Leahy Pushing To Get Patent Bill To Floor
Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., is pressing Senate leaders to bring his patent overhaul legislation to the Senate floor before the Memorial Day break. Senate Majority Whip Richard Durbin, D-Ill., said Thursday that Leahy would like Senate leaders to bring up the patent bill after the Senate finishes action on financial regulatory legislation, expected to come up next week, and food safety legislation.
"Senator Leahy would like floor time for patent reform," Durbin said.
Durbin, however, said that a small business jobs bill that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., wants to pass this work period could bump the patent bill. Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel Inouye, D-Hawaii, also wants to move a supplemental defense spending bill before Memorial Day. Reid will determine which bills get priority.
"Sen. Leahy has sought Senate consideration of the patent reform for some time and will continue to work with the majority leader to identify floor time for it," a Judiciary spokeswoman said.
Leahy and Judiciary ranking member Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., unveiled a compromise patent bill last month aimed at bringing more stakeholders on board. It is expected to be offered as a manager's amendment when the bill goes to the floor.
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