WASHINGTON, DC - The Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, chaired by Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE), has scheduled a markup this week to consider a draft of the Targeting Rogue and Opaque Letters Act, H.R. 4450, the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act of 2014, and H.R. 4013, the Low Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act of 2014. The markup will convene for opening statements only on Wednesday, July 9, at 4 p.m. in room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building. The subcommittee will reconvene on Thursday, July 10, at 10 a.m. in room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building to consider the legislation.
Earlier this year, Chairman Terry unveiled a discussion draft of legislation to address illegitimate patent demand letters. The draft aims to protect businesses from abusive patent assertion entities (PAEs), or patent trolls, while preserving the ability of patent holders to legitimately protect their intellectual property. The subcommittee held a hearing to review the text, and has continued to make changes to improve the bill.
“We have spent months examining different ideas and challenges to address the growing threat of patent trolls, and the text we will consider this week is a product of those discussions amongst members and stakeholders. We all share the common goal of protecting businesses from abusive and deceptive practices while preserving American innovation," said Terry.
Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) introduced H.R. 4450, the Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act of 2014, to reauthorize funding for Brand USA, which was created by the Travel Promotion Act of 2009. H.R. 4450 also includes a number of changes to the current law aimed at increasing accountability and transparency of Brand USA.
Bilirakis commented, “I am thrilled my colleagues and I will have the opportunity to reauthorize Brand USA. Increased tourism will help to spur economic growth and job creation across the country, something Americans desperately need. My legislation will achieve those goals."
H.R. 4013, the Low-Volume Motor Vehicle Manufacturers Act of 2014 creates a regulatory regime to address the unique safety and financial issues associated with low-volume vehicle production, including the manufacture of replica cars used in exhibitions and parades. The bill will exempt manufacturers from certain standards if they produce fewer than 1,000 vehicles annually.as they are posted.
