[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 23551]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     HOMELAND SECURITY ACT OF 2002

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. BART STUPAK

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 14, 2001

  Mr. STUPAK. Mr. Speaker, I reluctantly voted for H.R. 5005, the 
Homeland Security Act of 2002.
  I say reluctantly because I have very strong objections to certain 
provisions contained in the bill which favor ``special interests.''
  In particular, I am opposed to provisions in the bill that would 
protect pharmaceutical firms and other corporations from lawsuits. Gut 
our efforts to crack down on companies that move abroad to escape U.S. 
taxes. Provide protection against lawsuits for companies that have 
provided passenger and baggage screening in airports. Give the new 
homeland security secretary broad authority to protect companies that 
sell anti-terrorism technologies.
  These provisions were inserted without consulting any Democratic 
leaders, and put in the bill literally in the middle of the night!
  Mr. Speaker, I have a long and well-known record of fighting against 
provisions such as these.
  These provisions were not in the original bill we passed earlier this 
year and I cannot understand why the Republican Caucus felt it 
necessary to include them in the most significant reorganization of the 
federal government in fifty years!
  These provisions harm the average American by curtailing their legal 
rights to seek justice from corporations. Haven't we seen the dangers 
of allowing big business to operate this way?
  The Senate was right in drawing national attention to this sham.
  I am hopeful the Republican leadership will live up to its promise to 
remove these provisions early next Congress, but I fear they are 
already backing off their promise to do so.
  Mr. Speaker, we desperately need a Department of Homeland Security, 
and that is why I voted for the bill. However, we do not need more give 
aways for corporate special interests, and I urge my GOP colleagues to 
move with great speed to remove the provisions early next session.

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