[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 44 (Thursday, March 9, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E567]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                                H.R. 10

                                 ______


                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, March 9, 1995
  Mr. HASTINGS. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 10 will strip American citizens of 
their ability to hold wrongdoers accountable and, when necessary, to 
punish reckless or other outrageous behavior on the part of 
manufacturers of dangerous products.
  There is no explosion in punitive damages claims. In fact, such 
claims are extremely rare. In one comprehensive study conducted by the 
U.S. Supreme Court, only 355 punitive damage awards in product 
liability cases have been awarded over the last 25 years, and a number 
of those involved asbestos.
  Mr. Speaker, Americans would be much worse off if they were unable to 
hold wrongdoers accountable. Punitive damages make Americans safer and 
have removed from the market products like flammable children's 
pajamas, asbestos, and the Dalkon shield. H.R. 10 is unwise and 
unnecessary.


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