United States 116th Congress Status: In Committee 1 R cosponsors

S 440 — PACED Act

Last action — Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 129.

  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed Senate
  4. 4
    Passed House
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 116th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there are no live odds of enactment. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

Bill Text

What changed in the latest version

240 added · 14 removed

Plain-language change summary

The amendment removes the limitation stating that the abrogation of sovereign immunity would apply only as permitted under the 11th amendment to the Constitution. This change broadens the scope of the abrogation, potentially allowing more actions regarding sovereign immunity without the previously stipulated constitutional constraint.

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440 Introduced in Senate (IS)] <DOC> 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
440 Reported in Senate (RS)] <DOC> Calendar No.
129 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title 35, United States Code, to provide that a patent owner may not assert sovereign immunity as a defense in certain actions before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and for other purposes.
which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary June 28 (legislative day, June 27), 2019 Reported by Mr.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1.
Graham, with an amendment [Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title 35, United States Code, to provide that a patent owner may not assert sovereign immunity as a defense in certain actions before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, <DELETED>SECTION 1.
SHORT TITLE.</DELETED> <DELETED> This Act may be cited as the ``Preserving Access to Cost Effective Drugs Act'' or the ``PACED Act''.</DELETED> <DELETED>SEC.
2.
ABROGATION OF SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY.</DELETED> <DELETED> (a) In General.--Title 35, United States Code, is amended--</DELETED> <DELETED> (1) in section 135, by adding at the end the following:</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(g) Sovereign Immunity.--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(A) the term `foreign state' has the meaning given the term in section 1603(a) of title 28;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(B) the term `Indian tribe' has the meaning given the term in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
5304(e)).</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(2) Abrogation of sovereign immunity.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), and subject to paragraph (4), a patent owner may not assert sovereign immunity, including the sovereign immunity accorded to an Indian tribe, as a defense in--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(A) a derivation proceeding instituted under subsection (a);
or</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(B) a review by a court of the United States with respect to a decision reached in a proceeding described in subparagraph (A).</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(3) Immunity of foreign states.--If a patent owner is a foreign state, for the purposes of any proceeding described in paragraph (2)(A), the Patent Trial and Appeal Board shall determine whether the patent owner is immune from the jurisdiction of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, in accordance with chapter 97 of title 28 as if the Patent Trial and Appeal Board were a court of the United States.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(4) Limitation.--This subsection shall apply only to the extent permitted under the 11th amendment to the Constitution of the United States.'';</DELETED> <DELETED> (2) in section 296--</DELETED> <DELETED> (A) in the section heading, by striking ``and State officials'' and inserting ``, State officials, and Indian tribes'';
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(c) Abrogation of Tribal Sovereign Immunity.--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(A) the term `covered claim' means any claim, counterclaim, or third-party claim that arises under--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(i) this title relating to infringement of a patent;
or</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(ii) section 351 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C.
262);
and</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(B) the term `Indian tribe' has the meaning given the term in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
5304(e)).</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(2) Abrogation.--In any action that involves a covered claim that is otherwise within the jurisdiction of a court of the United States, an Indian tribe may not assert sovereign immunity as a defense.'';</DELETED> <DELETED> (3) in section 305--</DELETED> <DELETED> (A) in the first sentence, by striking ``After the'' and inserting the following:</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(a) In General.--After the'';
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (B) by adding at the end the following:</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(b) Sovereign Immunity.--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(A) the term `foreign state' has the meaning given the term in section 1603(a) of title 28;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(B) the term `Indian tribe' has the meaning given the term in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
5304(e)).</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(2) Abrogation of sovereign immunity.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), and subject to paragraph (4), a patent owner may not assert sovereign immunity, including the sovereign immunity accorded to an Indian tribe, as a defense in--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(A) any reexamination proceeding under this section, including any appeal to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board;
or</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(B) a review by a court of the United States with respect to a decision reached in a proceeding described in subparagraph (A).</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(3) Immunity of foreign states.--If a patent owner is a foreign state, for the purposes of any proceeding described in paragraph (2)(A), the Office or the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, as applicable, shall determine whether the patent owner is immune from the jurisdiction of the Office or the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, as applicable, in accordance with chapter 97 of title 28 as if the Office or the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, as applicable, were a court of the United States.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(4) Limitation.--This subsection shall apply only to the extent permitted under the 11th amendment to the Constitution of the United States.'';</DELETED> <DELETED> (4) in section 316, by adding at the end the following:</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(f) Sovereign Immunity.--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(A) the term `foreign state' has the meaning given the term in section 1603(a) of title 28;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(B) the term `Indian tribe' has the meaning given the term in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
5304(e)).</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(2) Abrogation of sovereign immunity.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), and subject to paragraph (4), a patent owner may not assert sovereign immunity, including the sovereign immunity accorded to an Indian tribe, as a defense in--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(A) an inter partes review instituted under this chapter;
or</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(B) a review by a court of the United States with respect to a decision reached in a proceeding described in subparagraph (A).</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(3) Immunity of foreign states.--If a patent owner is a foreign state, for the purposes of any review described in paragraph (2)(A), the Patent Trial and Appeal Board shall determine whether the patent owner is immune from the jurisdiction of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, in accordance with chapter 97 of title 28 as if the Patent Trial and Appeal Board were a court of the United States.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(4) Limitation.--This subsection shall apply only to the extent permitted under the 11th amendment to the Constitution of the United States.'';
and</DELETED> <DELETED> (5) in section 326, by adding at the end the following:</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(f) Sovereign Immunity.--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(A) the term `foreign state' has the meaning given the term in section 1603(a) of title 28;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(B) the term `Indian tribe' has the meaning given the term in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
5304(e)).</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(2) Abrogation of sovereign immunity.--Except as provided in paragraph (3), and subject to paragraph (4), a patent owner may not assert sovereign immunity, including the sovereign immunity accorded to an Indian tribe, as a defense in--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(A) a post-grant review instituted under this chapter;
or</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(B) a review by a court of the United States with respect to a decision reached in a proceeding described in subparagraph (A).</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(3) Immunity of foreign states.--If a patent owner is a foreign state, for the purposes of any review described in paragraph (2)(A), the Patent Trial and Appeal Board shall determine whether the patent owner is immune from the jurisdiction of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, in accordance with chapter 97 of title 28 as if the Patent Trial and Appeal Board were a court of the United States.</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(4) Limitation.--This subsection shall apply only to the extent permitted under the 11th amendment to the Constitution of the United States.''.</DELETED> <DELETED> (b) Amendments to the Tariff Act of 1930.--Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 (19 U.S.C.
1337) is amended by adding at the end the following:</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(o) Abrogation of Tribal Sovereign Immunity.--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(1) Definitions.--In this subsection--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(A) the term `covered person'-- </DELETED> <DELETED> ``(i) means a person;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(ii) includes--</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(I) an Indian tribe;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(II) any other person that claims immunity on account of the sovereign status of an Indian tribe;
and</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(B) the term `Indian tribe' has the meaning given the term in section 4(e) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C.
5304(e)).</DELETED> <DELETED> ``(2) Abrogation.--In any proceeding under this section, no covered person may assert as a defense the sovereign immunity that is accorded to an Indian tribe.''.</DELETED> <DELETED> (c) Technical and Conforming Amendment.--The table of sections for chapter 29 of title 35, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 296 and inserting the following:</DELETED> <DELETED>``296.
Liability of States, instrumentalities of States, State officials, and Indian tribes for infringement of patents.''.
SECTION 1.
``(4) Limitation.--This subsection shall apply only to the extent permitted under the 11th amendment to the Constitution of the United States.'';
``(4) Limitation.--This subsection-- ``(A) shall apply only to the extent permitted under the 11th amendment to the Constitution of the United States;
and ``(B) shall not apply with respect to-- ``(i) any State of the United States;
or ``(ii) any institution of higher education, as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1001), that is a public institution in a State of the United States.'';
``(4) Limitation.--This subsection shall apply only to the extent permitted under the 11th amendment to the Constitution of the United States.'';
``(4) Limitation.--This subsection-- ``(A) shall apply only to the extent permitted under the 11th amendment to the Constitution of the United States;
and ``(B) shall not apply with respect to-- ``(i) any State of the United States;
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or ``(ii) any institution of higher education, as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1001), that is a public institution in a State of the United States.'';
``(4) Limitation.--This subsection shall apply only to the extent permitted under the 11th amendment to the Constitution of the United States.'';
``(4) Limitation.--This subsection-- ``(A) shall apply only to the extent permitted under the 11th amendment to the Constitution of the United States;
and ``(B) shall not apply with respect to-- ``(i) any State of the United States;
or ``(ii) any institution of higher education, as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1001), that is a public institution in a State of the United States.'';
``(4) Limitation.--This subsection shall apply only to the extent permitted under the 11th amendment to the Constitution of the United States.''.
``(4) Limitation.--This subsection-- ``(A) shall apply only to the extent permitted under the 11th amendment to the Constitution of the United States;
and ``(B) shall not apply with respect to-- ``(i) any State of the United States;
or ``(ii) any institution of higher education, as defined in section 101 of the Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.
1001), that is a public institution in a State of the United States.''.
<all>
Calendar No.
129 116th CONGRESS 1st Session S.
440 _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To amend title 35, United States Code, to provide that a patent owner may not assert sovereign immunity as a defense in certain actions before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________ June 28 (legislative day, June 27), 2019 Reported with an amendment
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Action History

  1. Introduced in Senate

  2. Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

  3. Committee on the Judiciary. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.

  4. Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Graham with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

  5. Committee on the Judiciary. Reported by Senator Graham with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Without written report.

  6. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 129.

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 546 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (546)

546 members have not signed on to this bill.

Show all 546 →

"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

labor technology
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Frequently asked questions

Who sponsors S 440?
S 440 is sponsored by Cotton, Tom (Republican).
What is the current status of S 440?
This bill died with 116th Congress. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track S 440?
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