On the recordSeptember 7, 2016
I want to, again, reiterate that words do matter. The naming of this bill, unfortunately, skews and distorts a legitimate right that agencies in litigation have. In particular, I want to take note of the fact, again--I think it is always important to set the record straight--that the settlement donations have been 1.1 percent of $23.5 billion, that a government- independent entity has indicated that these settlements are lawful. The sledgehammer effect that has been taken in order to ensure that we stop victims, innocent persons from getting some relief is unbelievable. So the Jackson Lee amendment No. 3 would address the problematic concern with H.R. 5063, which would only exempt payments to third parties to provide restitution for actual harm directly and proximately caused by the party making the payment. The Jackson Lee amendment No. 3 would carve out an additional exemption to enable States to act as third-party actors with the ability to remedy generalized harm for mass injuries where the actual party responsible for directly or proximately causing the harm is there. For example, the Jackson Lee amendment No. 3 would allow for States, such as Texas and other Gulf Coast States, to address the environmental harms resulting in settlement agreements to impacted parties such as those harmed by a variety of man-made disasters.…
