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.

IV 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 vac- cines or treatments. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JUNE 17, 2021 Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS (for herself, Mrs. FISCHBACH, Mr. JORDAN, Mr. NOR- MAN, 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 Flor- ida, 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 pharma- ceutical industry successfully developed three incredibly effective COVID–19 vaccines to date, with a fourth vac- cine currently undergoing clinical trials; Whereas these vaccines are the most respected, most sought after vaccines in the world due to their exceptional effi- cacy and safety, which is due to both the painstaking VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:19 Jun 18, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR484.IH HR484 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 484 IH work and investment during development as well as the diligent efforts of the United States pharmaceutical in- dustry 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 di- rectly led to the COVID–19 vaccines and may revolu- tionize future vaccine development efforts; and Whereas intellectual property protections have not contrib- uted 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 chal- lenges, raw material shortages, and other factors: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, that it is the sense of the House of Rep- 1 resentatives that— 2 (1) the policy of the United States should not 3 be to waive valid intellectual property protections for 4 COVID–19 vaccines or treatments, related manufac- 5 turing processes or technology, technology platforms 6 used to develop COVID–19 vaccines or other medi- 7 cines, or other related innovations; and 8 (2) the policy of the United States should not 9 be to strip innovators of valid intellectual property 10 protections because it would undermine innovation, 11 weaken the competitiveness of United States busi- 12 VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:17 Jun 18, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR484.IH HR484 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 484 IH nesses, and damage our ability to respond to future 1 pandemics. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:19 Jun 18, 2021 Jkt 019200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR484.IH HR484 pbinns on DSKJLVW7X2PROD with BILLS