[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 7 (Tuesday, January 12, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E33-E34]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            FAIRNESS IN CLASS ACTION LITIGATION ACT OF 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 8, 2016

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1927) to 
     amend title 28, United States Code, to improve fairness in 
     class action litigation.

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chair, I rise to express my opposition to the 
Fairness in Class Action Litigation Act of 2015.
  On Monday of this week, the Justice Department filed a civil 
complaint against Volkswagen after discovering that Volkswagen 
manipulated over half a million diesel engines to circumvent our 
environmental standards. By the end of the week Republicans brought 
legislation to the floor that will make it exceedingly difficult for 
consumers harmed by deliberately deceitful corporations to file class 
action lawsuits. The problem that Republicans are pretending to solve 
with this bill does not exist, but the consequences of this bill are

[[Page E34]]

very real. If this bill passes it will limit the ability of consumers 
to have access to courts and prevent them from holding companies 
accountable.
  We have spent this week on policies that deprive Americans of their 
health care, deprive women of safe and secure healthcare, and protect 
corporations instead of protecting American citizens. If this week is a 
harbinger of the legislative agenda that Republicans have for 2016 then 
the people's House will fail to do the people's business.

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