[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 16]
[House]
[Page 21800]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        MEDICAL LIABILITY REFORM

  (Mr. GINGREY of Georgia asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GINGREY of Georgia. Madam Speaker, experts have predicted that 
meaningful liability reform can save our health care system $126 
billion annually. What does $126 billion in annual savings mean? We 
would not have to cut $500 billion from our seniors' Medicare program 
over the next 10 years. We would not have to levy $800 billion in job-
killing taxes on our economy. We would not have to ask every American 
to give up their liberty because of a government edict to purchase 
government insurance that they may not be able to afford.
  My colleagues, meaningful liability reform is the silver bullet in 
this debate. It can stop the practice of defensive medicine, save our 
health care system over $100 billion a year, and protect the American 
people from the occasional greedy lawyer seeking a windfall.
  As an OB/GYN who practiced medicine for over 30 years, I know how 
dire the consequences are if we continue our failure to act. It is time 
to put partisan politics aside and stand up for the American people. 
Meaningful liability change cannot wait. It must be included in any 
health care reform bill.

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