Chairman, adler, who may be here and to all the members of the House, a hundred and 40 of them in total, that have joined this bill. 34 members of the United States Senate, my colleagues and they are all with us in spirit for this historic announcement there's a lot of use of the word rigged. These days as in rig system, one of the systems that is truly rigged against And workers and the American people is our current system of forced arbitration, forced arbitration is unfair, unjust. Unamerican truly on American because one of the principles of our American democracy is everybody gets their day in court, forced arbitration deprives people of that basic right to a day in court in public on the record fairly before a neutral decision maker Forced arbitration frequently hidden in the tiny print of a contract means very often the company chooses, who the arbitrator is. The proceeding is in secret and the outcome is likely to be unfair and people are prevented from joining together in a common cause or class action that is fundamentally unfair and unamerican and that's why we're introducing the forced arbitration Prevention act it is known officially as the force as the fair act. The fair act would essentially prevent any forced arbitration as a result of an agreement. Pri dispute employees or others would be able to resort to arbitration if they so choose after the dispute. If it's to their advantage but not forced as a result of any agreement before the dispute So this bill is basically about guaranteeing every individual their day in court about affording them that opportunity to walk through a courthouse door and have a judge make a decision. A judge who is chosen not by the company but by the people of this country and no longer should people be forced to suffer in silence to endure The unfairness of this kind of rigged system stripped of their rights and forced to go before a non neutral arbiter toured the scale of forced arbitration is absolutely astonishing. Tens of millions of Americans every year are compelled to go through this process and Americans understand what's at stake by majorities of H one They tell us that they believe forced arbitration is unfair and you're gonna hear from one of the most distinguished pollsters in the United States about the results of that survey you're also gonna hear very graphically and dramatically from people who have been forced to suffer through this rigged system. Some of them have been here before uh Kevin cyber, a killa Edwards t, a home in And gretchen carlson, all were here last year now you may ask what's different this year. First of all, the House of representatives will pass this measure. second As these stories will convince you, Americans are overwhelmingly aware now by very significant majorities about how forced arbitration is fundamentally unfair and unamerican and they're willing to stand up and speak out about it, not only Democrats but also Republicans. This cause is truly bipartisan and it should be supported by both sides of the aisle. I'm convinced that if my colleagues here and he the American people, we will This bill, this year and you will hear how consumers have been denied right employees have been treated unfairly. Any trust implications as well as civil rights. This bill is truly a civil rights statute that gives people that day in court. That they need and deserve and so uh I'm going to now turn over the podium to tory void, who will introduce some of the individuals who have been affected but keep in mind That the forced arbitration in Justice repeal forced arbitration in Justice repeal the fair act is fundamentally about fairness and these individuals have the courage and the strength to stand up and speak out and give a face and voice to this cause and I'm very much indebted to them. We may be joined by our House colleagues as we move along and we'll interrupt to introduce them to our Thank you, senator. I'm very honored to be here today to introduce a plethora of speakers from across the country who were brave enough to share their personal experiences with you all um starting with the newsgroup to from New York, um. I just wanted to leave a copy uh. Please refrain from any questions where applause until everybody has had a turn to speak. Thank you so much in advance Thank you to senator blumenthal congressman Johnson and chairman, adler, as well as the rest of members of Congress who are joining us today to announce this historic bill introductions. I stand before you today joined by workers from all backgrounds as well as assault and harassment survivors. Consumers who have had their money illegally stolen from them families who can't get Justice for a loved one in a nursing home and a Navy reservist who was fired for taking time off to serve this country. What is the one thing They all have in common forced arbitration these words buried in the fine print of everything from employee handbooks to credit card agreements and nursing home forms Strip individuals of the power to seek Justice and accountability when the rights have been violated. But the time has come to end forced arbitration in the last two years, we have seen journalists and frontline engineers put tech companies in the spotlight, forcing changes around how we address discrimination and harassment in the workplace. We watch to some come He's tried to create policies in a more surgical fashion, carving out only a narrow category of cases where Justice might be received, but workers continued to beat the drum of inter sexuality and highlight the root cause of all in equity. The structural imbalance of power and slowly some companies started to relent rolling out blanket policies that eliminated forced arbitration now time is up for all corporations, all their subsidy areas, all their suppliers across all sectors. We come here today Employees of the same company or as even colleagues in tech but as six of the 60 million workers in America, that are denied access to Justice. We come with our own experience to know that no worker is safe until all workers are safe. No consumer is empowered until all consumers are empowered. We call on Congress to quickly pass the forced arbitration in Justice repeal act. We cannot have an honest conversation about labor rights or restoring consumer protections until we pull back the curtains of forced arbitration, which denies employees and consumers, their ability to And publicly vindicate their rights as two thousand 19 and time is up. Thank you Thank you so much next. I'd like to introduce Kelly stein from kentucky Good morning my name is Kelly stein. I'm from louisville kentucky and my mother, julie was severely mistreated at a nursing home. There were severe lapses in care protocol that lead to diminished physical and mental health and when I tried to hold the nursing home accountable, I was forced into arbitration My mother was a Union leader and she fought for teachers rights and was an outspoken advocate and she would have not wanted these rights to be taken away from her Forced arbitration took away her rights and my family's rights that's why I'm asking Congress to end forced arbitration and restore Justice for me and for all Americans Thank you so much. Kelly like to introduce Richard higgins from New York Thank you. I'm Richard from New York. I used to work at your poli They may agree to arbitration and in disputes before can work Um on closing shifts to poli clock, this out automatically made us keep working without pay. Um when I bring it to their attention and complain I got fired I tried to join the court case, but I was forced into arbitration And there's also forcing thousands of others to be in arbitration, just to try to get our money back forced arbitration took away. My rights. That's. Why. I'm asking Congress to enforce arbitration and restore Justice for me and all Americans. Thank you. Uh I'm gonna introduce I'm gonna interrupt to introduce uh representative David sicily, knee from the great state of rhode island Good afternoon I am a delight to be here and I want to begin by thanking all of the workers and veterans and advocates who are here with us today. I would also like to thank congressman Johnson senator blumenthal chairman, adler chairman Scott and chairman, to cano, for their incredible leadership on restoring america's legal rights by ending forced arbitration and also like to thank congressman sanchez for being with us today as well. I'm incredibly proud to join senator blumenthal today, as we announced the introduction of the Justice for service members act, a bill that will safeguard the rights of service members veterans and their families. American service members Families have sacrificed enormously in service of our country. They fought to protect the fundamental idea that we are nation of laws and institutions that guarantee the rights and prosperity of every American. We are a stronger nation because of these rights and since the second world war Congress has expanded and strengthened the rights and protections of service members and veterans. These laws are essential protections that guarantee every veteran and active duty service member including the reserves and National guard the right to be free from discrimination in the workplace on the basis of their military service and the right to their day in court to invite enforce these protections But for too long forced arbitration has a road of these fundamental protections, a coalition military service organizations representing more than five and a half million current and former service members, notes that countless employers have used forced arbitration clauses in contracts as a barrier to Justice by funneling claims relating to wrongful termination and discrimination in the workplace into private costly arbitration systems set up by the very same employers for example, the devil Kevin doyle who's with us today served in the us Navy Reserve since two thousand and eight, but in the fall of two thousand and 12, he was called into active duty for deployment of And Kevin notified his employer and conveyed his desire to resume working upon his return. But on the last day of his work before deployment following his farewell party, he was fired on the basis of serving his country and when he attempted to hold employers accountable for violating his rights on you sara, his company forced his claiming to arbitration setting an arbitration clause in kevin's employment contract that he was required to sign for employment at the company waiving his constitutional right to a jury trial. This is outrageous and must be prohibited by law as a nation devoted to protecting our brave men and women in uniform. We must ensure That their rights to keep their jobs while serving our country rights that Congress has expressly established, are actually enforceable in court and the Justice for service members act would do so by ending the use of forced arbitration to roll these important statutory protections for service members veterans and their families. I look forward to working with all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to fight for the rights of those who have sacrificed so much for our country. Thank you. Thank you sooner. Thank you uh and now congresswoman sanchez Good afternoon I'm congressman sanchez and we are all here today to talk about how forced arbitration really cuts off legal avenues for the average person often times without them even knowing. I lost my father last year to the cruel disease of alzheimer's and I remember the day that we had to move my father into a nursing home the family obviously was shell shocked. We were focused on the quality of care and the range of services that the facility could provide them. We weren't thinking about Arbitration clauses and that's the same experience that millions of families across the country who have had to wrestle with the heartwrenching decision to move a loved one into a nursing home. They're, not thinking about the legal ramifications. Fortunately, for my father, our family never had to deal with the ramifications of the mandatory arbitration clause, but many families across the country have not been as lucky we've heard too many nightmare stories about how bad nursing homes have used arbitration clauses to hide their malpractice and deny the families their day in To protect those that need the services of a nursing home and their families, I am announcing the introduction of the fairness in nursing home arbitration act. This crucial bill will make pretty dispute mandatory arbitration clauses in longterm care contracts, unenforceable and restore the full legal rights to seniors and their families. This legislation will not prohibit arbitration but will simply ensure that nursing home residents aren't barred from exercising their full legal rights at its most basic Level the fairness and nursing home arbitration act is about leveling the playing field for families. We want to protect families and their loved ones who rely on the care of nursing homes so we must also give them the tools they need to protect their legal rights. I'm proud to join the chairman of the House, judiciary Committee Jerry natural are representative Johnson and all of our Co sponsors today, as Democrats lead the effort to protect consumer rights. I hope you will join In supporting this vital pieces of legislation and in protecting our service, members, our families and our workers. Thank you Thank you very much. Congressman sanchez. I'm gonna now uh exercise a little bit of presumptions judgment about the protocol here and introduced chairman Scott. Uh congresswoman boost os. If you don't mind when I'm in dangerous territory because imac outside and introducing his memory. Thank you. Thank you, senator and thank you for your leadership on this and many other issues um I'm pleased to join my colleagues express their shared commitment to ensuring that American workers have access to the American Justice system. This access will be guaranteed with the passage of a series of bills Which will prohibit limitation of constitutional right to access to the judicial system and one of the bills will be joining German at learns annemarie to reintroduce the restoring Justice for workers. After proposal to end forced arbitration clauses and protect workers' abilities to pursue work related claims in court. One of the things that the uh companies are increasingly using a mandatory arbitration agreements which slammed shut the courthouse door on their employees Them of their full right to seek recourse for wage theft, discrimination and other violations of their rights. The Supreme court's five to four decision and the ethics system speed Lewis went even further by enabling employers to undermined employees' rights to join in collective or class action suits the restoring Justice for workers act would reverse the Supreme court's decision and prohibit employers from mandating force arbitration clauses, as a condition of employment and prohibit employers from Employees to waive their right to engage in a joint or collective legal action and look forward to the day when this legislation will put will protect workers' fundamental right to have their day in court and join their coworkers to hold companies accountable for unlawful conduct and I wanna thank my colleagues and advocates will continuing to stand up for workers' rights. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much Uh, I see that my partner, hank Johnson, has arrived uh so again, uh unless unless uh I know that feeling. Thank you so much. Thank you Good afternoon everyone I'm honored to be here this morning or this afternoon with senator blumenthal and my House colleagues and all of the advocacy groups who are here to support passage of the forced arbitration in Justice repeal act also known as the fair act in her concurring opinion in the 19 95 Supreme court case allied bruce terminates companies versus dobson Justice Day o'connor wrote over the quote over the past decade, the court has abandoned all pretense of ascertain congressional intent with respect to the federal arbitration act, building instead case by case, an edifice of its own creation in quote. Unfortunately, since that time the Supreme court of the United States has proceeded with reckless abandon to trash can grab We can't, as it begins the scales of Justice towards business interest with a cascade of rulings imposing forced arbitration against consumers, workers and victims of civil rights. Violators every forced arbitration case that makes it to the us Supreme court the business interests when every time forced arbitration forces, consumers and workers into a private for profit, legal system where the deck Stacked against them just like big business wins in the Supreme court. They also win in arbitration proceedings and workers and consumers lose the time has come for Congress to level the playing field Congress must act now to protect consumers. Workers and victims of civil rights violators bypassing the forced arbitration in Justice repeal act which I introduced today, along with about 100 In 45 original Co sponsors, the fair act will end the practice of forcing people to give up their right to sue for damages and a court of law for years. Consumers have been forced into unfair forced arbitration proceedings when they have disputes against businesses and employers. Just by buying a cellphone signing up for a credit card or signing an employment agreement. Americans access to the courts is eliminated for starbucks Agreements undermine the indelible constitutional right to a trial by jury of one 's peers. It's time to restore the rule of law. The winds of change are at our backs moving us forward. Last week, Google announced that it is getting rid of forced arbitration clauses in their employment agreements entirely that's good news, but we need to make sure that more companies are doing just that. We need to fight to defend our constituents rights and re American consumers and workers it's time to pass the fair act. Thank you and I'll get back to the good senator from uh the state of Connecticut and I'm gonna heal to the camera here. Uh very natural thank you very much. It is an honor to join with my colleagues today to introduce this important legislation. We have a fundamental principle in this country and that is it all Americans deserve their day in court. We make a mockery Principal, however, when we allow individuals to be forced to take their claims to private arbitration and we deprive them of the protections, our judicial system before it's forced arbitration clauses usually buried deep in the fine print of contracts that millions of individuals are asked to sign every day undermine the rule of law in our country and it's not, as if you have a choice, try when you get a credit card or sign up for cell phone to cross out the paragraph about individual arbitration. You won't get this credit card. You won't get the It is clear that this misleading and unjust practice must end that is why I'm proud to join congressman Johnson and senator blumenthal as an original cosponsor of the forced arbitration in Justice repeal act with the fair act which would end the use of forced arbitration in consumer employment. Civil rights and the antitrust disputes I'm also pleased to announce that, together with chairman Scott of the Committee on education and labor and ranking member patty murray the Senate Committee on health, education labor and pensions, I was soon reenter The restoring Justice for workers act this legislation would end forced arbitration and employment contracts. It will protect workers rights to pursue work related claims in court and it would expressly overrule the Supreme court's dangerous President. That dismantled workers' rights to ban together to hold unscrupulous employers accountable victims of misconduct, whether it be from sexual assault, racial discrimination, employment violations or corporate abuse deserve their day in court. They deserve the full Of their rights under federal law, as chairman of the judiciary Committee, I am committed to advancing legislation to restoring these rights and to end forced arbitration and certainly these two bills to committed to passing these two bills, not the ending. When I look at. I think forward I look forward to working with all of my colleagues here today to reach that goal. Thank you uh. We we have been going in reverse order of importance uh I went first uh and I'm now very, very pleased and honored to call on a real champion for consumer employment. Andy trust and civil rights, uh congresswoman boosters. Thank you, sir appreciate. It and I don't know if I agree with you about the reverse order. But um thanks very much you know the those of us here in the front row uh the members of the Senate and the Congress the House um we're, just a conduit to help the people right Behind us, um who deserve to have senators and House members fight for them and the message that I'd like to deliver loudly and clearly to every ceo in this country. Um to every business leader is to end forced arbitration. Now we have 60 million Americans that are working under these clauses in their contract agreements that they don't even know what they say. I mean think about that on day one when you go into the workplace and you're signing off on you know that your insurance and and your uh, where Park your car and all of that um in there is this forced arbitration clause and that takes away the rights of 60 million Americans and so that is why those of us up the the members of Congress of the House of the Senate are standing here to help the folks behind us. I wanna call your attention to you're right gretchen carlson um. She is a fighter she's, an advocate she was a National television anchor and she and I have worked hand in glove to introduce a piece of legislation that we're introducing this Congress called the Forced arbitration arbitration of sexual harassment act, um and we are re introducing that today because of um what gretchen has had to endure and what I learned through the good journalism at the Washington post. I'm a former reporter myself and I woke up to read this article in the Washington post. That detailed in a graphic way. What women who worked for kay jewelers and jared jewelers had to go through. They would go to Conferences where by the way, spouses were not allowed and attendance was mandatory where there would be growth and there was the leader of the company who, if a woman wanted to be promoted within that company, had to have sex with this leader within the company. So why do we need this to end forced arbitration in sexual harassment because of cases like that because of what Gretchen carlson had to endure because what these women, women had to endure at kay jewelers and jared jewelers and there are many other examples in companies. All over this country. So um. If it's not now then, when there's not one person who's standing behind us who should have to endure this for one day more so again to the message the message that we would like to deliver end forced arbitration now. It can't happen soon enough. I call on my colleagues in the House senators on the Senate side Democrats and Republicans to work together to To pass this legislation, thank you very much Uh, I really wanna thank all of my House colleagues and I know you have votes and Committee hearings and so forth. Uh we're, gonna continue now with the advocates who are really the the voices and faces of all of the victims who have suffered from these practices uh story. If you would go ahead. Thank you, senator. It's my pleasure to introduce levi or toast from Ohio Thank you. I'm levi from Ohio. I also used to work for chipotle and was forced to work off the clock without pay to pull it has forced me and thousands of others like me into arbitration. I wanted to work for deployed because, as a customer the employers always friendly and talk to me, like I was a human but it turns out as you are, are a worker. You are treated like a robot auto clock out by midnight and a computer sorry And forced to keep working without pay, um arbitration forced arbitration took my rights away and that's why I'm asking the Congress to end arbor forced arbitration and to restore Justice for me and all Americans. Thank you Like to introduce lily silver alerts from California Hi um I'm lily from California. I was sexually assaulted by my massage therapist during a massage at massage envy and it was terrifying. Um and I'm not alone. I brought a lawsuit against massage envy, like hundreds of other women who were also assaulted after my assault. I tried for a year and a half to cancel my monthly membership out of frustration. I downloaded the massage envy app on my iphone to cancel my membership, but hidden in the fine print of the app was an arbitration clause the now the Is trying to force my case into arbitration, even though I tried to cancel my membership through the app after I reported that I was sexually assaulted at massage envy wants my case and others like me to be forced into arbitration to keep it secret and to deny me my constitutional right to a day in court. I didn't want to be a victim forced arbitration is trying to take away my rights that's. Why. I'm asking Congress to end forced arbitration and to restore Justice for me and all Americans Thank you It's my pleasure to introduce kathy greiner from California Hi I'm kathy and I'm from California. I was a directv customer for over five years when my equipment stopped working because of their poor service. I canceled directv. They immediately withdrew an early termination fee of over 200 dollars from my Bank account without my permission, when I called my Bank to reverse the charges directv tried to run my credit, we had no signed agreement but direct Tv claims. They didn't need one and that they could change the terms of service at any time, including adding a forced arbitration clause. I am part of a lost With over 700000 direct Tv customers who are unlawfully charged fees after 10 years of trying to get our money back direct Tv continues to block this lawsuit and is attempting to force me and all other California customers into arbitration forced arbitration took away. My rights that's. Why. I'm asking Congress to end forced arbitration and restore Justice for me and all Americans My pleasure to introduce a killer Edwards from Arizona Hello um I'm, a killer from Arizona, um, took out payday loans when I was in College supporting my family, struggling to make ends meet and living paycheck to paycheck the lenders charge illegal interest rates. Some rates as high as a thousand percent one was even automatically renewed, which is also a legal force arbitration means I cannot hold those lenders accountable, forced arbitration took away my rights that's. Why. I'm asking Congress to enforce arbitration and restored Justice for me and for all Americans Like to introduce to your halloween for Maryland Good afternoon I'm senior from Maryland I was training to be a manager at my job when I door to months of sexual harassment by my boss and I reported this sexual harassment to another manager who did nothing. There's. A video of the time that he grabbed my hand and twisted my arm so badly that I had to go to the hospital when I try to hold the company accountable. I was forced into arbitration force arbitration took away my rights and that's why. I'm asking Congress to enforce arbitration and restored Justice for me as well as all Americans. Thank you It's my pleasure to introduce linda and Peter perez from Florida Good afternoon I'm glenda and this is my husband Peter were from Florida. We used to work for the same company two years ago. Our employer fired me after a reported racial discrimination and then force me into arbitration. The arbitrator sided with my employer and I lost afterwards my husband saw a photo of the arbitrator cozy up with the attorney for employer while at a party and when he complained he was fired our story. Could easily be yours, but you would never know because forced arbitration requires silence and favors corporations so I am proud to Here thinking of my three kids and their future career in order to share my family story, showing why forced arbitration must end that's why I'm asking Congress to end forced arbitration and restored Justice for myself and for all Americans. We are counting on you Like to introduce Kevin joy, uber from California Good afternoon I'm Kevin yoder and Navy reservist from California in two thousand 12 I was called upon to deploy to Afghanistan on my last day of work before deployment. My employer, beale be resources of federal contractor hosted an office party that included decorations cards, gifts and even a cake that said best wishes with American flag later that same afternoon beale be told me I was being fired and that my position would not be available and I return home from military duty when my deployment ended, I tried to enforce my right to return to my job under a federal law, called the uniform services, employment and employment rights act better known as you sara You Sarah bars, employers from firing workers when they take time away from their civilian jobs to serve their country in the armed forces and gives them the right to return to their civilian jobs. After serving, however, I was denied the ability to enforce my cera rights in court because bill be had required all employees to sign arbitration agreement as a condition of employment. This mandatory arbitration agreement stripped away my constitutional and federal rights to seek Justice in a court of law for star Even this or it's the special rights Congress has bestowed on service members since the 19 fifties that's. Why I'm asking Congress to end the practice of forced arbitration, not only to restore Justice for those who serve our country, but for all Americans. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you It's my privilege to introduce gretchen carlson from Connecticut Good afternoon everyone on July sixth, two thousand 16 my story about sexual harassment in my case against the former chairman and ceo of Fox Roger, ails became public Iran, like wildfire across twitter, the breaking news alerts. All around the world back then I could have never known that I would become one of the prominent faces of not only harassment in the workplace but fighting against forced arbitration, but over the last two and a half years we've experienced a title wave of women who have joined me in this fight courageously speaking And here's, what I found out courage is contagious and the cultural revolution that we are now experiencing is long overdue. The first step was for me to tell the truth. The next part of my mission was to change the system so I spent much of two thousand 17 and two thousand eighteen walking the halls of Congress reaching out to members of both parties and in December two thousand 17. I was proud to be a part of introducing the ending arbitration act of sexual harassment, a by part Bill in the House and the Senate today, we re introducing that bill in the House in bipartisan fashion representative stephane nick on the Republican side representative, bustos, who you just heard from on the Democratic side and this bill, will also be re introduced in the Senate. That is forthcoming so why is this bill so important to me Because, unfortunately, almost every woman in our country has a story of sexual harassment and I've talked to thousands of those women over the last two years. They've shared their emotional stories of pain with me and shame, but what they've really shared with me is how they were silenced. You see arbitration is the harass or best friend because it silences all of the victims. this How it hypothetically works, a woman being sexually harassed on the job she goes to hr to complain they immediately throw into arbitration because she probably has one of those causes. No one will ever know about her story more than likely. She'll be blacklisted demoted and then fired she may get a paltry settlement in arbitration, but then she'll find out she has no appeals. She can't bring the same kind of evidence to arbitration and hypothetically A woman will probably never work in her chosen profession ever again and that is outrageous. No one else at her place of employment will know what happened to her and here's the worst part. Her perpetrator will get to stay on the job because it's secret The bottom line is none of us up before you today ever expected to get into a dispute at work. I know I sure didn't But to be silenced after simply having the guts to come forward, that is unjust and that is UN American and now we're seeing the effects of people speaking up and seeing that their voice does matter and they're actually being heard so after we introduced the bill in late two thousand 17 Microsoft stood up and stepped up to the plate and said we're taking arbitration clauses out of employment contracts than uber and lift, then, after the Google walkout Google ebay airbnb facebook and just two days ago Media turns out it's not just courage that's contagious action is also contagious and those voices matter and they're being heard so now it's time for Congress to show that they're gonna take action in a bipartisan way because the biggest lesson that I've learned in this process is that sexual harassment is a political and that's. Why we should all care to come together to fix this in this call Revolution it's time to get by something behind something that will really make a difference for women in our country and it's my great hope that we will get it done in that bipartisan way for women, for men, for my children and for yours and for our country. Thank you and now I'd like to introduce Jeff gallon President of hart research Thank you very much. Uh we conducted a poll about forced arbitration with a representative cross section of 12 hundred Americans who are registered to vote the interviews were conducted in the second half of January. The sample just so you know, is um about five points. Democratic but, as you will hear the partisanship of the sample is not a particularly important because support for ending forced arbitration crosses party lines and it is a broadly shared across The public let me just make a few of the key points about what we learned from the survey. The first point is that Americans uh who would find themselves in a similar situation don't want to be forced into arbitration. We asked people if they believe they have been harmed by a company's negligence, either physically or financially, would they prefer to have their claims decided by a judge and jury or through arbitration and by two to one Americans say in those circumstances, I wanna have the right to have my claims heard by a judge and jury underlying that is an understanding or recognition that many Americans have that the system of of force compulsory arbitration is a rig system. Uh they recognize that it does not exist for the benefit of consumers or employees, but for the benefit of corporations Fact when we asked people who mainly benefits um from this system of arbitration rather than allowing people to take their claims to court by a margin of close to nine to one people say this is a system that benefits uh mainly benefits corporations as opposed to mainly benefiting consumers and employees. You can see in um the chart behind me maybe you can see that we we ask Um voters, uh about two different circumstances. What they think ought to happen or what's the better way to deal with claims by consumers. Uh first uh when uh there are claims by consumers against companies, it is it better to require uh the use of arbitration for all claims as many companies do or better to give consumers a choice of using arbitration uh or the courts for each claim and you can and uh in for those consumer claims by a margin of eighty four to 16 Americans say it is better to give the choice to the uh to the consumer and not to allow corporations to uh mandate arbitration in terms of employee employment claims. Uh when people are asked about the better way uh to deal with claims by employees against employers um by eighty one to 19, they say it is better to give employees the choice of using arbitration or uh or the court For their claims, rather than allowing companies to require and mandate a compulsory arbitration, uh when we ask about this principle in terms of legislation on the next chart, uh, you can see that there is overwhelming support for the legislation that would accomplish what the fair act would do when we talk about a bill that says companies cannot require the use of arbitration when a consumer or Has a dispute or claim and that under this legislation, consumers employees would have the choice of taking their claim to court or submitting it to arbitration. Uh eighty four percent of Americans registered voters say that they would support this legislation and only 11 percent say they would oppose it. I mentioned the strong bipartisan nature of the response here and you can see this on the chart uh among Democratic voters by eighty three to 12. They favor the fair Uh among independent voters by eighty to 11, they favor the fair act and among Republican voters by eighty seven to nine to nine an even greater margin than among Democrats. Uh they uh favor the fair act among Americans who told us they voted for President trump in the 20 16 election by eighty six to nine. They favor this legislation and even if you look at the most conservative Republican voters by eighty nine to seven uh, they support Legislation so the short answer is the American people are with you, uh and uh in fact, is part of this. Uh our research we were able to tell uh our respondents story is very much like yours uh and it's not their hearts are with you and their votes are with you uh when they uh. They think that what the kinds of treatment that each of you suffered and that others, like you did is unfair and unjust and they want Congress to remedy it. Let me just close Talking about three things in particular that um that Americans overwhelmingly find egregiously wrong with the forced arbitration system. The first is that arbitration procedures keep corporations negligence and a bad behavior secret. Uh and for example, employees will not learn that a supervisor sexually harassed female employees 73 percent say that that's a very serious concern about the arbitration system Related to the secrecy of the system, um forced arbitration puts public health and safety at risk. If corporations know they can't be held accountable in court. The cars we drive the medicines we take and the foods we eat will be less safe. 73 percent find that to be a very serious concern about mandatory arbitration and then finally, that forced arbitration prohibits consumers, employees from suing a company uh even in the case where a company broke a federal or state law against discrimination based on gender race, age or disability. again 73 percent of Americans say that that is a very serious problem with forced arbitration. So the bottom line is Americans get it. They get that this is a system that is rigged, that is not fair to the average worker and the average consumer and they stand behind the effort you heard about today for Congress to take action to remedy this and end uh and then force arbitration in our country. Thank you. Thank you uh. Let me guess close the program uh. We may have some time for questions by Saying uh Americans want this kind of change, they know this system is recruit secret. It's secret it's rigged it's unfair. It's UN American Americans wanted to end by overwhelming majorities, whether they're Republican or Democrat no matter where they live and if they have any doubt about this, none of these numbers. They have only to talk to people in their own communities whose stories Parallel the ones, you've just heard I wanna thank the Association of American Association for Justice for the polling that you did Jeff uh. I wanna thank all the advocates who are here today. We do hope that courage is contagious. That action will follow. It that other companies will follow the leadership by example from the ones who have already committed to end it, but we're not willing to wait for voluntary action we're, not willing to wait for corporate America to do the right thing This kind of injustice has to end for the sake of everybody in the workplace, men and women for the sake of all consumers who buy American products for the sake of everybody who endorse civil rights injustices for the sake of everybody who wants to bring and each other trust challenges the fair act is a measure whose time has come and we are looking truly for bipartisan support so I wanna thank uh all of you have come from all over the country uh my constituent gretchen Carlson uh of Connecticut and I particularly wanna single out uh kevin's, ober um, thank you for your service. Kevin thank you for your service to our nation and your story. I think, is just such a powerful heartbreaking example of an American ism in the work place that results from this kind of practice I'm presuming everybody is either exhausted or all of your questions have been answered. Uh I have to go to a vote myself so if you would excuse me I'm gonna take off, but thank you all for joining us