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HR 4151 103th Congress House Commerce Administrative procedure Administrative remedies Commercialization Department of Commerce Drug industry Drugs Fees Government Operations and Politics Health Intellectual property Judicial review of administrative acts Law Patent licenses Patents

Essential Pharmaceuticals Act of 1994

Introduced: March 24, 1994 Introduced by: Nadler, Jerrold Democratic · New York See on congress.gov
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This bill died when the 103rd Congress ended
It never became law before the 103rd Congress (1993–1994) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Mar 31, 1994
Referred to the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property and Judicial Administration.
Mar 24, 1994
Referred to the House Committee on Judiciary.
Mar 24, 1994
Introduced in House
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 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Essential Pharmaceuticals Act of 1994 - Directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to notify the Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks if the Secretary determines that the owner of a patent which claims a product or a method of using or manufacturing a product and which may be extended has not taken all reasonable steps toward the commercial marketing or use of that product whose availability to the public is of vital importance to the public health or welfare. Requires the Commissioner to provide for the compulsory licensing of all patents relating to that product.

Allows an individual aggrieved by a decision of: (1) the Commissioner under this Act to appeal that decision to the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences, after paying the fee for such appeal; and (2) the Board to appeal that decision to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

What's happening now March 31, 1994

Referred to the Subcommittee on Intellectual Property and Judicial Administration.

 Bill text 1 version

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 2
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 4151: Essential Pharmaceuticals Act of 1994. 103rd Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-4151/
MLA
"H.R. 4151: Essential Pharmaceuticals Act of 1994." 103rd Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-4151/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 4151, 103rd Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-4151/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 4151: Essential Pharmaceuticals Act of 1994](https://openamerica.io/bill/103-HR-4151/)
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