COUNTERFEIT PRODUCTS WILL BE DISPLAYED AT THE HEARING

Washington, Jun 14, 2005 - "The FBI reports that the counterfeiting of American products costs our economy as much as $250 billion a year, and U.S. Customs estimates that this counterfeiting has caused the loss of 750,000 American jobs," stated Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-FL), Chairman of the Commerce, Trade & Consumer Protection Subcommittee. "We need action in protecting American products from counterfeiting and convincing other nations to crack down on this illegal practice. Last week I held a hearing on the protection of intellectual property rights in China, which is the source of 66 percent of counterfeit products seized by U.S. Customs."

The panel is holding a hearing titled, "Product Counterfeiting: How Fakes are Undermining U.S. Jobs, Innovation, and Consumer Safety," on Wednesday, June 15, 2005, at 2:00 pm in 2123 RHOB. "We will look at the economic impact of counterfeiting, examine technology to curb counterfeiting, discuss the use of current and future trade agreements to combat it, and what can be done to help small and medium sized businesses against counterfeiting. In addition, we will look at the health and safety aspects of counterfeiting of consumer products and pharmaceuticals.

Scheduled to testify are:

Mr. Scott Emmer, Brand Protection Manager, Federal-Mogul Corporation on behalf of the Motor Equipment Manufacturers Association;

Mr. Stephen C. Arthur, Vice President, Government Affairs, Grocery Manufacturers Association;


Mr. James Christian, Head of Corporate Security, Novartis International AG;


Mr. David S. Pearl II, Executive Vice President, Uniweld Products, Inc. on behalf of the National Association of Manufacturers; and


Mr. Steve DelBianco, Vice President, Association of Competitive Technology, and Member, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Coalition Against Counterfeiting and Piracy.