[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 179 (Monday, November 13, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2169]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




MOTION TO GO TO CONFERENCE ON H.R. 956, COMMON SENSE PRODUCT LIABILITY 
                      AND LEGAL REFORM ACT OF 1995

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                               speech of

                           HON. NANCY PELOSI

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Thursday, November 9, 1995

  Ms. PELOSI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to oppose the legislation 
before us and to support the motion to instruct offered by the 
gentleman from Michigan, Mr. Conyers. H.R. 956 is an undisguised attack 
on the safety of the American people that will result in more unsafe 
products, more injuries, and less compensation for those who are 
injured by corporate misconduct and negligence.
  The motion offered by Representative Conyers would instruct the 
conferees not to agree to any provision that would limit total damages 
for injuries to women, children, or elderly individuals to an amount 
less than that recoverable by other plaintiffs with substantially 
similar injuries.
  Mr. Speaker, during the debate earlier this year on H.R. 956, it was 
demonstrated that our current State-based products liability system 
works well. It allows our citizens to seek redress when they have been 
injured by corporate negligence and it provides ample incentives to 
correct defective products when they cause harm.
  My colleagues, this bill favors powerful corporations at the expense 
of women, the elderly, and all working Americans by limiting damages 
for noneconomic losses which represent a larger proportion of damages 
for these groups.
  I urge a ``no'' vote on the ill-advised reforms contained in H.R. 956 
and a ``yes'' vote on the Conyers motion to instruct conferees.

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