[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 64 (Tuesday, May 19, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H3369]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 INTRODUCTION OF AUTO CHOICE REFORM ACT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the Speaker's announced policy of 
January 21, 1997, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey) is recognized 
during morning hour debates for 2 minutes.
  Mr. ARMEY. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow the Subcommittee on Finance and 
Hazardous Materials of the Committee on Commerce will hold a hearing on 
my bill, the Auto Choice Reform Act, which will cut auto insurance 
premiums by 24 percent and save American drivers $193 billion over 5 
years.
  Today we are forced to pay more than is necessary for auto liability 
insurance in order to be eligible to play the tort lottery, whether we 
want to or not. Some people see this lottery as a way to hit the 
jackpot. They exaggerate their real damages in order to sue for huge 
noneconomic damage awards. This fraud and abuse, as well as the 
excessive lawsuits, have helped drive up the cost of auto insurance and 
have led to the undercompensation of seriously injured victims.
  Auto Choice addresses these problems by giving American drivers a 
choice in the kind of insurance they can buy. Under Auto Choice they 
can stay in the tort system or they can opt to collect their actual 
losses from their own insurance company and forego suits for economic 
damages. In exchange, they will see lower premiums and better 
compensation.
  Americans should be free to buy the auto insurance policy that best 
fits their needs. Auto Choice gives them this freedom.

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