I think it is because of the nature of the hearing that is going on today.

Let's ensure that our law enforcement and prosecutors' offices are adequately resourced.

We should have more empathy for men and women who have left behind everyone and everything they know in order to reach our shores.

That's what we're doing under the Volunteer Protection Act is protecting our volunteers, our good citizens that come forward. Please, I would like to focus on the amendment here that provides a lesser degree of liability protection while…

We're striking the findings. By striking statements of constitutional authority for the bill, the amendment recognizes that many Members of the House question Congress' constitutional authority to pass H.R. 5. So for that reason, my…

I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Georgia will be postponed. {time} 1030 Amendment No. 2 Offered by Ms. Bonamici The Acting…

This amendment would actually lower the incentive to practice safe medicine, and I say this on careful examination. I'm surprised that my colleague, the leader on the other side, himself a distinguished doctor, would be silent on this…

The problem here is we don't have a problem. The 1997 law, which is called the Volunteer Protection Act, which I don't recall being mentioned, already provides immunity to all volunteers, not just doctors, to everybody, all volunteers, and…

I raise a question to my good friend from Florida. If you feel strongly about this, why don't we modify the Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 rather than go into the business of a constitutional violation by changing all of the State laws…

I would like to proudly associate myself with your remarks. Announcement by the Speaker Pro Tempore The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Poe of Texas). Members are advised to address their remarks to the Chair. ____________________

I demand a recorded vote. A recorded vote was ordered. The SPEAKER pro tempore. This will be a 5-minute vote. The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 223, noes 181, answered ``present'' 4, not voting 23, as follows…

It is my position that within the good that this does is a poison pill. The good is that consumers would also benefit from a repeal of McCarran-Ferguson. We salute you. But the poison pill is that this measure would ban class actions on a…

The Volunteer Protection Act, I say to my colleague from Florida, is a Federal bill enacted in 1997, and that's the one that I would urge you to want to join with me and others to modify if there is a problem. What you're doing by…

But what we're doing in the amendment is to provide immunity to all hospitals and physicians and require the Federal Government to pay for medical errors committed by them. Look, we have 98,000 patients dying every year due to preventable…

Just to get the facts into this debate, I rise in strong support of the Bonamici amendment. I include for the Record the Congressional Budget Office letter to Chairman Dreier on March 19 in which the CBO estimates that enacting the…

I thank the gentleman for his courtesy. But why, as a new Member--and we welcome you to this body--why would we strike all the findings from H.R. 5?

To my colleague, Mr. Dent, hold up. You're giving complete immunity to hospitals, physicians, and providers for any emergency activity. Do you want to do away with all liability whatsoever because it's in an emergency room? Of course, you…

I am pleased now to yield as much time as he may consume to the distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Johnson), a member of the House Judiciary Committee.

I thank the gentleman very much. Mr. Chairman, I am now pleased to yield as much time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from Houston, Texas, Ms. Sheila Jackson Lee.

I ask if the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Johnson) would like additional time. If he requires any, I would be glad to arrange to yield him further time. If you require more time, I would be delighted to yield it to you.

I am pleased now to yield 1 minute to the former Speaker of the House of Representatives, our leader, the gentlewoman from California, Nancy Pelosi.

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…

Ladies and gentlemen of the House, when we passed the landmark Affordable Care Act, some derisively termed it ``ObamaCare.'' I believe that some day this bill will be famous because it is named after the President. We were proud to have…

I yield such time as she may consume to a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, Maxine Waters of California.

I yield myself an additional minute, and I thank Dr. Gingrey for his response. I ask the author of this bill, H.R. 5, if the answer to my question of whether H.R. 5 eliminates joint and several liability for both economic and noneconomic…