[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 14]
[House]
[Page 18455]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            IN PRAISE OF NORTH CAROLINA SENATOR JOHN EDWARDS

  (Mr. ETHERIDGE asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. ETHERIDGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to praise my friend and 
colleague, North Carolina Senator John Edwards. I want to call 
attention to a specific accomplishment on behalf of ordinary Americans 
that has earned him the reputation as a people's lawyer.
  Valerie Lakey, a 5-year-old girl, was maimed when a swimming pool 
drain malfunctioned. Her family had nowhere else to turn, and John 
Edwards proved the company that made the drain knew it was dangerous to 
children, yet did nothing.
  Jennifer Campbell was born in 1979 with severe brain damage because, 
as a jury later determined, her mother's doctor botched the delivery. 
The hospital covered up the malpractice and Jennifer's parents were 
forced to turn to John Edwards for a measure of justice.
  My Republican colleagues talk about what they call ``lawsuit abuse'' 
as part of their negative ads on John Edwards and John Kerry. But let 
the record be clear: John Edwards has spent his entire life fighting 
for ordinary folks who could not fight for themselves. John Edwards and 
John Kerry have a plan to make North Carolina a stronger home and 
respected in the world. I am proud of my friend John Edwards and know 
he will make a great Vice President.

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