Political Quotes

“a couple of weeks ago, a number of female trial lawyers approached Members of Congress to press the message that product liability reform is bad for women. As the House Committee on Commerce begins to hold hearings on product liability reform tomorrow, I want to enter into the Record information and documents that show not only is that message false, but it is being organized by the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, a group that strongly opposes even modest product liability reform. In fact, Mr. Speaker, there is no group that is more harmed by the current product liability laws than women. This is true for two reasons. First of all, in terms of health, the fear of lawsuits has halted research and kept products off the market that would give many women better opportunities and remedies, things like contraceptives, breast reconstruction, and other products that are badly needed for women's health. Second, the majority of newly created small businesses today, for the first time, are women owned. There is no group that is more impacted by product liability than small business owners. So this system is a threat to women who are beginning small businesses. Mr. Speaker, I hope for these reasons that we will soon be able to consider and pass product liability reform.”