In this task, you are given text for US Congressional and California state bills, your task is to generate a summary for this bill.
Q: SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ''Life Patenting Moratorium Act of
1993''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

The Congress finds the following:
(1) The rapid advances in biotechnology and biomedical
research capabilities are creating a wide range of ethical,
legal, economic, environmental, international and social
issues, including concerns about the patenting of life forms,
eugenics, genetic discrimination, conflicts of interest for
biomedical researchers, and genetic privacy considerations in
insurance and employment.
(2) Prominent members of the scientific community are
discussing the possibility of the permanent alteration of the
genetic code of human beings (referred to as ''germ-line
research''), yet Congress has not yet addressed the ethical,
legal, economic, environmental, evolutionary, international and
social implications of such experimentation.
(3) The National Institutes of Health has already proposed
patenting over 2,000 human gene sequences, an issue which
raises unique and unprecedented ethical, legal, economic and
social questions.
(4) Prior to the Patent and Trademark Office policy of
patenting animals, established on April 7, 1987, no animal had
ever been patented under the patent laws of the United States.
(5) Over 150 animal patents are presently pending and three
more were granted by the Patent and Trademark Office of the
Department of Commerce in December of 1992, in spite of the
undetermined ethical implications of such patents.
(6) Congress may act to significantly restrict or alter the
Patent and Trademark Office policy of patenting animals and
human genes.
(7) The Office of Technology Assessment will complete a
comprehensive review of these issues, and the Congress is
prepared to schedule hearings and debate on this issue in the
spring of 1993.

SEC. 3. RESTRICTION ON THE ISSUANCE OF PATENTS.

(a) In General.--Chapter 10 of part II of title 35, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new
section:
''Sec. 106. Prohibition on Patentability of Certain Biomedical
Inventions or Processes
''(a) In General.--No human being, human organ, organ subpart
(genetically engineered or otherwise) or genetically engineered animal
shall be considered patentable subject matter under this title.
''(b) Suspension.--Except as otherwise provided in section, during
the 2-year period beginning on the date of enactment of this section,
no--
''(1) human tissue, fluid, cell, gene or gene sequence
(genetically engineered or otherwise); or
''(2) animal or animal organism (genetically engineered or
otherwise);
shall be considered patentable subject matter under this title. The
prohibition under this section may continue after such 2-year period
pursuant to section 381(f) of the Public Health Service Act.
''(c) Exception.--Subsection (b) shall not apply to patents issued
prior to the date of enactment of this section.
''(d) Patent Status of Others.--Notwithstanding any other provision
of law, with respect to those individuals who have applied or will
apply for a patent to which this section applies, this section shall
not be construed to detrimentally affect the rights of such
individuals, but rather to maintain such rights until the expiration of
the 2-year period described in subsection (b).
''(e) Definitions.--As used in this section, the term 'genetically
engineered' means the formation of new combinations of genetic material
by the insertion of nucleic acid molecules into the host organism's
somatic or germ-line cells so as to allow the incorporation of the new
genetic material into the genetic material of the host organism.''.
(b) Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 10 of
part II of title 35, United States Code, is amended by adding at the
end thereof the following:

''106. Prohibition on patentability of certain biomedical inventions or
processes.''.

SEC. 4. SENSE OF THE CONGRESS.

It is the sense of the Congress that--
(1) mindful of the dangers inherent in the uncontrolled
patenting and proliferation of genetic material, including
problems in the areas of patenting of life, eugenics, genetic
discrimination, unexpected and reproducible mutations,
conflicts of interest for biomedical researchers, and genetic
privacy considerations in insurance and employment, but aware
of the urgent need of humanity to reap the benefits of
responsibly-conducted research and innovation, legislation
addressing the implications of genetic research should be
thoroughly studied, considered, debated and passed by the
Congress as soon as reasonably possible; and
(2) the Department of Commerce, the National Institutes of
Health and the Department of State should work with the
international community to develop international standards
relating to the patenting of genetic information and access to
such information.
A:
Life Patenting Moratorium Act of 1993 - Amends Federal patent law to prohibit human beings, organs, or organ subparts or genetically engineered animals from being considered patentable subject matter.
Imposes a two-year moratorium on the patentability of human tissues, fluids, cells, genes or gene sequences, or animals or animal organisms (genetically engineered or otherwise). Authorizes the continuation of such moratorium after such time pursuant to the Public Health Service Act.
Expresses the sense of the Congress that: (1) legislation addressing the implications of genetic research should be thoroughly studied and passed by the Congress as soon as possible; and (2) the Departments of Commerce and State and the National Institutes of Health should work with the international community to develop international standards relating to the patenting of, and access to, genetic information.