[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 139 (Wednesday, December 8, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S12041-S12042]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                ART ACT

  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

[[Page S12042]]

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.

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