25 



Statement of the Honorable Bill Sarpalius 



Subcommittee on Department Operations and Nutrition 



Review of the Plant Variety Protection Act Amendments 



Tuesday, May 24, 1994 



Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you for taking the time to 

 address the issue of intellectual property rights with regard to 

 seed varieties. I commend Chairman de la Garza for introducing 

 legislation which encourages private sector seed research and 

 development. The development of novel varieties of sexually 

 reproduced plants for the public, providing protection to those 

 who breed, develop, and discover them, promotes progress in 

 agriculture in the public interest. 



I do share the concern of many farmers who wish to save seed 

 for the land he or she farms as well as dispose of incidental 

 amounts of seed. I believe that a balance can be reached between 

 all parties on this issue and I certainly look forward to working 

 with my colleagues on the committee to achieve necessary 

 protection for breeders of seed varieties. 



Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I look forward to hearing the 

 testimony presented by the witnesses today on H.R. 2927. 



