Mike Lee

But you would not disagree that we could also just decide that we want to clarify the issue on our own?

Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Ms. Overton, for joining us today.

With regard to some of the pleading requirements and the filing requirements that we have talked about, aren't we really talking about infringement here?

And collateral estoppel would apply as to the issues in common.

I think it is important for us to keep our focus on bad behaviors within patent litigation rather than focusing on anything that would tend to minimize or undermine the rights of property owners of intellectual property interests.

I do believe that action by Congress is warranted, and I do believe that there is empirical evidence to point that out.

I would hope and expect that any future exercises of that authority would be made to the greatest extent possible with transparency and input from the public.

Thank you. And, Mr. Rao, how do you respond to the argument that access to justice will be limited?

And as you know, one of the litigation reform measures that Chairman Leahy and I have included in this legislation deals with the customer problem...

I am curious to know why you seem to believe that the courts, rather than Congress, should address these issues...

As anyone who lives in a State dominated by the Federal Government knows all too well, those states are forced to play by a different set of rules.

Wildfires are a part of life in Utah and in other parts of the western United States.

There is widespread agreement among Republicans and Democrats that cartels should be vigorously pursued and severely punished.

Cartels cost Americans many billions of dollars every single year.

As I understand it, the Department does not currently have in place a mechanism whereby a company's own compliance program can be taken into account when discussing settlement for illegal cartel activity.

I suspect that this happens a fair amount because they want to obtain a larger fine.

Cartel activity has no redeeming value, no virtue.

Yes, that, and I suppose are people who, once they have learned they can earn a living in a certain way, they would like to continue earning a living that way, especially if it is very lucrative.

I think the thought of going to jail is a pretty powerful deterrent absent having other authority.

I do not necessarily hear you saying that there is a legitimate purpose for the practice. Do you think there is? Should it be abandoned altogether?

Do you think the extent to which you take it into account is adequate?

Do you think the procedures you have in place are adequate to address that?

If you give too much power to the Government with regard to domestic surveillance, eventually it will be abused.

It is time we started requiring a little more sunlight in this fairly shadowy space.

Our bill would tighten statutory authorities governing surveillance, would increase oversight and accountability, and would ensure that Americans' constitutional rights under the Fourth Amendment are protected.