69–008 

115TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 115–27 

PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE BILL (H.R. 725) 

TO AMEND TITLE 28, UNITED STATES CODE, TO PREVENT FRAUDULENT JOINDER 

MARCH 7, 2017.—Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed 

Mr. BUCK, from the Committee on Rules, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H. Res. 175] 

The Committee on Rules, having had under consideration House 

Resolution 175, by a nonrecord vote, report the same to the House 

with the recommendation that the resolution be adopted. 

SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS OF THE RESOLUTION

The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 725, the Innocent Party Protection Act, under a structured rule. The resolution 

provides one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled 

by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on 

the Judiciary. The resolution waives all points of order against consideration of the bill. The resolution provides that the bill shall be 

considered as read. The resolution waives all points of order 

against provisions in the bill. The resolution makes in order only 

those amendments printed in this report. Each such amendment 

may be offered only in the order printed in this report, may be offered only by a Member designated in this report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in this report 

equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, 

shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a 

demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. The resolution waives all points of order 

against the amendments printed in this report. The resolution provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. 


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EXPLANATION OF WAIVERS

Although the resolution waives all points of order against consideration of the bill, the Committee is not aware of any points of 

order. The waiver is prophylactic in nature. 

Although the resolution waives all points of order against provisions in the bill, the Committee is not aware of any points of order. 

The waiver is prophylactic in nature. 

Although the resolution waives all points of order against the 

amendments printed in this report, the Committee is not aware of 

any points of order. The waiver is prophylactic in nature. 

COMMITTEE VOTES

The results of each record vote on an amendment or motion to 

report, together with the names of those voting for and against, are 

printed below: 

Rules Committee record vote No. 29 

Motion by Mr. McGovern make in order and provide the appropriate waivers to amendment # 3, offered by Rep. Barraga ́n (CA) 

which creates an exception for cases arising under a State constitution or other law providing for expedited procedures for cases involving claims for personal injury or wrongful death. Defeated: 3– 

7 

Majority Members Vote Minority Members Vote 

Mr. Cole ............................................................ Nay Ms. Slaughter .................................................. Yea 

Mr. Woodall ...................................................... Nay Mr. McGovern ................................................... Yea 

Mr. Burgess ...................................................... ................... Mr. Hastings of Florida ................................... Yea 

Mr. Collins ........................................................ Nay Mr. Polis ........................................................... ...................

Mr. Byrne .......................................................... Nay 

Mr. Newhouse ................................................... ...................

Mr. Buck ........................................................... Nay 

Ms. Cheney ....................................................... Nay 

Mr. Sessions, Chairman ................................... Nay 

Rules Committee record vote No. 30 

Motion by Ms. Slaughter to report an open rule. Defeated: 3–7 

Majority Members Vote Minority Members Vote 

Mr. Cole ............................................................ Nay Ms. Slaughter .................................................. Yea 

Mr. Woodall ...................................................... Nay Mr. McGovern ................................................... Yea 

Mr. Burgess ...................................................... ................... Mr. Hastings of Florida ................................... Yea 

Mr. Collins ........................................................ Nay Mr. Polis ........................................................... ...................

Mr. Byrne .......................................................... Nay 

Mr. Newhouse ................................................... ...................

Mr. Buck ........................................................... Nay 

Ms. Cheney ....................................................... Nay 

Mr. Sessions, Chairman ................................... Nay 

SUMMARY OF THE AMENDMENTS MADE IN ORDER

1. Soto (FL): Creates an exception for instances of public health 

risks, including byproducts of hydraulic fracturing, well stimulation, or any water contamination. (10 minutes) 

2. Cartwright (PA): Creates a separate exception for plaintiffs 

seeking compensation resulting from the bad faith of an insurer. 

(10 minutes) 


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TEXT OF AMENDMENTS MADE IN ORDER

1. AN AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE SOTO OF

FLORIDA OR HIS DESIGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR 10 MINUTES

Page 3, line 10, strike ‘‘This’’ and insert ‘‘Except as otherwise 

provided in this subsection, this’’. 

Page 5, line 4, strike the close quotation mark and the period 

which follows. 

Page 5, after line 4, insert the following: 

‘‘(5) This subsection does not apply with respect to a case in 

which the plaintiff seeks compensation for public health risks, 

including byproducts of hydraulic fracturing, well stimulation, 

or any water contamination.’’. 

2. AN AMENDMENT TO BE OFFERED BY REPRESENTATIVE CART- WRIGHT OF PENNSYLVANIA OR HIS DESIGNEE, DEBATABLE FOR 10 

MINUTES

Page 5, line 4, strike the close quotation mark and the period 

which follows. 

Page 5, after line 4, insert the following: 

‘‘(5) This subsection shall not apply to a case in which the 

plaintiff seeks compensation resulting from the bad faith of an 

insurer.’’. 

Æ 


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