Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2266, the ``Bankruptcy Judgeship Act of 2017,'' which authorizes the establishment of four additional permanent bankruptcy judgeships and converts 14 temporary bankruptcy judgeships to permanent status. I am pleased to be an original cosponsor of this legislation, which is a necessary response to alleviate the strain on certain bankruptcy courts that have experienced a significant increase in bankruptcy filings over the past decade or more. Importantly, this legislation adopts the recommendations of the Judicial Conference of the United States, the national policymaking body of the federal courts, and does not impose additional fees on ordinary consumer debtors or small businesses. As the Conference notes in support of this measure, while bankruptcy filings have decreased nationwide, the bankruptcy courts that would receive permanent or new judgeships under this legislation ``have seen weighted filings increase by more than 55 percent.'' Furthermore, without this legislation, all 14 temporary judgeships covered by this bill will lapse later this month on May 25. Allowing a lapse in these judgeships would have potentially crippling effects on the bankruptcy system. For example, five of the six authorized judgeships of the U.S. Bankruptcy Court of the District of Delaware--the preferred venue for corporate reorganization under Chapter 11--are temporary. Accordingly, I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.…”