[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 50 (Thursday, April 24, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H1798]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           THE SPIRIT OF VOLUNTARISM IS STILL ALIVE AND WELL

  (Ms. DUNN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks and include extraneous 
material.)
  Ms. DUNN. Mr. Speaker, when Alexis de Toqueville came to America in 
the spring of 1831, there were many aspects of American life that 
deeply impressed him. One of the aspects of American life that 
impressed him the most was the spirit of voluntarism that he 
encountered everywhere he went.
  Mr. Speaker, that spirit of voluntarism is still alive and well 
today. In fact, I believe that voluntarism is part of the American 
character. That is why I am so distressed to see that the spirit of 
voluntarism is threatened these days by a legal system that allows all 
sorts of lawsuits to be filed against innocent people who volunteer 
their time to serve others.
  Mr. Speaker, too many volunteers are put on trial by those who are 
manipulating our legal system and that must stop. That is why we must 
pass H.R. 911, the Volunteer Protection Act. Volunteers who act in good 
faith, who are engaged in acts of charity should not be threatened by 
absurd lawsuits.
  Let us pass H.R. 911 and strengthen the unique American spirit of 
voluntarism.

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