The Interstate Class Action Jurisdiction Act will streamline the ability of courts to deal with class action lawsuits by making it easier for those involved in the case to transfer the suit from state courts to federal courts.

"Federal courts were actually designed by the Framers of the Constitution to handle large cases that crossed state boundaries," said Representative Bob Goodlatte, (R-VA). "This measure will put these suits in the jurisdiction where they belong."

"The measure improves efficiency and helps prevent abuses while not limiting the ability of anyone to file a class action lawsuit," said Representative Rick Boucher, (D-VA).

"What this legislation does is call for common sense reform," Representative Ed Bryant, (R-TN), said. "When these class action suits have such far reaching consequences for the rest of the country, they should be heard in a federal court.  Federal courts have the resources to adequately address many of these interstate issues."

"As Congress searches for ways to sustain economic growth and to make the nation more competitive in the next century, it should begin by curbing the growing cottage industry of class lawsuits in state courts," said Representative Jim Moran, (D-VA).  "This bill is a good way to do that."
 
The Interstate Class Action Jurisdiction Act allows federal courts to hear purely interstate class action cases and allows any party to the suit to remove the class action case to federal court.

The legislation stems from the widespread abuse of what was meant to be a procedural device of last resort where people with identical claims, such as air crash victims, could bring their case at one time in one court.