Jackie Speier

This is not a stalking horse for abortion.

I hope there is no debate about the need for enshrining in the Constitution a clear and firm statement guaranteeing women equal rights under the law.

We need the ERA so that we can achieve our full economic and social potential.

We want you to finally remember the women.

I thank the witnesses for their participation including my colleagues, the gentlewoman from California, Ms. Speier, and the gentlewoman from New York, Ms. Maloney, who have both been champions for the ERA.

H.J. Res. 38, introduced in this Congress by Congresswoman Jackie Speier with 185 co-sponsors, will ensure that the ERA can become law if and when a sufficient number of states ratify it.

It is wrong that it has gone on as long as it has without the Congress of the United States putting their big-people britches on.

The lack of moral prioritization by this administration is galling.

I wonder, Madam Chair, what it says about our military medical system that it is so bad that we have to actually shield it, that it could cost multiple billions of dollars to fully allow tort claims, you know, which I think should scare us…

I encourage our colleagues on the Judiciary Committee to do so and to have an open debate on this issue that impacts our brave men and women who serve this great Nation.

There is no justification for this Court to read exemptions into the act beyond those provided by Congress. If the act is to be altered, then it is a function for the same body that adopted it.

The amendment to the Federal Tort Claims Act is an amendment that I am introducing as a bill later today. And it will be named after Sergeant Stayskal.

I have seen it time and time again as a veteran advocate. When you are hurt due to malpractice and you file a claim, the claim is denied.

They should be able to seek out a civilian provider who has that.

I mean, it is sort of like, you know, adding insult to injury to have that kind of a restriction.

This is a hearing that we are having about the quality of health care in the military by service members who are not in combat situations.

Is it the right kind of a policy to, you know, have their doctors, the ones who are fighting and dying, you know, not concerned about a lawsuit but every other doctor, to include the ones that do work on each of the Members here--you know…

I love when that kind of claim is made by someone who didn't serve. Because I have served, and I know that that kind of claim is ridiculous.

But it appears that these facilities are providing services, first and foremost, to the spouses and the dependents.

So the first scan actually did detect the error. It just wasn't--you weren't informed, and you weren't referred.

I worry that there aren't enough sophisticated medical professionals with gynecological training in the military.

Let me clarify for everyone that this committee has full jurisdiction over the quality of medical health care in the military, and that is why we are having this hearing.

I think we have struggled for a long time on the issue of widowhood and the compensation issue, and it is one that has to be fixed.

Thank you, Chairwoman Speier, and to the members of the subcommittee for the opportunity to speak today.

This includes standardizing patient experience, improving quality of care, and increasing access to care--reforms that are essential to fixing the types of issues highlighted by your cases.