Art Act

ART ACT -- (Senate - December 08, 2004)
Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I note that Senator LEAHY today made a floor statement referencing important Intellectual Property legislation that unfortunately will not pass in the 108th Congress.
I agree completely with the Senior Senator from Vermont's view of the importance of these matters and I share his frustration that the bills are not moving forward because of matters not related to the substance of the legislation.
I joined with Senator FEINSTEIN to introduce the ART Act, S. 1932, just over a year ago to help curtail the problem of piracy of films in movie theaters and to help stop the illegal distribution of pre-released copyrighted works. It is a good bill, but it will not become law despite having passed the Senate twice this year and enjoying overwhelming bipartisan support in the House.
Along with the ART Act, other valuable legislation such as the Family Movie Act, a bill that will help parents control the content of films and other entertainment their children see is being held up. Good legislation, such as anti-counterfeiting and film preservation, is also not moving forward again, for reasons completely unrelated to the substance of the bills.
As disappointed as I am about this, I am encouraged by the good faith bipartisan work that has occurred among my staff and the staffs of my colleagues. I want to thank Senators FEINSTEIN, LEAHY, HATCH and BIDEN for their assistance and support, and mostly, I want to thank their staffs for their dedication, hard work and long hours devoted to this effort.
I especially would like to note Senator LEAHY's diligence and dedication to this cause, and willingness to pass over legislation he introduced and believes to be important in deference to the greater cause of passing a larger bipartisan package that would have protected copyrighted works, but for the senseless and unneeded obstacles placed before it.
I am confident that when we take this legislation up in the 109th Congress, we will pass it and I look forward to working with these Senators and others to accomplish that goal.