U.S.-Japan Caucus, a group that works to strengthen ties between the United States and Japan.
2020 U.S. Senate Election
In January 2020, Mr. Collins announced he would run for a seat in the United States Senate. This was a special election to fill the remaining two years of a senator's term. He ran against the sitting senator, Kelly Loeffler, and other candidates.
In Georgia, all candidates, regardless of their political party, run in one primary election. If no one gets more than 50% of the vote, the top two candidates go to a runoff election. Mr. Collins finished third in the primary and did not make it to the runoff. After the election, he supported Kelly Loeffler in the runoff.
Secretary of Veterans Affairs (2025–present)
Becoming Secretary
In November 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced his plan to nominate Mr. Collins. He wanted Mr. Collins to be the next United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Mr. Collins appeared before the United States Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs in January 2025. The committee approved his nomination. On February 4, the full Senate confirmed him by a vote of 77 to 23.
Starting the Role
On February 5, 2025, Mr. Collins officially became the 12th Secretary of Veterans Affairs. He was sworn into office by Associate Justice Clarence Thomas.
Political Views
Healthcare
Mr. Collins has stated that he does not support the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. He believes it has been too expensive for many Americans.
Tax Reform
Mr. Collins voted in favor of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. He believed this law would help businesses create more jobs. He also thought it would allow American families to keep more of their money.
Women's Rights
Mr. Collins voted against the 2013 Violence Against Women Act. He had concerns about parts of the law that expanded protections to include same-sex couples.
Personal Life
Mr. Collins married his wife, Lisa Jordan, in 1988. Lisa is a retired fifth-grade teacher. They live in Gainesville, Georgia, and have three children: Jordan, Copelan, and Cameron. One of their children has spina bifida.
Mr. Collins is a practicing Southern Baptist. He attends Lakewood Baptist Church.
Publications
Books
- The Clock and the Calendar: A Front-Row Look at the Democrats' Obsession with Donald Trump, 2021. (ISBN: 978-1637580882).
Images for kids
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Official portrait of Doug Collins.
See also
In Spanish: Doug Collins (político) para niños
