Maxwell Frost: “Mr. Speaker, I will not oppose this rule, but I must take this time to express my strong opposition to this so-called…”

“Mr. Speaker, I will not oppose this rule, but I must take this time to express my strong opposition to this so-called reform of product liability. Mr. Speaker, I am joined in my opposition to this bill by a variety of groups including, to name but a few, the Consumer Federation of America, the Consumers Union, the American Association of Retired Persons, the National Conference of State Legislators, and the YWCA. Mr. Speaker, these groups oppose this legislation because it is an assault on American consumers--the very American people the Contract With America seeks to assist by getting government off their collective backs. This bill does get something off someone's back, but what the bill really does is provide immunity to manufacturers and industry. The bill does it by making it very difficult for injured consumers to seek redress in the courts and thereby insuring that dangerous products remain on the market. Mr. Speaker, this legislation will dismantle 200 years of State common and statutory law.”