[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 151 (Thursday, September 19, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H7818]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      FORCED ARBITRATION IS UNJUST

  (Ms. JACKSON LEE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Madam Speaker, I rise today to support and endorse 
the FAIR Act, of which there will be a vigorous debate on the floor of 
the House tomorrow.
  As a member of the Judiciary Committee, I was very pleased to be a 
cosponsor of that legislation and to explain to Americans what forced 
dispute arbitration is. It is arbitration almost without your 
knowledge.
  This bill will provide the opportunity for individuals who are forced 
into arbitration to be able to waive that particular provision.
  In fact, one of the saddest cases is that of someone who utilized 
Massage Envy, a company where this person was trying to relieve their 
pain and, unfortunately, was assaulted on the massage table. All they 
wanted to do was to get out of their contract, but when they checked 
the little box to get out of their contract, they checked the box to 
say that you must go into forced arbitration. You must wait weeks and 
months and days and years.
  I want to take note of the fact that this is not about trial lawyers. 
It is about justice. I am glad that the Nation has lawyers who can 
stand before the bar and in the courts to defend those who cannot 
defend themselves.
  Forced arbitration is an injustice. This repeals that injustice.
  I am a strong supporter of the FAIR Act, and the fact is that it 
gives justice to those who have no other remedy. Let's pass the FAIR 
Act.

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