[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 44 (Thursday, March 9, 1995)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D321-D322]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[[Page D321]]
                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Bills Introduced: Nineteen public bills, H.R. 1178-1195 and 1200; four 
private bills, H.R. 1196-1199; and six resolutions, H. Con. Res. 35-37 
and H. Res. 110-112, were introduced.
  Pages H2988-89
Report Filed: One report was filed as follows: H.R. 402, to amend the 
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (H. Rept. 104-73).
  Page H2988
Presidential Message--Nuclear Cooperation: Read a message from the 
President wherein he reports on the nuclear cooperation within the 
European Community--referred to the Committee on International 
Relations and ordered printed (H. Doc. No. 104-43).
  Page H2901
Product Liability: House continued consideration of H.R. 956, to 
establish legal standards and procedures for product liability 
litigation; but came to no resolution thereon. Consideration of 
amendments will resume on Friday, March 10.
  Pages H2914-67
Agreed To:
  The Pete Geren of Texas amendment, as modified pursuant to the rule, 
that applies liability rules applicable to product sellers to persons 
engaged in the business of renting or leasing products, but exempt them 
from liability for customer's illegal misuse of such a product;
Pages H2918-19
  The Hyde amendment that eliminates the exception to the statute of 
repose for product liability that allows a claimant to bring a suit if 
he cannot receive full compensation for medical expenses from other 
sources;
Pages H2923-26
  The Conyers amendment that requires any product liability action for 
injury sustained in the United States and that relates to the purchase 
or use of a product manufactured outside the United States by a foreign 
manufacturer be heard by a Federal court and that such court shall have 
jurisdiction over the manufacturer (agreed to by a recorded vote of 258 
ayes to 166 noes, Roll No. 221);
Pages H2930-32
  The Hyde technical amendment as modified;
Pages H2940-41
  The Oxley amendment that adds ``FDA defense'' provisions that bar 
punitive damages for the sale or manufacture of drugs or devices which 
have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration;
Pages H2941-48
  The Cox of California amendment that eliminates joint and several 
liability (in which any of the defendants can be required to pay the 
entire amount) for noneconomic losses in all civil lawsuits that 
involve interstate commerce (agreed to by a recorded vote of 263 ayes 
to 164 noes, Roll No. 225);
Pages H2951-58
  The Cox of California amendment, as modified pursuant to the rule, 
that limits the maximum award of noneconomic damages in health care 
liability actions to $250,000 (agreed to by a recorded vote of 247 ayes 
to 171 noes, Roll No. 226);
Pages H2958-65
Rejected:
  The Schroeder amendment that sought to strike the provision that 
eliminates joint liability for noneconomic loss in product liability 
suits; and to change the cap on punitive damages to $250,000 or three 
times the economic and noneconomic damages awarded, whichever is 
greater (rejected by a recorded vote of 179 ayes to 247 noes, Roll No. 
219);
Pages H2919-23
  The Schumer amendment that sought to make open to the public all 
records in product liability cases, except under special circumstances 
(rejected by a recorded vote of 184 ayes to 243 noes, Roll No. 220);
Pages H2926-30
  The Watt of North Carolina amendment that sought to strike the 
``clear and convincing'' burden of proof required in proving that 
punitive damages should be awarded (rejected by a recorded vote of 150 
ayes to 278 noes, Roll No. 222);
Pages H2932-35
  The Furse amendment that sought to strike provisions establishing a 
cap on punitive damages (rejected by a recorded vote of 155 ayes to 272 
noes, Roll No. 223); and
Pages H2935-40
  The Hoke amendment that sought to provide that, if punitive damages 
of more than $250,000 are awarded in a civil liability action, 75% of 
the additional amount would be awarded to the Treasury of the State in 
which the action was brought (rejected by a recorded vote of 162 ayes 
to 265 noes, Roll No. 224).
Pages H2948-51
  H. Res. 109, the rule under which the bill is being considered was 
agreed to earlier by a recorded vote of 247 ayes to 181 noes, Roll No. 
218. Agreed to order the previous question on the resolution by a yea-
and-nay vote of 234 years to 191 nays, Roll No. 217.
Pages H2901-12
  Agreed to the Linder amendment to the rule which allowed for 
modifications to the Geren amendment numbered 1 and the Cox of 
California amendment numbered 12.
Pages H2903-12
Presidential Message--Economic Crisis in Mexico: Read a message from 
the President wherein he notifies the Congress of his determination 
with respect to the economic crisis in Mexico that justified 
[[Page D322]] the use of the Exchange Stabilization Fund--referred to 
the Committee on Banking and Financial Services and ordered printed (H. 
Doc. No. 104-44).
  Pages H2967-68
Committees To Sit: The following committees and their subcommittees 
received permission to sit on Friday, March 10, during the proceedings 
of the House under the 5-minute rule. Committees on Economic and 
Educational Opportunities, Government Reform and Oversight, House 
Oversight, Judiciary, and Transportation and Infrastructure.
  Page H2968
Amendments Ordered Printed: Amendments ordered printed pursuant to the 
rule appear on pages H2989-90.
Quorum Calls--Votes: One yea-and-nay vote and nine recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of the House today and appear on pages 
H2911-12, H2912, H2923, H2929-30, H2931-32, H2935, H2940, H2951, H2958, 
and H2964-65. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: Met at 10:00 a.m. and adjourned at 11:10 p.m.