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.

Bill: 117-hres-484
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-2]
Introduced: 2021-06-17
Policy area: Commerce
Subjects: Cardiovascular and respiratory health

Competitiveness, trade promotion, trade deficits

Emergency medical services and trauma care

Health technology, devices, supplies

Immunology and vaccination

Infectious and parasitic diseases

Intellectual property

Manufacturing
Latest action: action_date: 2022-11-01
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet.

Summaries:
action_date: 2021-06-17
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p>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.</p>

tv_txt: IV 117th CONGRESS 1st Session H. RES. 484 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

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.