Political Quotes

“the function of this motion to recommit is a very simple one: One, to include what essentially would have been a bipartisan amendment to this legislation, which would have been offered by the gentleman from Ohio [Mr. Oxley] and the gentleman from Tennessee [Mr. Gordon], that would have raised the amount of punitive damages to $1 million or three times the economic damages, a very fair and a very humane amendment which would protect the rights of persons injured by serious wrongdoing by manufacturers and others. The other thing that the amendment does is something which was voted on yesterday and in which by 258 to a substantially lesser number this body came to the judgment that we ought to see to it that foreigners are treated the same way as Americans are. The Cox amendment yesterday struck from the bill a requirement that foreigners appoint an agent for purposes of receiving service. The striking of that provision meant that no longer is it easy to get jurisdiction over foreigners who engage in improper processes in manufacturing. Let me give you an example. An American manufacturer manufactures an automobile. In it he includes foreign parts. He is sued for product liability because of the manufacturing of that automobile. Service is easy on the American manufacturer. Under the Cox amendment, it is almost impossible. Mr. Speaker, if you wanted to treat Americans fairly with foreigners, vote for the motion to recommit. Otherwise vote for the bill as it is.”