Title: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should not waive intellectual property rights relating to COVID-19 vaccines or treatments.
Policy area: Commerce

Summary:
This resolution expresses the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should not waive intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines, treatments, or other related innovations.

[Congressional Bills 117th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 484 Introduced in House (IH)]

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117th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 484

 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United 
States should not waive intellectual property rights relating to COVID-
                       19 vaccines or treatments.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             June 17, 2021

Mrs. Miller-Meeks (for herself, Mrs. Fischbach, Mr. Jordan, Mr. Norman, 
 Mr. Gibbs, Mr. Van Drew, Mr. Budd, Mr. Hice of Georgia, Mr. Green of 
  Tennessee, Mrs. Hinson, Mr. Rutherford, Mrs. Wagner, Ms. Mace, Mr. 
Duncan, Mr. Owens, Mr. C. Scott Franklin of Florida, Mr. Burchett, Mr. 
   Hudson, Ms. Malliotakis, Mr. Emmer, and Ms. Cheney) submitted the 
   following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
 Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United 
States should not waive intellectual property rights relating to COVID-
                       19 vaccines or treatments.

Whereas building on decades of research and in conjunction with Operation Warp 
        Speed, the United States pharmaceutical industry successfully developed 
        three incredibly effective COVID-19 vaccines to date, with a fourth 
        vaccine currently undergoing clinical trials;
Whereas these vaccines are the most respected, most sought after vaccines in the 
        world due to their exceptional efficacy and safety, which is due to both 
        the painstaking work and investment during development as well as the 
        diligent efforts of the United States pharmaceutical industry to qualify 
        and oversee world-class manufacturing facilities to produce the 
        vaccines;
Whereas intellectual property protections are vital to incentivize innovation, 
        including the innovations that directly led to the COVID-19 vaccines and 
        may revolutionize future vaccine development efforts; and
Whereas intellectual property protections have not contributed significantly to 
        shortages of COVID-19 vaccines or had a significant effect on the pace 
        of vaccinations, both of which are predominantly dependent on logistical 
        challenges, raw material shortages, and other factors: Now, therefore, 
        be it
    Resolved, that it is the sense of the House of Representatives 
that--
            (1) the policy of the United States should not be to waive 
        valid intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines 
        or treatments, related manufacturing processes or technology, 
        technology platforms used to develop COVID-19 vaccines or other 
        medicines, or other related innovations; and
            (2) the policy of the United States should not be to strip 
        innovators of valid intellectual property protections because 
        it would undermine innovation, weaken the competitiveness of 
        United States businesses, and damage our ability to respond to 
        future pandemics.
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