Richard K. Armey: “Let me first, Mr. Chairman, say that those that are on the cutting edge of technology and wanting to provide it are…”

“Let me first, Mr. Chairman, say that those that are on the cutting edge of technology and wanting to provide it are protected in the base text of the bill by limiting their liability and banning punitive damages, just like we have done in the Transportation Safety Administration and other instances. But, Mr. Chairman, there is an unacceptable demand that America needs to know about right now. Some of the largest and most profitable corporations in the country are attempting to pass off legal liability for their products onto average Americans. These defense contractors are trying to feed the taxpaying public to the crocodiles of the plaintiff's bar. American taxpayers should not be asked to absorb the devastating financial consequences that would flow from creating an enormous new unfunded liability. Taxpayers should not be footing the bill for a gigantic new windfall for trial lawyers. Even now, the plaintiff's bar is eagerly anticipating new ways to exploit the new terrorist attack through litigation against the companies that are developing terror-fighting tools. What is even more outrageous is that multibillion dollar defense contractors have the nerve to come to Congress, hat in hand, to demand that taxpayers foot this bill.”