[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 165 (Friday, November 6, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H12552]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  TORT REFORM WOULD PAY FOR UNINSURED

  (Mr. SMITH of Texas asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of Texas. Mr. Speaker, the Congressional Budget Office has 
determined that tort reform would save Americans $54 billion over the 
next decade. But reducing frivolous lawsuits against doctors and 
hospitals is not in the health care bill. That is because, according to 
former Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean, White House 
officials ``don't want to take on the trial lawyers.'' Tort reform 
eliminates the billions of dollars spent on meritless lawsuits and 
defensive medicine.
  If Congress enacted tort reform, we could then provide catastrophic 
health care coverage to the long-term low-income uninsured. To reduce 
health care costs and help the uninsured, tort reform should be the 
first item in any health care bill.

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