[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 211 (Friday, December 29, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S19311-S19312]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               REAUTHORIZING THE TIED AID CREDIT PROGRAM

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 2203, just received from 
the House.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 2203) to reauthorize the Tied Aid Credit 
     Program of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, and 
     to allow the Export-Import Bank to conduct a demonstration 
     project.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the bill?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
deemed read a third time, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be placed at 
the appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  So the bill (H.R. 2203) was deemed read the third time and passed.
  
[[Page S19312]]


                 FEDERAL TRADEMARK DILUTION ACT OF 1995

  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to proceed to the 
immediate consideration of H.R. 1295, just received from the House.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 1295) to amend the Trademark Act of 1946 to 
     make certain revisions relating to the protection of famous 
     marks.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the immediate 
consideration of the bill?
  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, passage of this bill is part of our effort 
to improve intellectual property protection around the world. I hope 
that it will serve to improve trademark enforcement domestically and 
serve as a model for our trading partners overseas.
  Along with the Anti-Counterfeiting and Consumer Protection Act of 
1995, S. 1360, which recently passed the Senate and has already been 
the subject of a hearing and markup before the House Judiciary 
Committee's Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property, this bill 
will help protect the good names, reputations for quality, and 
investments of American companies from IBM to Ben & Jerry's.
  Although no one else has yet considered this application, it is my 
hope that this antidilution statute can help stem the use of deceptive 
Internet addresses taken by those who are choosing marks that are 
associated with the products and reputations of others.
  I thank our House colleagues for their work on this bill. It is a 
pleasure to work with Chairman Moorhead and the House subcommittee on 
these matters. I commend, in particular, Representative Schroeder for 
her outstanding work on this measure. Our House colleagues have 
announced their intention not to seek reelection next fall. Their 
leadership and judgment will be greatly missed.
  When we in the Senate last considered and passed a similar bill to 
provide an injunctive remedy against the dilution of the effectiveness 
of distinctive marks, we did so as part of more comprehensive trademark 
revision legislation in 1988. Since that time the dilution of well-
known marks has become a greater problem both domestically and, 
especially, internationally.
  We intend for this legislation to strengthen the hand of our 
international negotiators from the Office of the U.S. Trade 
Representative and the Department of Commerce as they press for 
bilateral and multilateral agreements to secure greater protection for 
the world famous marks of our U.S. companies. Foreign countries should 
no longer argue that we do not protect our marks from dilution, nor 
seek to excuse their own inaction against practices that are 
destructive of the distinctiveness of U.S. marks within their borders.
  I am delighted that bill now includes express reference to fair use, 
news reporting, and news commentary. I continue to believe, as our 
House colleagues also affirm, that parody, satire, editorial, and other 
forms of expression will remain unaffected by this legislation.
  Finally, I want to acknowledge the strong support of the U.S. Patent 
and Trademark Office, the Department of Commerce, and that of the 
International Trademark Association and its many members. Without their 
efforts, we would not be in position to approve this legislation and 
send it to the President for his signature.
  Mr. President, this was an example of Senator Hatch, myself, and 
others working in a bipartisan effort to get a major piece of 
legislation through. I thank the leader for his efforts in getting it 
through.
  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be 
deemed read a third time, passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon 
the table, and that any statements relating to the bill be placed at 
the appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  So the bill (H.R. 1295) was deemed read the third time and passed.

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