Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015
Floor Speech
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Mr. YOUNG of Indiana. Madam Chair, I rise today first in recognition of the great professional public service offered by Chairman Wolf. I appreciate that so much.
I also rise in support of H.R. 4660, the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act that he and his staff have worked so hard on.
This important measure provides funding for a number of vital agencies, of course one of which is the Office of the United States Trade Representative. This approps bill provides funding for the USTR to continue advocating on behalf of the Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP, and the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership, or TTIP, and to continue enforcing existing free trade agreements. More specifically, funding USTR will help protect intellectual property rights abroad.
Now, I continue to maintain very serious concerns with Canada's misapplication of internationally recognized patent standards, which appears to violate their international obligations, and it is having a real economic impact on innovative American companies.
I appreciate that the USTR has expressed serious concern about these practices in last year's Special 301 Report, given Canada's continued failure to bring its patent standards in line with international obligations and best practices. Accordingly, I strongly urge the elevation of Canada to the Special 301 Priority Watch List in 2014.
IP is one of the main engines of the United States' innovative economy. Approximately one-third of U.S. jobs and 60 percent of our exports rely on IP. With more than 95 percent of the world's population living outside of the United States, strong IP protections are essential to future U.S. economic growth and competitiveness.
Funding USTR will ensure a continued enforcement of existing free trade agreements while furthering future U.S. economic interests through negotiation of TPP and TTIP.
I would like to, again, thank Chairman Wolf and his staff for their important work in putting together this approps bill.
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