[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 17 (Wednesday, February 16, 2005)]
[House]
[Page H635]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       ENDING FRIVOLOUS LAWSUITS

  (Mr. McHENRY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McHENRY. Mr. Speaker, frivolous lawsuits are hurting our economy, 
and they must be stopped. Lawsuit abuse affects everyone. Frivolous 
lawsuits and junk lawsuits jam our judicial system. Frivolous lawsuits 
increase the cost of medicine and medical treatment. They hurt our 
health care, hurt the American economy, and they hurt American jobs.
  Mr. Speaker, it is because jury awards in civil trials have become 
blank checks for plaintiff lawyers. Increased numbers of cases and the 
absurd rewards they yield have resulted in the highest per-person cost 
of litigation of any country in the world. They cost small businesses 
the most and many have closed their doors.
  It is Congress's duty to ensure that this type of legislation is not 
abused. President Bush's plan for tort reform lays a strong groundwork 
to address medical liability reform, class action lawsuit reform, 
asbestos litigation reform. It is clear that too many of these lawsuits 
are being abused. Congress must act today to ensure that we have a 
healthy economy tomorrow.

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