[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 49 (Monday, March 26, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E442]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  PROTECTING ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. STEVE ISRAEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 21, 2012

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5) to 
     improve patient access to health care services and provide 
     improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the 
     liability system places on the health care delivery system:

  Mr. ISRAEL. Mr. Chair, I rise today to speak in opposition to the 
Protecting Access to Healthcare Act.
  The Protecting Access to Healthcare Act is a wolf in sheep's 
clothing. Unfortunately, this bill is a blatant attempt to protect the 
profits of special interests and restrict the rights of patients. The 
facts are right on the pages in black and white. H.R. 5 reduces access 
to courts for individuals injured by medical negligence like removing 
the wrong leg, faulty medical devices or dangerous drugs. It imposes a 
one size fits all approach on the damages in medical negligence cases 
and goes further than any state law in place today.
  In fact, H.R. 5 includes provisions that violate States' rights by 
mandating a federal cap on all fifty states for medical liability. By 
including this poison pill, the House Republicans have prevented 
consensus in the House on changes to the Independent Payment Advisory 
Board. The American people want Congress to focus on commonsense, 
bipartisan legislation, but the House Republicans refuse. It appears 
some Members on the other side of the aisle won't stop until they 
abolish healthcare for all people, and especially low-income 
individuals, women and seniors. They can try to hide behind any piece 
of legislation they want, but they can't hide from the facts: their 
goal is to end the Medicare guarantee and increase costs for seniors.
  I will continue to urge my Republican colleagues to stop their war on 
women and seniors, I will continue to protect quality healthcare for 
Americans and I will continue to push for compromise in the House of 
Representatives.

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