Bart Stupak: “Mr. Chairman, this bill bars workers who are eligible for Worker's Compensation from suing a manufacturer or seller of…”

“Mr. Chairman, this bill bars workers who are eligible for Worker's Compensation from suing a manufacturer or seller of equipment, such as printing presses and machine tools, if more than 18 years has elapsed since the product was manufactured. The Republican leadership is bringing forth this bill to the floor under the guise of reasonably limiting litigation and helping manufacturers. Sure, it protects manufacturers. It protects negligent manufacturers. It protects reckless manufacturers. It protects these negligent and reckless manufacturers at the expense of our Nation's workers and employers. This bill will limit the employees to Worker's Compensation. That is two-thirds of their pay at best, no matter how severe the injuries are. Worker's Compensation does not make a person whole. It provides medical costs and very limited disability payments to cover some period, not their whole life, just some period of lost wages, no matter how severe the injury; no matter if someone loses a limb or the ability to work again. H.R. 2005 promotes inequality and injustice to one of our country's most important groups, the workers who toil in the manufacturing places of our factories every day, who frequently work with dangerous machinery. Owners of businesses and owners of management are generally excluded from Worker's Compensation plans. They still will be able to sue and recover for all their losses.”