Maryland Representative Bartlett Raises Concerns About Last Minute Changes to Patent Reform Act of 2007
During the floor debate in Congress over H.R.1908, the Patent Reform Act of 2007, on September 7, 2007, Maryland’s 6th District Representative, Roscoe G. Bartlett, a Republican, rose to criticize last-minute efforts by colleagues whom he contends pushed amendments to the proposed legislation through the House of Representatives. Apparently, those amendments found their way into the legislation in the late evening hours the night before the full House vote (no doubt by overworked staffers). Dr. Bartlett knows a few things about patents: a scientist himself, one of only three in the House of Representatives, he is the named inventor or co-inventor on several U.S. patents, including those listed below. Of the eight Maryland Representatives in Congress, Bartlett was the only one to vote against passage of H.R.1908 (see related post here). For those interested, the amendments to H.R. 1908 may be viewed here (then scroll down to the 1:33 pm entry).
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Method of and Apparatus for Atmospheric Replenishment and Control |
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End Title Sampler for an Oxygen Breathing Mask |
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Pressure Regulating Valve for Rebreathing Apparatus |
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Mask-to-Mask Resuscitation System |
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Mask-to-Mask Resuscitation System |
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Apparatus for use in Mouth-to-Mouth Resuscitation |
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Apparatus for use in Mouth-to-Mouth Resuscitation |
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Compact Walk-Around Breathing Device |
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Oxygen Supply System |
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Anti-Suffocant Apparatus for Oxygen Supply System |
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Respiratory Apparatus |
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Respiratory Apparatus |
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Respiratory Apparatus |
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Heat Detector |
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Comments:
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Question. Can you tell me the current status of the Patent Reform Act as it is moving through Congress? What I mean by that, is I know that H.R. 1908 recently passed through the House of Representatives, with Amendments. The corresponding document within the Senate is S. 1145. However, S. 1145 was introduced on April 18, 2007, and is therefore an older version of the document than was passed through the house. So, does the Senate vote on the House version? Or do they vote on their own version. If each pass their own version, how is a final version determined?
Rob, I checked with Jaclyn Rodriguez, Government Relations Analyst at Blank Rome, about this. As introduced, the two bills, H.R.1908 and S.1145, are virtually identical but the Senate will vote on its own version introduced on April 18, 2007. The Senate Judiciary Committee already voted to report out the bipartisan bill and the bill has been placed on the Senate Calendar (No. 348, if I'm not mistaken). The bill is set to be debated in the Senate in late October, and there have been various campaigns to change the language of the House legislation. If the two bills are different, a conference committee would be called upon to iron out the differences.
Brian - Thank you for your research. I had actually called congress, and spoke to several individuals, none of which could give me a clear answer. Your resource, Jaclyn, sounds like she knows her stuff! Thanks again.