once again , mr. speaker , we have before us a bill that would sweep aside generations of state laws that protect consumers . 
citizens will be denied their basic right to use their own state courts to file class action lawsuits against companies -- even if there are clear violations of state labor laws or state civil rights laws . 
this bill comes after a lobbying campaign costing business interests tens of millions of dollars . 
well , that was money well spent . 
with this sweeping legislation , corporations will have free reign to avoid responsibility for the wrongs they commit . 
it is just shameful that the victims of corporate misconduct do not have the same level of influence here in the halls of congress . 
let 's not forget the people who died as a result of defective tires manufactured by firestone . 
what about countless individuals who died as a result of the tobacco industry 's failure to disclose the risks of cigarettes ? 
well , if it is any indication of this bill 's intent -- tobacco is already celebrating this week . 
stocks are up and the industry is glowing . 
let me quote their take on this bill , `` the practical effect of the change could be that many cases will never be heard given how overburdened federal judges are. '' plainly that is the goal of the bill . 
the goal is to ensure that legitimate plaintiffs are denied any recovery at all . 
and that whatever recovery they do receive is delayed as long as possible . 
i have spent decades in courtrooms and i can tell my colleagues -- from my own experience -- that justice delayed is justice denied . 
the doors to the courthouse will be locked shut . 
and this republican leadership is handing the key to corporate america . 
with complete disregard for precedent-setting individual and class action litigation , the republican leadership is determined to destroy america 's civil justice system , eliminating protections for the poor and powerless . 
this bill is a disgrace to the historic victories in courts across the country -- to expand consumer rights , protect our environment , and strengthen workers ' rights . 
and there has been complete disregard for the legislative process in the house . 
while we have had hearings and markups on class action legislation in the past , this bill is quite complex and very different than previous versions . 
the fact that the other chamber has already approved this matter in no way justifies a `` rush to judgment '' in the house , when so many important rights are at stake . 
class actions have addressed the looting of company after company by corporate insiders , whose brazen misconduct and self-dealing defrauded creditors and investors of billions of dollars , and stripped employees and retirees of their livelihood and life savings . 
yet if this bill becomes law , the victims of those practices will face new obstacles in their efforts to call those executives to task . 
this bill is not about protecting plaintiffs . 
it 's not about protecting the public . 
it 's about protecting large corporations whose conduct has been egregious . 
it 's about protecting the powerful at the expense of the powerless . 
and to prevent people from banding together as a class to challenge that power in the only way they can . 
we must also see this bill in its proper context . 
it is part of an ambitious and multi-pronged campaign by major corporations to evade their obligations to society . 
under the guise of `` deregulation '' we 're watching the wholesale dismantling of health and safety standards , environmental protections , and longstanding limits on concentration of ownership within the media and other key industries . 
today 's bill completes this picture . 
it takes aim at the civil justice system that exists to correct the wrongs that the government can not or will not address . 
i urge my colleagues to oppose this blatant effort to muzzle the courts . 
this bill is but the latest in a series of assaults by those on the other side attacking the ability of individuals to seek relief from the courts . 
and it is also but the latest in a series of assaults on states ' rights to provide legal remedies for harm suffered by their citizens . 
we can not allow them to do it , mr. speaker . 
i urge my colleagues to vote `` no . '' 