[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 74 (Thursday, May 26, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3419-S3420]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            INTENT TO OBJECT

  Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, consistent with Senate Standing Orders and 
my policy of publishing in the Congressional Record a statement 
whenever I place a hold on legislation, I am announcing my intention to 
object to any unanimous consent request to proceed to S. 968, the 
PROTECT IP Act.
  In December of last year I placed a hold on similar legislation, 
commonly called COICA, because I felt the costs of the legislation far 
outweighed the benefits. After careful analysis of the Protect IP Act, 
or PIPA, I am compelled to draw the same conclusion. I understand and 
agree with the goal of the legislation, to protect intellectual 
property and combat commerce in counterfeit goods, but I am not willing 
to muzzle speech and stifle innovation and economic growth to achieve 
this objective. At the expense of legitimate commerce, PIPA's 
prescription takes an overreaching approach to policing the Internet 
when a more balanced and targeted approach would be more effective. The 
collateral damage of this approach is speech, innovation and the very 
integrity of the Internet.
  The Internet represents the shipping lane of the 21st century. It is 
increasingly in America's economic interest to ensure that the Internet 
is a viable means for American innovation, commerce, and the 
advancement of our ideals that empower people all around the world. By 
ceding control of the Internet to corporations through a private right 
of action, and to government agencies that do not sufficiently 
understand and value the Internet, PIPA represents a threat our 
economic future and to our international objectives. Until the many 
issues that I and others have raised with this legislation are 
addressed, I will object to a unanimous consent request to proceed to 
the legislation.

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