PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY IN FOOD CONSUMPTION ACT -- (House of Representatives - March 10, 2004)
The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Smith of Texas). Pursuant to House Resolution 552 and rule XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union for the consideration of the bill, H.R. 339.
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Mr. HAYES. Mr. Chairman, I rise today in support of H.R. 339--the Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act.
This legislation will help to avoid frivolous lawsuits that will serve only to victimize innocent restaurants and make the American consumer pay a price. Frivolous lawsuits are driving up the cost of doing business in this country and it's costing us jobs. The simple fact is that responsibility for obesity here in America rests with the individual choices made by each citizen. And this legislation makes that clear.
Recently, an editor in my district made this point very clear. I would like to quote from his column, which ran in the Richmond County Daily Journal, which I believe represents the spirit of this important legislation.
McDonald's nor any of its comrades in the fast-food world, doesn't hold a gun to your head and force you to eat Supersize fries. You-and you alone-make that decision; McDonald's is simply following supply-and-demand protocol by offering Supersize fries.
The Big M in the Sky didn't make you obese; you did.
It is past time in this country for all individuals to take responsibility for the choices and freedoms available to us as Americans and cease passing the buck through frivolous lawsuits that blame others for our poor decisions.
I strongly urge my colleagues to support this legislation that will prevent lawsuits based on poor decision-making.