Floor Statements

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the medical malpractice reforms contained in H.R. 5, the HEALTH Act. This legislation will help prevent frivolous litigation and significantly limit the practice of ``defensive medicine,'' which has contributed to spiraling health care costs.

H.R. 5 caps noneconomic at $250,000, but doesn't place any limit on the economic damages which plaintiffs can recover. Excessive jury awards have driven the cost of health care up for everyone, so in my mind, there has to be a limit on how much juries can award victims in non-economic and punitive damages. The HEALTH Act is critical to retarding the explosion in health costs and making insurance more affordable to the 41 million Americans who lack it.

The dramatic increases in insurance rates which many physicians have experienced over the past year also prevent them from actually practicing medicine. Many physicians I have spoken to are at wits' end trying to figure out how to maintain their practice and pay these exorbitant costs.

On March 4, the American Medical Association added Connecticut to the list of states facing crises in their medical malpractice insurance rates. The organization also cited Connecticut as a state where a large number of physicians have ended their practices because of the high medical malpractice insurance rates.

These malpractice reforms, which are based on a proven California law, will make much-needed changes to the federal civil justice system without denying the legal rights of legitimate plaintiffs. It is imperative we move forward on this reform to discourage abuse of

our legal system and curb the unsustainable growth of medical costs in our country.

Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the HEALTH Act because it will bring meaningful reform to a flawed system. I urge my colleagues to vote for this legislation.

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in celebrating National Peace Corps Day.

Since its founding in 1961, the Peace Corps has become an enduring symbol of our Nation's commitment to encourage progress, provide opportunities, and promote world peace and friendship at the grass- roots level in the developing world.

To date, more than 168,000 Americans responded to our Nation's call to service by becoming Peace Corps Volunteers in 136 countries. Volunteers serve at the grassroots level in villages and towns around the globe. Living and working within local communities, volunteers serve as teachers, farmers, foresters and small business advisors, dedicated to improving the lives of those around them. In doing so, they make significant and lasting contributions to communities and individuals around the world.

Volunteers, enriched by their experiences overseas, return to the United States with a commitment to service, as well as the skills and interest in world affairs needed to be leaders in the global community. I believe I would not be a Member of Congress today were it not for my experience in the Peace Corps and I believe I am a better person because of this service.

I would also like to recognize the Peace Corp Volunteers currently serving from Connecticut's Fourth District: Allison R. Ball in Micronesia; Megan Banigan in Guatemala; Dario Borghesan in Togo; Emily J. Bristle in Mali; Camilla A. Brooks in the Philippines; Nkechi N. Eneh in Mauritania; Sondra E. Ganelli in Samoa; Emily R. Hamilton in Paraguay; Timothy Mills in Senegal; Peter T. Nasuti in Uzbekistan; Lindsay B. Nemirow in the Dominican Republic; Matthew G. O'Driscoll in Nicaragua; Brooke J. Oppenheimer in Gambia; David M. Ottaviano in Panama; Aimee E. Petras in Morocco; and Deva N. Rama in Guatemala.

National Peace Corps Day honors its Volunteers, past and present, and reaffirms our country's commitment to helping people help themselves throughout the world.

Mr. Chairman, in our rush to ban human reproductive cloning, we are at risk of also banning the most promising and exciting area of biomedical research in the past thirty years. If passed into law, the overly-broad Human Cloning Prohibition Act would ban not only human cloning but also a laboratory technique that may enable scientists to understand the genetic causes of diseases such as cancer and develop therapies for diseases and disabilities such as diabetes, Parkinson's Disease, and spinal cord injuries.

No responsible person, patient advocate or scientist supports the cloning of human beings. Human reproductive cloning is unethical, should be prohibited, and should be punishable under federal law.

But in banning human cloning, we should not ban a laboratory technique called somatic cell nuclear transfer, which can be used to derive human embryonic stem cells. With such stem cells, our scientists will gain fundamental insights into cell biology that will lead to new treatments and cures for a host of diseases and disabilities.

Prohibiting this basic scientific technique will severely hinder U.S. research. Our scientists have achieved an unparalleled record of accomplishment by employing new technologies to benefit humankind. New innovations in scientific discovery have historically been controversial, but they have proven to save lives and help manage devastating diseases. An example is the use of recombinant DNA technology, which provoked considerable alarm and debate in the 1970's, and has since become the foundation of modern biomedical research and our biotechnology industry.

In his speech memorializing the crew of the space shuttle Columbia, President Bush said. ``This cause of exploration and discovery is not an option we choose; it is a desire written in the human heart. We are that part of creation which seeks to understand all creation.''

Mr. Chairman, we should be encouraging our scientists to respond to that desire which is written in their hearts: understanding and ending the suffering of their fellow human beings. I urge my colleagues to vote in favor of the substitute offered by Mr. Greenwood and, if it fails, against the underlying bill.

Mr. Speaker, I join my colleagues in extending my condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of the seven Columbia crew members.

Many of us watched with awe and pride as the Space Shuttle Columbia lifted off on its first mission on April 12, 1981. It made history as the first shuttle to orbit earth, a tangible expression of human aspiration.

The destruction of the Columbia is a tragedy for our country, for the families of the lost astronauts and for the nation of Israel. These brave men and women deserve our admiration and respect and their families deserve our love and support.

Forty years after President Kennedy challenged Americans to reach the moon, this disaster is a sober reminder that space travel remains a daring and dangerous endeavor. The Columbia crew willingly braved those dangers to help improve the lives of all mankind.

As we celebrate their courageous spirit and mourn their death, we must dedicate ourselves to conducting a complete and thorough investigation of what went terribly wrong at the outer ring of the Earth's atmosphere, forty miles above Texas. Our history, our thirst for knowledge and our curiosity about what lies beyond demands that we learn from this tragedy and ensure the safety of future missions.