Well, that is a welcome development. I hope it will be accelerated and enhanced, and enlarged by proposed legislation like the Chairman's, which Senator Markey and I have joined.

wouldn't it be clearer if--and more transparent--if, as to that right--and, by the way, many other rights--

there's no indication as to the limits on what passengers can seek, by way of recourse, if there's negligence in the provision of medical care.

it would seem to guarantee a right that, in fact, is illusory.

But, apart from the credentials----

I don't see any indication of what those limits on liability are.

My impression of this hearing is that there's a bit of a Kabuki dance.

that's why I've become a cosponsor of Senator Rockefeller's bill, the Cruise Passenger Protection Act.

A right without a forum, without a court, without an enforcer, is illusory.

while my colleague from West Virginia is here, I wish to thank him for his leadership on this issue and for the very hard work he and other colleagues have devoted to this profoundly difficult, challenging but important issue. I rise with…

a Passenger Bill of Rights can be misleading.

I think, to many of us--is that there is inadequate protection for travelers on cruise ships.

It may be the normal practice in your industry, but not necessarily in all industries.

If you're not one of us, you have nothing to offer to us that can help us.

I would be more than happy to give you the benefit of consulting with your attorney before you ask.

consumers and travelers deserve to know better what the rights and protections are.

the Rule of Reason case doesn't necessarily bar some presumptions on evidentiary issues, does it?

As State Attorney General, I was among the States that frequently dealt with abuses and misuses of patents, so I have seen firsthand the difference that it can make, the very grave harm that it can do to consumers not only in terms of…

And to put it in terms that consumers can understand, the payment, in addition to the settlement on time period, probably means that entry is delayed as a consequence of that payment.

the system may work well in some ways, as you suggested, but it has put out of business many, many fishermen in the State of Connecticut

Thank you, Madam Chairman. Thank you all for being here today.

In your experience, are these pay-for-delay agreements increasing in number and importance?

This hearing is critical to our health care system and to American competitiveness.

My time has expired. I am going to turn over to Senator Lee.

As a matter of fact, as Attorney General, I took legal action because this system is such a failure, an abject failure, over many years in upholding the very interests that you have expressed in your testimony.