PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.
H.R.1344 / 116th Congress

Competitive DRUGS Act of 2019

Referred to the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law.

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Feb 25, 2019

Competitive Deals Resulting in Unleashed Generics and Savings Act of 2019 or the Competitive DRUGS Act of 2019

This bill authorizes the Federal Trade Commission to initiate a proceeding against parties to an agreement resolving or settling a patent infringement claim in connection with the sale of a drug. Such an agreement is generally presumed to be an unfair method of competition and is a violation of this bill if the filer of the generic drug application receives something of value and agrees to limit or forgo research, development, manufacturing, marketing, or sales of the generic drug.

However, an agreement is exempted if the only consideration granted to the generic manufacturer is (1) the right to market the generic drug prior to the expiration of any statutory exclusivity, (2) a payment for reasonable litigation expenses, or (3) a covenant not to sue on a claim that the generic drug infringes a patent. An agreement if also exempt if the agreement's pro-competitive benefits outweigh its anticompetitive effects.

The bill establishes penalties for violations of the bill.

Read the summary on Congress.gov
PlainBill analysis is coming later. This page presents official source data. We have not yet published a PlainBill explanation for this bill.

Who introduced it

Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-35] · D–TX

Committees

  • Judiciary Committee
  • Energy and Commerce Committee
  • Ways and Means Committee
21 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Actions

A procedural vote is different from passage. Passage in one chamber does not establish enactment. Explore the glossary.

  1. Referred to the Subcommittee on Antitrust, Commercial, and Administrative Law.

  2. Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

  3. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  4. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  5. Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committees on Energy and Commerce, and the Judiciary, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

  6. Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

  7. Introduced in House

  8. Introduced in House

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Apr 7, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.1344 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

View full prompt & sources
Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.1344 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

View full prompt & sources
Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.1344 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources
Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.1344 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources