On November 7, six consumer groups sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell urging them to bring S.1145 (see IP Update, Vol. 10, No. 9) to the floor for a vote. However, there was no Senate action on the bill in the run up to the Thanksgiving recess. At this point, no action seems likely until at least early 2008, when Congress returns from its holiday recess. Based on the recent swirl of controversy, it would not be surprising if the Senate bill experienced significant amendment before any vote is taken.
In an effort to bolster support for the legislation, the consumer groups, including the Consumer Federation of America, Consumers Union, the Electronic Frontier Foundation, Knowledge Ecology International, Public Knowledge and the United States Public Interest Research Group sent their letter of support, telling lawmakers that S. 1145 "takes a significant first step towards improving patent quality and reducing costs and uncertainties of
