Mike Collins: “I thank the chairman for yielding and his work in bringing this to the floor, and I appreciate it. Mr. Speaker, I rise…”

“I thank the chairman for yielding and his work in bringing this to the floor, and I appreciate it. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3279, the Open Book on Equal Access to Justice Act. I introduced this legislation with a bipartisan group of cosponsors to provide additional transparency and oversight of taxpayer dollars awarded under the Equal Access to Justice Act. I want to thank all of the original cosponsors of this legislation for their support. In particular, my friend from Tennessee, Steve Cohen, a member of the Judiciary Committee, but also a special thank you also to Cynthia Lummis from Wyoming, who has been an advocate of this legislation. I just want to thank her for her tireless work and leadership on this issue as we move forward. H.R. 3279 passed the Judiciary Committee on a voice vote on October 27, 2015. Almost identical legislation passed both the Judiciary Committee and the full House on a voice vote last Congress. The bill reinstates needed transparency and accountability measures to ensure that the Equal Access to Justice Act is helping individuals, retirees, veterans, and small businesses as intended. Congress originally passed the Equal Access to Justice Act in 1980 to remove a barrier to justice for those with limited access to the resources it takes to sue the Federal Government and to recover attorneys' fees and costs that go along with such suits.…”