[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 22427]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




     LET US PASS THE INTERSTATE CLASS ACTION JURISDICTION ACT TODAY

  (Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland. Mr. Speaker, this week of September 19 to 
25 marks Lawsuit Abuse Awareness Week. I commend members of the Western 
Maryland Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse, WMCALA, for joining thousands 
of Americans in informing the general public of the high price we all 
pay for frivolous lawsuits and excessive jury awards.
  Today this House has the opportunity to reduce lawsuit abuse by 
passing the Interstate Class Action Jurisdiction Act. This bill will 
discourage frivolous class action claims.
  I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote yes and pass 
this sensible and important legislation.
  Frivolous lawsuits and excessive jury awards exact a heavy price from 
all Americans in the form of higher prices for goods and services, 
fewer jobs, loss of safety improvements and product innovations, and 
delays in compensation for citizens with legitimate claims. Please pass 
the Interstate Class Action Jurisdiction Act today.

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