Collins,

R-3rd District, recently played a key roll in

killing legislation that would have blocked the

appointment of many local law enforcement

officials to positions in the U.S. marshal's

service. "Local law enforcement officials

offer a lot of insight and experience to the U.S.

marshals, so it does not make sense to insist

that all promotions come from within the U.S.

marshal's service," Collins said.

Sheriff

John Cary Bittick of Monroe County, Ga., a vice

president of the National Sheriffs Association,

presented Collins with an award of appreciation

during the association's breakfast Thursday

morning in Washington, D.C. Collins thanked the

sheriffs for the award, and said that he was able

to defeat the measure only through the help of

sheriffs who are elected to their jobs in

counties from coast to coast.

"This

bill shows the value of grass roots

organization," he said to the sheriffs. The

bill, HR 2336, was sponsored by Rep. Bill

McCollum, R-Fla. His bill was expected to pass as

part of a package of measures under suspension of

the rules Nov. 10, but Collins forced a vote on

whether the rules would be suspended because he

believed the bill should be debated in full. His

move delayed the procedure six days, which gave

the National Sheriffs Association time to alert

its members.

Sheriffs

from across the country called their

representatives so that the bill was defeated 231

- 183. "You did the work," Collins told

the assembled law enforcement officers. Bittick

said Collins sprang into action the minute he

notified him of the problem and has always been

supportive of sheriffs and other law enforcement

officers. "Mac has always been a

friend," he said.

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