[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 13]
[House]
[Page 17757]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1030
                  THE HEALTH ACT, COMMON SENSE REFORM

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, as insurance premiums 
continue to rise, doctors, hospitals and other health care providers 
across the country have been forced to severely limit their practices 
or close their doors. Until we address this issue with commonsense 
reforms, many doctors will be unable to afford to serve their 
communities, and patients will find it increasingly difficult to obtain 
needed health care.
  Today, thanks to the strong leadership of my colleague, the gentleman 
from Georgia (Mr. Gingrey), Congress has the unique opportunity to 
address the medical liability crisis occurring throughout our Nation.
  The HEALTH Act of 2005 safeguards patients' rights to care through 
commonsense reforms. First, it promotes the speedy resolution of claims 
and fairly allocates damages. Second, the HEALTH Act accurately 
compensates patient injuries and maximizes patient recovery. Finally, 
this legislation places reasonable limits on punitive damages and 
ensures the payment of medical expenses and respects States' rights.
  By passing the HEALTH Act of 2005, we will help ensure that doctors 
spend their time addressing the real needs of American patients.
  In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget 
September 11.

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