Paul Coverdell: “we have today taken an important step to encourage more people to step forward and serve their communities as volunteers…”

“we have today taken an important step to encourage more people to step forward and serve their communities as volunteers by removing the fear of unwarranted lawsuits against volunteers. Our adoption of S. 543, the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997, will grant immunity from personal civil liability, under certain circumstances, to volunteers working for nonprofit organizations and governmental entities. This legislation has enjoyed overwhelming bipartisan support in both bodies. I want to thank all of those members who supported this bill to help our volunteers all across America. In particular, I would like to recognize the leadership of Senator McConnell, who has been a strong advocate of reform in this area, and the other cosponsors of the bill: Senator Abraham, Senator Ashcroft, Senator Enzi, Senator Gramm, Senator Gregg, Senator Hutchinson of Arkansas, Senator Kyl, Senator Santorum, and Senator Sessions. All of them were extremely helpful during the original Senate debate and in many other ways as we moved this legislation forward. I thank also Senator Leahy for his cooperation and leadership in striking a compromise that both sides of the aisle, and indeed both Chambers, could support. From the other body, I thank Congressman John Porter of Illinois, who has been promoting the issue of volunteer protection since 1986 and truly laid the foundation for today's success.”