On the recordMarch 21, 2012
I'd like to thank all of the Members on both sides of the aisle that have participated in this important debate. There has been a lot of clarity, even though there has been a great difference in opinion. I return the balance of my time with this thought in mind, that even though the author of this bill is a well-regarded medical practitioner and a distinguished Member of the body, he is a doctor, but he is not a lawyer. I commend him on the fact that he agreed with the statement that to me determines a lot of people's point of view about this very controversial bill that is now before the floor, H.R. 5. That is, he agreed and answered in the affirmative that H.R. 5 eliminates joint and several liability for economic, noneconomic, and punitive damages. To me, with all the cases that have been of human suffering, of injury to women and children, of how wrong it would be to limit all of these kinds of damages to $250,000 in this 21st century is an insult to common sense and fair play.
