Bonnie Watson Coleman: “Today my colleagues will vote on H.R. 1215, the so-called Protecting Access to Care Act. Disguised as a step toward…”

“Today my colleagues will vote on H.R. 1215, the so-called Protecting Access to Care Act. Disguised as a step toward healthcare affordability, in reality, this legislation tramples on the legal rights of Americans harmed in healthcare settings. This bill would devastate the catastrophically injured by capping noneconomic damages at $250,000, a cap that applies even for loss of limb, permanent disability, or death of a child or spouse. These caps also apply to lawsuits that include accusations of reckless misconduct or violent crimes like assault or rape. This bill further erodes the right to trial by jury by imposing a 3- year statute of limitations, which is shorter than most State laws. Legal remedies often stand as the test of the last refuge of justice for the injured and aggrieved, regardless of wealth or influence. Powerful interests have many tools at their disposal to stack the deck against vulnerable populations. But the goal of the American court system at its purest is to provide equal consideration in the eyes of the law. As a nation, our responsibility is to work towards that ideal, not undermine it. H.R. 1215 is a direct affront to this idea, and I encourage my colleagues to vote ``no.'' ____________________”