[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 192 (Thursday, December 17, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Page S13394]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




SENATE RESOLUTION 379--TO EXPRESS THE SENSE OF THE SENATE REGARDING THE 
    PROTECTION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS FOR CLEAN ENERGY AND 
                        ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY

  Mrs. GILLIBRAND submitted the following resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations:

                              S. Res. 379

       Whereas the development and deployment of innovative clean 
     energy and environmental technology is critical to addressing 
     global climate change;
       Whereas intellectual property rights are a key driver of 
     investment and research and development in, and facilitate 
     global deployment of, clean energy and environmental 
     technology;
       Whereas efforts to weaken intellectual property rights for 
     clean technology would undermine the environmental objectives 
     of climate change negotiations by reducing incentives for 
     investment, innovation, and clean energy and environmental 
     technology deployment required to meet those objectives;
       Whereas weakened intellectual property right protections 
     relating to clean energy and environmental technology could 
     pose a substantial competitive risk to United States 
     businesses and United States workers and inhibit the creation 
     of new green jobs and the transition to a green economy for 
     the 21st century; and
       Whereas climate action presents a significant opportunity 
     for international cooperation on clean technology development 
     and deployment, with substantial environmental and economic 
     benefits for all countries.
       Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That it is the sense of the Senate that the 
     President of the United States should pursue opportunities 
     for international cooperation in technology deployment, and 
     should act to ensure that any treaty or other accord 
     resulting from negotiations of the United Nations Framework 
     Convention on Climate Change, done at New York on May 9, 1992 
     (or a successor agreement) does not weaken or undermine 
     international legal rules and obligations in effect as of the 
     date of enactment of this Act relating to the protection and 
     enforcement of intellectual property rights for energy and 
     environmental technology, including--
       (1) wind, solar, biomass, geothermal, hydro, landfill gas, 
     natural gas, marine, trash combustion, fuel cell, hydrogen, 
     microturbine, nuclear, clean coal, electric battery, 
     alternative fuel, alternative refueling infrastructure, 
     advanced vehicle, electric grid, and energy efficiency-
     related technologies; and
       (2) any other technologies covered by such an agreement.

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