Introduction Of H.R. 4992

Floor Speech

* Mr. WAMP. Madam Speaker, today I introduced the First Responders Protection Act to better protect the men and women who risk their lives every day on our behalf from the financial hardship related to potentially frivolous lawsuits. Too often, first responders can be forced to deplete their savings, put their own homes in jeopardy or sacrifice their retirement to pay for legal counsel to defend themselves.

* The First Responders Protection Act gives employers the authority to provide financial assistance for employees facing litigation after certain events that occur when performing their jobs. This bill would not override the comparable policies that some States already have in place, and it would offer assistance to any States to implement one.

* Upon review by attorneys and law enforcement experts, H.R. 413, which I previously supported, simply went too far without fully addressing this real issue affecting these men and women. My legislation, the First Responders Protection Act, is more narrowly crafted to keep first responders and their families from being financially drained as a result of frivolous lawsuits. I urge its passage in lieu of the previous bill.

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