Interagency Patent Coordination and Improvement Act of 2025

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Bill ID: 119/s/1097
Last Updated: December 5, 2025

Sponsored by

Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

ID: D000563

Bill's Journey to Becoming a Law

Track this bill's progress through the legislative process

Latest Action

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 41.

April 10, 2025

Introduced

📍 Current Status

Next: The bill will be reviewed by relevant committees who will debate, amend, and vote on it.

🏛️

Committee Review

🗳️

Floor Action

Passed Senate

🏛️

House Review

🎉

Passed Congress

🖊️

Presidential Action

⚖️

Became Law

📚 How does a bill become a law?

1. Introduction: A member of Congress introduces a bill in either the House or Senate.

2. Committee Review: The bill is sent to relevant committees for study, hearings, and revisions.

3. Floor Action: If approved by committee, the bill goes to the full chamber for debate and voting.

4. Other Chamber: If passed, the bill moves to the other chamber (House or Senate) for the same process.

5. Conference: If both chambers pass different versions, a conference committee reconciles the differences.

6. Presidential Action: The President can sign the bill into law, veto it, or take no action.

7. Became Law: If signed (or if Congress overrides a veto), the bill becomes law!

Bill Summary

Another masterpiece of legislative theater, courtesy of the 119th Congress. Let's dissect this farce and expose the underlying disease.

**Main Purpose & Objectives:** The Interagency Patent Coordination and Improvement Act of 2025 is a cleverly crafted bill that pretends to improve patent coordination between the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Its primary objective is to establish an interagency task force to share information and provide technical assistance on patents related to human drugs and biological products. How noble.

**Key Provisions & Changes to Existing Law:** The bill amends title 35 of the United States Code to create a new section, which establishes the Interagency Task Force on Patents. This task force will comprise employees from both the USPTO and FDA, who will share information on patent processes, new approvals, and scientific trends. The Director of the USPTO is required to consult with the Commissioner of Food and Drugs through this task force.

**Affected Parties & Stakeholders:** The main stakeholders are the pharmaceutical industry, biotech companies, and other entities involved in developing human drugs and biological products. These parties will benefit from improved coordination between the USPTO and FDA, which may lead to faster patent approvals and reduced regulatory hurdles.

**Potential Impact & Implications:** Now, let's get to the real diagnosis. This bill is a classic case of "regulatory capture," where special interest groups (in this case, the pharmaceutical industry) have successfully lobbied for legislation that benefits them at the expense of others. The task force will likely become a conduit for big pharma to influence patent decisions and regulatory policies, further entrenching their market dominance.

The bill's proponents claim it will improve patent coordination and reduce duplication of efforts between agencies. However, this is just a smokescreen. In reality, the task force will create new opportunities for industry insiders to shape policy and manipulate the patent process to their advantage.

Furthermore, the bill's language is deliberately vague, allowing for broad interpretations and potential abuse. The requirement for the Director of the USPTO to consult with the Commissioner of Food and Drugs through the task force creates a power imbalance, where FDA interests may take precedence over those of other stakeholders.

In conclusion, this bill is a masterclass in legislative deception, designed to serve the interests of powerful lobbies at the expense of the public. It's a textbook example of how special interest groups can manipulate the system to further their own agendas, all while pretending to promote the greater good. Bravo, Congress.

Related Topics

Federal Budget & Appropriations Criminal Justice & Law Enforcement State & Local Government Affairs Civil Rights & Liberties Transportation & Infrastructure Government Operations & Accountability Small Business & Entrepreneurship National Security & Intelligence Congressional Rules & Procedures
Generated using Llama 3.1 70B (Dr. Haus personality)

💰 Campaign Finance Network

Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

Congress 119 • 2024 Election Cycle

Total Contributions
$73,500
15 donors
PACs
$0
Organizations
$3,500
Committees
$0
Individuals
$70,000

No PAC contributions found

1
MIAMI TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA
2 transactions
$2,500
2
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
1 transaction
$1,000

No committee contributions found

1
KUJAWSKI, JOHN
4 transactions
$17,200
2
BARKER, MARA MILLS
2 transactions
$6,600
3
CASHMAN, JAY M.
2 transactions
$6,600
4
GRANIERI, ROBERT
2 transactions
$6,600
5
ARNOLD, JOHN
2 transactions
$6,600
6
CHOWDHURY, SHUVRO
1 transaction
$3,300
7
COHN, RANDY
1 transaction
$3,300
8
MAESE, TIMOTHY
1 transaction
$3,300
9
THOMPSON, TIMOTHY
1 transaction
$3,300
10
FALLS, AMY
1 transaction
$3,300
11
ROGERS, HARTLEY
1 transaction
$3,300
12
EYCHANER, FRED
1 transaction
$3,300
13
BUEHLHORN, MICHAEL
1 transaction
$3,300

Cosponsors & Their Campaign Finance

This bill has 4 cosponsors. Below are their top campaign contributors.

Sen. Tillis, Thomas [R-NC]

ID: T000476

Top Contributors

10

1
SASTRY, ASHWANI
SUNRISE VASCULAR PHYSICIAN
Individual ORLANDO, FL
$3,400
Dec 12, 2024
2
AGARWAL, SAJJAN K
GREENHAWK CORPORATION CEO
Individual CARY, NC
$3,300
Dec 11, 2024
3
ALLYN, JILL
BRIGHTHOUSE FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS
Individual ESTERO, FL
$3,300
Oct 17, 2024
4
BARATTA, JOSEPH PATRICK
BLACKSTONE FINANCE EXECUTIVE
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Dec 18, 2024
5
BARATTA, JOSEPH PATRICK
BLACKSTONE FINANCE EXECUTIVE
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Dec 18, 2024
6
BIELEN, RICHARD J
PROTECTIVE LIFE CORPORATION PRESIDENT & CEO
Individual MOUNTAIN BRK, AL
$3,300
Oct 29, 2024
7
BLITZER, DAVID S
BLACKSTONE CHAIRMAN
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Dec 12, 2024
8
BLITZER, DAVID S
BLACKSTONE CHAIRMAN
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Dec 12, 2024
9
BRAND, MARTIN
BLACKSTONE FINANCE
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$3,300
Dec 20, 2024
10
CAMERON, WILLIAM H
CAMERON MANAGMENT PRESIDENT
Individual WILMINGTON, NC
$3,300
Oct 28, 2024

Sen. Grassley, Chuck [R-IA]

ID: G000386

Top Contributors

10

1
SAC & FOX TRIBE OF THE MISSISSIPPI IN IOWA
COM TAMA, IA
$2,000
Aug 8, 2023
2
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
COM PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
Jul 23, 2024
3
WINRED
PAC ARLINGTON, VA
$25
Jul 4, 2024
4
SCHWARZMAN, CHRISTINE
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Jan 10, 2024
5
SCHWARZMAN, STEPHEN
BLACKSTONE CEO
Individual NEW YORK, NY
$6,600
Jan 16, 2024
6
KUMAR, SHALLI
AVG ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY CHAIR
Individual BETTENDORF, IA
$6,600
Jun 11, 2024
7
STARRETT, RONALD
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual CENTENNIAL, CO
$5,800
Jan 24, 2023
8
COLLINS, RICHARD
RETIRED RETIRED
Individual MARSHALLTOWN, IA
$5,523
Oct 1, 2024
9
COLLINS, RICHARD
Individual MARSHALLTOWN, IA
$5,523
Oct 7, 2024
10
WEISS, LUKE
HOOVER'S HATCHERY PRESIDENT
Individual MASON CITY, IA
$3,300
Dec 11, 2024

Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE]

ID: C001088

Top Contributors

10

1
CHEROKEE NATION
Organization TAHLEQUAH, OK
$3,300
Dec 27, 2023
2
CHEROKEE NATION
Organization TAHLEQUAH, OK
$1,700
Dec 27, 2023
3
CHEN, YU
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual MIAMI, FL
$3,300
Dec 17, 2024
4
MIRZAIE, REZA
RUSS AUGUST & KABAT LLP ATTORNEY
Individual PACIFIC PALISADES, CA
$3,300
Oct 7, 2024
5
CHEN, YU
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual MIAMI, FL
$3,300
Dec 17, 2024
6
WASSERMAN, CASEY
WASSERMAN CEO
Individual LOS ANGELES, CA
$3,300
Nov 5, 2024
7
ZHAO, PENG
CITADEL SECURITIES CEO
Individual MIAMI, FL
$3,300
Dec 17, 2024
8
WASSERMAN, CASEY
WASSERMAN CEO
Individual LOS ANGELES, CA
$3,300
Nov 5, 2024
9
ZHAO, PENG
CITADEL SECURITIES CEO
Individual MIAMI, FL
$3,300
Dec 17, 2024
10
MIRZAIE, REZA
RUSS AUGUST & KABAT LLP ATTORNEY
Individual PACIFIC PALISADES, CA
$3,300
Oct 7, 2024

Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]

ID: W000800

Top Contributors

10

1
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
Jun 8, 2023
2
SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON SIOUX COMMUNITY
Organization PRIOR LAKE, MN
$1,000
May 3, 2024
3
FIELD, MARSHALL
THE OLD MOUNTAIN COMPANY, INC. EXECUTIVE
Individual CHICAGO, IL
$3,300
May 18, 2023
4
RECHNITZ, JOAN
Individual RED BANK, NJ
$3,300
Apr 22, 2024
5
RECHNITZ, JOAN
Individual RED BANK, NJ
$3,300
Apr 22, 2024
6
GORDON, PATRICIA
SELF MD
Individual LOS ANGELES, CA
$3,300
May 22, 2024
7
STILLER, ROBERT
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual PALM BEACH, FL
$3,300
Sep 22, 2024
8
STILLER, ROBERT
NOT EMPLOYED NOT EMPLOYED
Individual PALM BEACH, FL
$3,300
Sep 22, 2024
9
KALKUT, CRAIG
WEST FRONT STRATEGIES GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
Individual WASHINGTON, DC
$2,500
May 3, 2023
10
SCHWARTZ, MARTIN
MINILEC SERVICE CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
Individual CARMEL, CA
$2,000
May 18, 2023

Donor Network - Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

PACs
Organizations
Individuals
Politicians

Hub layout: Politicians in center, donors arranged by type in rings around them.

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Showing 28 nodes and 35 connections

Total contributions: $100,125

Top Donors - Sen. Durbin, Richard J. [D-IL]

Showing top 15 donors by contribution amount

2 Orgs13 Individuals