[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 135 (Friday, September 23, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: September 23, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                         HIDDEN RIPOFFS IN GATT

  (Mr. ROHRABACHER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. ROHRABACKER. Mr. Speaker, this administration is about to push 
through Congress one of the worst special interest ripoffs of the 
American people ever to come through this body and that is saying a 
lot.
  Hidden in the GATT implementation legislation are provisions like the 
one that will dramatically reduce the patent protection now enjoyed by 
the American people.
  Let me repeat that, the GATT implementation legislation secretly 
contains a major reduction in the patent protection enjoyed by 
Americans; 90 percent of the rest of our Members do not even know this. 
Billions in royalties that would be going to Americans will end up in 
the bank accounts of Japanese and multinational corporations.
  I supported NAFTA strongly. I say let us not pass GATT until the 
hidden ripoffs are taken out. What are we in such a hurry about? 
Members are going to hear, oh, we have to do it immediately. They are 
afraid that this body and the American people are going to find out 
what is in GATT, hidden in there.
  We need to look at this legislation. It should be shelved until next 
year so the American people and this body will be able to find all of 
the secret provisions.
  Get those ripoffs out of GATT or I am not going to support it.

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