On the recordMarch 9, 2017
I think the question is: Is there any collegiality and respect for the Federal judicial system? Let me read a letter in reference to the underlying bill: We strongly urge Congress not to amend the class action procedures found in rule 23 outside of the Rules Enabling Act process. It goes on to talk about an advisory committee, but I don't know any sentence more clear than that. I know that as a parent raising a child, ``do not'' and ``no'' are very clear, yet we maintain this debate on the floor of the House. Let me also mention a debate that is tomorrow, but I think it is relevant to my amendment, LARA. This is a rule that was in in 1983. In 1993, it was thrown out because it had a deleterious effect on meritorious civil rights cases, employment cases, and others. The Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act, that is tomorrow. The courts also don't want you to do that, and most of the courts say it is a waste of resources. My amendment is going to help us solve the problem for this bill, H.R. 985. It would improve the rules of the committee print by replacing the substantive text of the bill with a requirement that the bankruptcy asbestos trust report quarterly an aggregate list of demands received and payments made. Specifically, the Jackson Lee amendment protects the privacy of asbestos victims from overly broad and invasive disclosure requirements by striking from the bill's text personal information disclosure mandates. Mr.…
