Suzanne Bonamici

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Chair, I yield 15 seconds to my colleague from Michigan (Mr. Conyers).

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Chairman, this is a reasonable amendment. It simply asks that before we make sweeping Federal policy that overrides State and individual rights we know what we're getting in return. I urge my colleagues to support this very reasonable amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI. My amendment to H.R. 5 simply requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit a report to Congress detailing the effect that the tort reform provisions in this bill would have on health care premiums and delays the effective date of title I of the bill until that report is submitted. For years, proponents of tort reform have tried to convince Americans that skyrocketing health care costs are entirely attributable to greedy plaintiffs and runaway jury awards. They recite anecdotes about doctors closing their practices, refusing to deliver babies or perform surgeries, for fear of being sued. But, Madam Chair, we should not be making Federal policy based on anecdotes. If recent independent research is any indication, the report that the Secretary submits to Congress under this amendment is unlikely to find that the bill will have any meaningful effect on health care premiums. Recent analysis in States adopting restrictions similar to those in this bill has found no substantial impact on the consumer cost of health care, nor has access to health providers improved as a result. Proponents of tort reform claim that capping damages will drive down the cost of medical malpractice insurance and that doctors will pass this savings along to patients. But 2 years ago, CBO found that malpractice insurance premiums, settlements, and awards account for just a tiny fraction of total health care expenditures. In 27 States where damages have been capped, the medical malpractice premiums are not lower on average than in States without caps. My amendment asks for data on how this bill will affect the cost of health care for all Americans. Now, I want to be very clear--no one should be compensated for a frivolous lawsuit. But there are ways to address frivolous lawsuits without infringing on the rights of those who truly have been injured by medical mistakes. What this bill does accomplish ought to frighten anyone who believes in the rights of States to govern themselves and the rights of individuals to be compensated for loss. This bill tramples over the rights of States to enact laws governing their own tort systems, and it severely restricts individuals' rights to be compensated for all the losses caused by health care providers. In my home State of Oregon, for example, our supreme court has held that most statutory caps on noneconomic damages are unconstitutional. And Oregon is not alone. At least 12 other States have some constitutional prohibition against these types of restrictions. This bill not only overrides State laws and constitutions governing punitive and noneconomic damage awards; it also addresses States' statutes of limitations, pleading standards, attorney-fee provisions, and joint liability. But it does not stop there. Although this bill is being presented as medical malpractice reform, it reaches far beyond professional malpractice against doctors to include product liability cases against drug and device manufacturers, bad-faith claims against HMOs and insurance companies, and negligence suits against nursing homes. And it would take away all of the State and individual rights in far-reaching areas of the health care industry without evidence that doing so will lower the premiums for Americans. This is an unwarranted intrusion in personal liberty and a giveaway to insurance companies. So we should know if it's going to lower health care premiums. If this Congress is going to enact a sweeping bill nullifying longstanding State law and trampling on State constitutional rights, it's not too much to ask that we arm ourselves with the knowledge of how this will actually affect American families. This amendment simply requires the Secretary of Health and Human Services to submit a report to Congress with that information before title I of this bill takes effect--a reasonable requirement. I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. BONAMICI. Madam Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Chair, I rise to support H.R. 3606, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, but in lending my support, I must insist that we do more to protect consumers and investors than this bill currently provides. Small businesses are the backbone of Oregon's economy and many have been devastated by the recent recession. This Congress must take swift action to ensure that they have access to capital and can invest in job creation. This bill recognizes that a one-size-fits-all approach to regulation can stifle small business growth. The JOBS Act will ease the cost and complexity of some securities regulations, and open greater access to capital so that startups and emerging companies can thrive. This bill is a good, but small, step in the right direction. More work must be done to accelerate hiring, and more work, still, must be done with this bill to improve consumer and investor protections. A number of my colleagues offered amendments with this goal in mind. I supported those amendments, and I am disappointed that they were not accepted. By ensuring that we are expanding flexibility for the smallest startups where it is most needed, and establishing and encouraging standards for transparency and disclosure, we can both help small businesses grow while also protecting consumers and investors. These are achievable goals, and I remain committed to working with my colleagues in the House and the Senate on these issues as this bill moves forward. Strong consumer and investor protections strengthen our economy by building confidence in the market. Our work to stand up for consumers and reenergize the economy cannot and must not stop here.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, contraceptive coverage is an issue of women's health, access to health care, and affordability that affects our entire health care system. As we deliberate this important issue, it's imperative that we consider all of the benefits of access to contraceptives, starting with the prevention of unplanned pregnancies. One thing about which we should all agree is that we need to reduce the number of abortions. Now, access to contraceptives plays a critical role in that goal, but the benefits don't stop there. Contraceptives are often prescribed for certain medical conditions that, untreated, could keep women from work, lead to more serious health problems, or otherwise impact the quality of their lives. These negative consequences are easy to prevent with access to preventive health care, which can help with unnecessary costs, both intangible and tangible. Unfortunately, too many women across the country suffer every day because they don't have access to health care that includes contraceptives. This is an issue of access, of affordability, and of the rights of women to receive quality health care. I urge my colleagues to make that their focus.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, thank you for this opportunity. I want to thank the Congresswoman for yielding to me this evening about this important bill. Congressman Walz' and Congresswoman Slaughter's leadership on this issue has been remarkable. Thank you so much for your tireless efforts. The idea behind the STOCK Act is simple. Members of Congress, their staff, and other government officials should not be using their access in Washington to enrich themselves on Wall Street. I am already a proud cosponsor of H.R. 1148, a bill that rightfully enjoys broad, bipartisan support. The protection of the integrity of our government institutions is not a partisan issue. The STOCK Act is one critical act we can take to make it clear to our constituents back home that we, like them, will not tolerate the types of activities that we were all shocked to read about in the press. The trust that my constituents have placed in me is something that I take very seriously. As public servants, we are here to work for the people, not outside firms looking to profit, and certainly not to make a quick buck for ourselves. When you hear about scandals like this, it's no wonder the public has so little confidence in our institutions of government. If we want to restore citizens' faith and earn back their trust, we must make sure that everyone is playing by the rules. As I mentioned yesterday in my remarks to this House during the incredibly warm welcome I received as its newest Member, we have a fundamental belief in this country that if you work hard and play by the rules, you can succeed. The reports of past insider trading make clear that the rules, as they apply to Members of Congress and others in the public sphere with respect to their Wall Street dealings, are not sufficient. The STOCK Act improves the rules to ensure not only that they are sufficient, but there are consequences for breaking those rules. I'm proud to join with my colleagues, both in support of the STOCK Act and in the recent effort to bring the bill forward for consideration by the House. Now, it's my understanding that we're going to see an altered version on the floor before we conclude this week's business. Now, I'm surprised to learn as a new Member that no amendments will be allowed on such an important bill. Although the weakening or elimination of certain key provisions, such as the political intelligence language, is deeply disappointing, I remain committed to the effort of ensuring that all of us in public office play by the same rules as the people who have entrusted us with the privilege of being their voice in Washington. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to restore our constituents' confidence in their representatives and in their government institutions.

Ms. BONAMICI

Ms. BONAMICI. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Speaker Boehner, Leader Pelosi, members of the Oregon delegation, new colleagues from across this great country, friends and family. This afternoon I'm honored to accept the responsibility and opportunity to represent the people of northwest Oregon in the United States Congress. I want to start by thanking my family for your love, encouragement, patience, and sacrifice. My husband Michael Simon, and my children, Andrew and Sara, thank you. Thank you also to my mother, Marie Bonamici Woodcock, who's also here with us today, for giving me my first job in your small business and for instilling in me the values I hold today. And thank you to all the individuals and organizations who stood by me and worked so hard over the past several months to help me reach this day. Finally, and most importantly, to the people across the First Congressional District of Oregon, thank you for giving me this honor. It's great to be back in Washington, D.C. I started my legal career here more than 27 years ago as a consumer protection attorney at the Federal Trade Commission. A lot has changed in our world since then, but the importance of the work that happens here in the Capitol and the significance of the decisions that are made in this historic Chamber have not. Oregon's First Congressional District is full of promise and potential. From the vineyards in Yamhill County to the Port of Astoria in Clatsop County, the family communities in Columbia County, the engines of industry in Washington County, and the arts and culture and business districts in Portland, it's a very diverse and dynamic part of the State. Yet there are too many families still struggling to make ends meet, and they want to know that their voices are heard in our deliberations. Now, our economy and the Nation's confidence are both in need of rebuilding. As we work together, let us remember that the unparalleled prosperity and creativity of this great Nation over the last century can be traced to this promise--that if you work hard and play by the rules, you can succeed in America. That's the America my grandparents crossed the ocean for. That's the America too many people believe is slipping away. That's the America I want to work to rebuild. I'm excited to begin. I'm humbled by the tremendous responsibility, and very appreciative of the trust that the people of northwest Oregon have placed in me.