[House Report 105-56]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



105th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 1st Session                                                     105-56
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                  PROVIDING FOR THE CONSIDERATION OF 
 
       H.R. 400, THE 21ST CENTURY PATENT SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT ACT

                                _______
                                

   April 16, 1997.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be 
                                printed

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   Mr. McInnis, from the Committee on Rules, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany H. Res. 116]

    The Committee on Rules, having had under consideration 
House Resolution 116, by a nonrecord vote, report the same to 
the House with the recommendation that the resolution be 
adopted.

               brief summary of provisions of resolution

    The resolution provides for the consideration of H.R. 400, 
the ``21st Century Patent System Improvement Act'' under an 
open rule. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate divided 
equally between the chairman and ranking minority member of the 
Committee on the Judiciary.
    The rule waives all points of order against consideration 
of the bill. The rule also makes in order the Committee on the 
Judiciary amendment in the nature of a substitute now printed 
in the bill, modified as specified in section 2 of the 
resolution.
    The rule further waives all points of order against the 
amendment in the nature of a substitute, as modified, and 
provides that it shall be considered as read. Also, the rule 
allows the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to postpone 
votes during consideration of the bill, and allows the Chairman 
of the Committee of the Whole to reduce votes to 5 minutes on a 
postponed question if the vote follows a 15-minute vote.
    Members who have preprinted their amendments in the Record 
prior to their consideration will be given priority in 
recognition to offer their amendments if otherwise consistent 
with House rules. Finally, the rule provides for one motion to 
recommit, with or without instructions.