    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [November 1, 1995]
    [Pages 1703-1704]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing Biotechnology Process Patent Legislation
    November 1, 1995

        I am pleased to sign into law S. 1111, a bill to provide enhanced
    protection of biotechnology process patents. This bill will update
    current patent law to provide the protection American biotechnology
    companies need to continue developing new products. American consumers
    will benefit from improvements in the diagnosis, cure, or treatment of
    disease and from the production of healthier, more abundant foods.
        Process patents are especially important in biotechnology, since
    part of the genius of that field is to produce commercial quantities of
    breakthrough products through new and inventive processes. If the
    innovative process used to make a biotechnology product is not protected
    by patent, American biotechnology will remain vulnerable to foreign
    imitation. This bill will provide necessary new protection for proc-

    [[Page 1704]]

    esses, spurring innovation and keeping American jobs in America.
        In less than two decades, the biotechnology industry has created
    more than 100,000 high-wage American jobs and it now generates annual
    sales of over $7 billion. Originating in the United States,
    biotechnology has already produced life-saving drugs that dissolve blood
    clots in heart attack victims and treat anemia in patients suffering
    from chronic kidney failure. It has helped produce disease-resistant
    plants, more nutritious foods, effective waste treatment systems, and
    methods to clean and protect the environment. American companies working
    to commercialize breakthrough products should not be required to face
    unfair competition from overseas.
        This bill addresses the need for current patent laws to keep pace
    with the rapid growth in biotechnology. It was passed with the strong
    support of this Administration and broad bipartisan support in the
    Congress. I am pleased to sign S. 1111 into law to ensure the continued
    development of important products for American consumers and continued
    U.S. job growth in this field.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    November 1, 1995.

    Note: S. 1111, approved November 1, was assigned Public Law No. 104-41.