[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 119 (Tuesday, July 16, 2019)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E930]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    INTRODUCTION OF THE INSURANCE ACT--IMPROVING NATIONAL SAFETY BY 
 UPDATING THE REQUIRED AMOUNT OF INSURANCE NEEDED BY COMMERCIAL MOTOR 
                         VEHICLES PER EVENT ACT

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                     HON. JESUS G. ``CHUY'' GARCIA

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 16, 2019

  Mr. GARCIA of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of the 
INSURANCE Act, a bill introduced today with Representative Matt 
Cartwright to ensure that those who fall victim to crashes with motor 
carriers receive the fair financial compensation they deserve to cope 
with their tragedies.
  On May 2, 2005, Kate Brown's 27-year-old son Graham was hit by an 
impaired and fatigued truck driver in Round Lake, Illinois. Graham 
underwent 22 different surgeries, and three full years of physical and 
occupational therapy. He is now permanently, partially disabled.
  Their story is unfortunately an all-too often occurrence on today's 
roads. In fact, since 2007, the U.S. has seen a 41 percent increase in 
truck crash fatalities; an increase that was felt by Pam Biddle's 
family. In 2017, Pam's 23-year-old son, Aaron Lee, was with his father, 
Brian, and Brian's partner, Stephanie Swaim in traffic, when they were 
rear-ended and pushed into another semi in front of them. Both vehicles 
burst into flames killing Aaron, Brian, and Stephanie. Aaron was close 
to receiving his degree from the Purdue School of Nursing. Brian was a 
Navy veteran who served in Operation Desert Storm. Stephanie is 
survived by her five children.
  Thousands of families, like Kate's and Pam's, are suffering in 
silence, saddled with crippling medical and long-term care costs 
associated with catastrophic injuries that come as a result of crashes 
with motor carriers and large trucks.
  I am so proud to lead this effort with Rep. Matt Cartwright to do 
better for those who fall victim to the nightmare of such accidents.
  The INSURANCE Act ties the minimum insurance required for large 
trucks or motor carriers to inflation of medical costs. For 40 years, 
since 1980, that minimum requirement has remained stagnant at $750,000. 
That minimum should be almost 6.5x higher, to account for today's 
inflation of medical costs--a figure we calculated using the estimated 
rate of inflation for medical costs issued by the Bureau of Labor 
Statistics.
  This bill is not asking for anything unreasonable. Families shouldn't 
have to go bankrupt because a family member died or became severely 
injured with life-long disabilities as a result of negligent truck 
drivers. Big Business shouldn't grow profit margins by leaving the 
taxpayer's to foot the bill for medical costs that families cannot 
realistically cover.
  For these families, we should do better. This bill is common sense 
and it is simply the right thing to do. In fact for families like 
Kate's or Pam's, it is long overdue.
  We urge members to cosponsor the INSURANCE Act and require that 
families are adequately compensated for the injuries and fatalities 
caused by motor carrier negligence.

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