The recent efforts to reinterpret the 1980 Bayh-Dole Act's provisions—specifically the "March-in" rights—are not just attacks on a piece of legislation but on the very foundation of university-led innovation that sustains the United States' global leadership in technology and medicine. The efforts of the CPAC Foundation's Center for Regulatory Freedom, our partners in the Coalition Against Socialized Medicine, and our allies working to protect Bayh-Dole, clearly must have been doing something right, because in recent weeks those working to undermine the act have gone on the offensive--challenging us and our allies in social media, and publishing articles trying to shift the narrative. Helen Santoro’s recent article for Lever (and republished at Jacobin), is but one example, particularly targeting how universities like UCLA profit from federally funded research, like the cancer drug Xtandi. However, this criticism overlooks the fundamental benefits of the Act, especially for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and their crucial role in fostering academic and community growth. The Bayh-Dole Act was a legislative milestone that transformed the landscape of federally funded research by allowing universities, small businesses, and non-profits to own patents on their innovations. This pivotal change facilitated a surge in technology transfer activities and has been crucial in translating academic research into real-world applications. Universities can patent discoveries made with federal funding and then license these patents to the private sector, creating a revenue stream that sustains further research and educational excellence. Critics of the Act, like Santoro, argue that it encourages universities to prioritize profits over public good, particularly in the context of pharmaceutical pricing. However, such critiques miss the broader picture of the Act’s impact. The revenue generated from these patents is a lifeline for many institutions, particularly smaller colleges and HBCUs, which often operate with limited budgets. This income supports further scientific research, academic programs, and scholarships, contributing to a cycle of innovation and education that benefits society at large. David Kappos, a staunch defender of intellectual property rights and a key figure in shaping modern patent policy, has emphasized the importance of the Bayh-Dole Act in maintaining a vibrant national economy centered on innovation. According to Kappos, the ability to secure patent rights on federally funded research encourages private sector investment in potentially risky but high-reward areas. This is not just about creating profits but about bringing scientific breakthroughs to the market where they can have real impact. For example, the development of Xtandi involved significant investment in terms of money and research hours, which was made possible only through the incentives provided by the Bayh-Dole Act. The revenue UCLA has earned from Xtandi is reinvested into the university, funding research facilities and academic scholarships that might otherwise be unaffordable. This model is especially crucial for HBCUs, which have historically been underfunded compared to other institutions. The ability to patent and license inventions provides these schools with a financial boost that can be transformative, promoting not only further research but also greater educational opportunities for traditionally marginalized communities. Moreover, the current debates around "March-in" rights—a provision that allows universities and research institutions that receive federal seed monies to license patents to third parties under specific circumstances—are particularly contentious. Critics pushing for a broader interpretation of these rights argue that it would help reduce drug prices. However, such a move could also undermine the financial model that has enabled university research to flourish. Kappos points out that broadening march-in rights to control prices was explicitly excluded from the Act's provisions, as it would introduce significant uncertainty into the patent licensing process, deterring private investment and stifling innovation. It's important to consider what is at stake if the Bayh-Dole Act is undermined. Without the revenue from patent licensing, universities might struggle to fund research at current levels, potentially slowing the pace of scientific discovery. This is particularly critical for HBCUs and smaller institutions, where such funds play an outsized role in resource allocation. The Bayh-Dole Act has been a cornerstone of America's innovation economy, particularly benefiting universities and research institutions, including HBCUs. Any efforts to reinterpret its provisions must carefully consider the potential impacts not just on drug prices but on the health of the institutions that drive American innovation. The ongoing success stories of universities turning research into real-world solutions affirm that those defending the Act's original intent are indeed on the right path. As the debate continues, it is crucial that the academic and broader communities understand the stakes involved and advocate for policies that support sustainable innovation and access to advancements in healthcare.

Who is the real Kamala Harris? Charlie Spiering’s new book, “Amateur Hour”, dives into details of Harris’ political career and her drama-filled time in the White House. He shared bits of his insight with Mercedes Schlapp on America Uncanceled. From the start of her career, Harris has relied on the success of others to increase her status. She started her career on the coattails of her boyfriend, Willy Brown, former mayor of San Francisco, who connected her with the elite and wealthy classes in California and secured her six-figure jobs in the state government. Again, in present day, she rode the coattails of President Biden to Vice President after a failed presidential campaign of her own. Her time as Vice President has been characterized by embarrassing public blunders, turmoil and turn-over among her staff, and strained relationships with the Bidens. She notably has a weak public relations presence, infamously fumbling foreign policy comments and questions about her not visiting the border. “During the first couple years of their presidency, they sent Kamala out on some of the big issues to sort of help take them off of Biden’s plate, immigration being the number one. Even on foreign policy they sent her to some pretty significant conferences to try to get her some experience on those issues, but each time, she came away as sort of embarrassing herself, embarrassing the president, and that’s why they’ve sort of put her in her safe lane for the duration of the campaign,” explained Spiering. The campaign has settled much of the drama attached to Harris, but Spiering reveals that many Democrats still do not see her as a leading and rallying figure for their party, and he is waiting to see if she returns to blunder-prone self once the campaign is over. For more, follow @CPAC on social media. You can also follow Matt Schlapp @MSchlapp or Mercedes Schlapp @MercedesSchlapp to keep up with current events.

America’s wide open southern border has become a green light for human traffickers, allowing them to operate freely within the United States moving victims across state lines and into a life of consistent abuse. Despite claims from the White House that ending human trafficking is a priority, this administration’s immigration policies have only fueled the problem. By neglecting border security measures and failing to remove these bad actors from our communities, the Biden administration has effectively transformed the U.S. into a fertile breeding ground for criminal cartels hoping to profit off sex and labor trafficking. It should come as no surprise that the trafficking of persons is a $150 billion global enterprise encompassing sex trafficking, forced labor, and organ trafficking. In contrast to the administration’s complacency, CPAC’s Center for Combating Human Trafficking stands as a way to help fight against this rise in lawlessness. The center is dedicated to protecting victims, holding traffickers accountable, and collaborating with NGOs and law enforcement agencies to keep the most vulnerable safe. By prioritizing victim protection and active intervention, CPAC aims to help advocate for real change – that not only puts criminal traffickers away, but ensure survivors have a second chance in life. But we can only do so much, without meaningful policy reforms to address the rampant illegal immigration, open border policies will continue to perpetuate the suffering of victims while making traffickers bolder to operate freely. It is time for action to protect those most in need and hold traffickers accountable for their crimes. With the administration turning a blind eye to the vulnerabilities at the border, traffickers have been handed a golden opportunity to operate without fear or consequence. CPAC aims to change this by shining a light on the criminals who abuse the current system and through supporting State and local law enforcement in their efforts to root out networks of abuse throughout the country. Thankfully, success in the fight to end modern day slavery is not far out of reach – by closing the southern border and enforcing the law on cartels operating in the United States, we can achieve an American solution to the global problem of trafficking.

The nationwide fentanyl epidemic is disproportionately affecting Pennsylvanians, claiming life after life and devastating family after family. Thousands of innocent individuals are being horrifically slaughtered, held hostage, and relentlessly attacked in Israel by Hamas, and here in America, Jewish students are living in fear on college campuses as universities permit anti-Semitic activities, protests, and attacks on Jewish students. Former Under Secretary of the U.S. Treasury for International Affairs Dave McCormick is running for Senate in Pennsylvania to address these issues. He sat down with former Special Assistant to the U.S. Ambassador to Israel David Milstein on the CPAC stage where he outlined his position on these issues and his vision for the future of the country. McCormick’s vision includes a secure border, the eradication of Hamas, the cutting of funding for universities that condone anti-Semitic activities, and strong leadership from Congress and the White House. The country needs a shake-up in leadership from the self-interested, unprincipled, and unproductive norm, and McCormick poses himself to be that refreshing change that will represent the interests of the people, not the interests of himself. “We had leaders, and Bob Casey is a perfect example of this, who won’t stand up, who won’t say the difference between right or wrong, who won’t lead and push back against these Progressive ideologies that are taking our country over a cliff. So, yeah, we need to shake things up in a dramatic way, and that’s what I would do in Washington,” McCormick promised. He is especially motivated to fix these issues by his experience in the military in the Gulf War, his recent visit to Israel, and his visit to the southern border. Hear McCormick’s full plans on Rumble @CPAC.

Florida earned itself the distinction of “setting the standard for conservative policy in the U.S.” in CPAC’s 2023 state ratings, and rightfully so. Florida lawmakers executed a well-rounded legislative year doing everything from bolstering election security  to protecting  Florida children, defending life, protecting Second Amendment rights, striking back against ESG, fighting illegal immigration, and reforming the state criminal justice system. Let’s look at the bills that made 2023 a productive year for Florida. Lawmakers took a proactive approach to election security with S 7050 that established multiple election safeguards, including keeping noncitizens out of the voting process and offering signature matching training to election officials. Bill S 4 (SS) reinforced the consequences and illegality of election interference by making illegal voting activities prosecutable by the Office of Statewide Prosecutions. Florida not only protected their elections last year, but they also protected their children. S 254 prohibits the use of taxpayer dollars to fund transgender procedures on minors and allows the state to revoke the licenses of doctors who practice transgender procedures on minors. H 1 empowers parents to protect their children by expanding school choice and offering vouchers to all families regardless of income or location. H 1069 prohibits the teaching of gender identity and sexuality to elementary school students and protects teachers and students from being forced to use another’s pronouns. Two more laws struck back at ESG initiatives and established safeguards from ESG regulations. H 1281 blocks future Democrat-backed gas stove bans with new regulations that prevent the restriction of household appliances, and H 3 prohibits the use of state tax dollars on ESG initiatives. Lawmakers made it clear in 2023 that they will not be tolerating illegal Immigration either. S 1718 prevents the recognition of driver’s licenses obtained by illegal immigrants in other states and the issuing of documentation to illegal immigrants. S 6 (SS) does even more to fight illegal immigration by relocating illegal immigrants from Florida to blue cities and states that have declared themselves sanctuaries for illegal aliens. In the criminal justice reform realm, legislators passed S 376 that removes potential obstacles to employment and productivity for some arrested individuals by providing for the removal of certain non-conviction arrest records. Further, S 1478 proposed to improve probation processes but was not signed into law. Florida lawmakers also defended life with S 300 that protects unborn children by prohibiting abortions after six weeks, and they bolstered Second Amendment rights through H 543 that does not require an individual to carry a license while carrying certain firearms. All in all, Florida lawmakers had a productive year in 2023, getting wins for freedom on a variety of issues.

CPAC Foundation’s Center for Combating Human Trafficking was presented to the world at the movie premier for The Sound of Freedom last summer, and the center wasted no time taking action. In July, the Center for Combating Human Trafficking hosted the International Summit Against Human Trafficking. World leaders, activists, and survivors met on Capitol Hill to trade ideas for ending human trafficking and share their personal experiences with this tragedy. Former Mexico Congresswoman and activist with Kaleido Rosi Orozco along with West Virginia Congresswoman Carol Miller were among just a couple of the world leaders that met to discuss the horrific reality of human trafficking and work to put an end to it. The comments of Orozco, Miller, and others brought to light the torture that victims experience and the international nature of trafficking. Victims face unimaginable and continuous pain and degradation in this form of modern-day slavery, and their abuse is perpetuated by coordinated efforts from criminal rings around the globe. In response, human trafficking requires a joint effort from international world leaders to work together to put a stop to modern-day slavery.

On this episode of America Uncanceled, Mercedes Schlapp hosts a panel discussion with former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum and CEO of Proverbs Media Elaine Beck. Christianity is being cancelled in our culture and God is being replaced with temporal idols. Faith is being strategically removed from our biblically-based institutions in favor of constructing a new moral code that includes sexualizing children, destroying life, dismantling the family, and giving governmental ultimate control. The separation of church and state movement has greatly contributed to this moral decline despite there never being calls for an official state religion. Santorum explains, “No one was out there for two hundred years, or very few, pushing for a state religion, or everybody had to be a Christian, or everybody has to be this. What they were focused on was again the principles that were in this Bible, and those principles demand responsibility and accountability to a set of laws, and we have a society right now that doesn’t want to be held responsible or accountable. The only thing that matters is that they’ve replaced the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob to the god of self, and if you want to live the way you want to live, that’s their version of freedom.” The removal of God from society has had tragic effects. More and more Americans are suffering from mental health crises as understanding of their God-given dignity and purpose is removed from their lives and our society. We no longer treat each other with the respect we deserve as human beings, and life is no longer recognized as deserving of protection. Beck offers a solution, “We all need to be praying for our enemies. No matter how bad you think they are, quit comparing yourself. Love God first and pray that prayer.” For more, follow @CPAC on social media. You can also follow Matt Schlapp @MSchlapp or Mercedes Schlapp @MercedesSchlapp to keep up with current events.

CPAC is honored to have a close relationship with Angel Studios. We first partnered with them for the premier of the Sound of Freedom last summer which did so much to raise awareness of the sick tragedy of human trafficking. Most recently, we were honored to host a screening of their newest film Cabrini at CPAC in DC 2024. Cabrini is the film our country needs. Cabrini is a reminder that the American Dream is both attainable and beautiful but does not come easy. It demands hard work, persistence, and overcoming adversity. The film tells the inspiring story of St. Francis Xavier Cabrini who, as a woman, an Italian immigrant, and a Catholic in late nineteenth century and early twentieth century America, overcame great obstacles to follow God’s will. Despite opposition, bigotry, and a language barrier, she founded a network of hospitals, orphanages, and schools across the United States, and even the world, uplifting impoverished and ostracized populations. As the film portrays, her hard work, entrepreneurship, and faith in God allowed her to succeed in her mission and achieve her American Dream. Through the story of this determined nun, Italian immigrant, and American saint, the Cabrini film is truly a celebration of the American Dream. Self-determination is a uniquely American virtue, and this film proves that it’s a virtue worth pursuing and a dream possible for anyone to achieve.

The Lula Da Silva regime is using lawfare to squash the conservative movement in Brazil and is making an example out of conservative former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. Son of Jair Bolsonaro and Member of the Brazilian Chamber of Deputies Eduardo Bolsonaro elaborates on the corruption of the Lula Da Silva regime at CPAC in DC 2024 on this episode of America Uncanceled. Bolsonaro’s father has borne the brunt of Lula Da Silva’s lawfare, facing fabricated and sometimes outright ridiculous charges, including for passing near a whale on a jet ski. The Brazilian government extended this kind of treatment at a January rally of conservatives which resulted in the arrest, charging, and imprisonment of innocent people. Even pastors, a homeless man, a chief of police, a sign language interpreter, an autistic individual, and more were arrested for simply being present in the vicinity of the gathering. “The totalitarian judicial system created the narrative with the help of the legacy media that these ordinary people were a threat to the Brazilian state, and this climate of persecution expended, censored, and hunted critics of the current government and under the excuse of preserving democracy that does not exist anymore,” Bolsonaro stated. “The limit of the ridiculous no longer exists.” The resurgence of conservatism in Argentina gives hope to Brazil, but for now, Brazilians need the free world to spread awareness of the corruption in their government.

If you’re a fan of America Uncanceled, you can catch more of co-host Mercedes Schlapp’s expert analysis on current issues daily on Newsmax. Schlapp has long been a regular contributor to Newsmax programming, lending her inside knowledge of politics and expertise on political communications from her experience in two White House administrations. She is a frequent guest commentator on Wake Up America, John Bachman Now, and Rob Schmitt Tonight. Schlapp has also appeared as a staple round table analyst for Chris Plante: The Right Squad since the show’s debut in May of 2023. She joins veteran journalist Chris Plante, commentator Jenn Pellegrino, and special guests on weeknights at 10 pm ET. Stay up to date on Schlapp’s Newsmax appearances on social media @mercedesschlapp.

On this episode of America Uncanceled, Director of CPAC Foundation Center for Regulatory Freedom Andrew Langer hosts a panel discussion with Doug Collins, Stephen Moore, and Brendan Carr at CPAC in DC 2024 on federal regulations in healthcare, on the Internet, home appliances, the workforce, and the environment. All this red tape is stealing freedom, stifling innovation, and stunting the American economy. “Under Obama, the average family saw their costs rise by $5,000 per family because of regulations. Under Donald Trump...the average regulatory cost per family fell by $3,000 per family, and under Biden it’s been raised by another $6,000. So, regulation is a tax on the American economy,” shared Moore. President Trump removed many of the regulations that were expanded by the Obama administration, but the Biden administration undid the work of President Trump and added even more regulations to the law books. The vast number of regulations is indicative of the power that unelected bureaucrats in the administrative state have over laws and the everyday lives of Americans. For more, visit CPAC.org or follow @CPAC on social media. You can also follow Matt Schlapp @MSchlapp or Mercedes Schlapp @MercedesSchlapp to keep up with current events.

President Donald Trump released a statement this week, opposing a nationwide abortion ban. In the statement, the former president identified abortion as an issue to be decided at the state level. Since the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, state-by-state legislation is now the primary way to regulate abortion. Still, many on the Left and a few on the Right are pushing for federal legislation. President Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., and political commentator Mike Cernovich took up the debate on an episode of Trump Jr’s Triggered on Monday night. They arrived at the same conclusion as the former president that legislation on the state level is the proper way to handle abortion. "My father today, put out a statement about abortion saying that the issue should be left to the states and that the voters should have a say in the matter. I mean I think that was sort of the whole purpose of overturning Roe v. Wade which was like, let the states decide. He also made it clear though that the Republican party must promote the miracle of life and family," said Trump Jr. Though abortion bans when put on the ballot at the state level (take Ohio as Exhibit A) have not proven successful, it only indicates that a nationwide ban would fare no better. “As much as I’m pro-life, what are you going to do? You’re going to lose the issue on the national ballot so clearly. You’re losing it in red states so clearly. It’s on the ballot. What do you do?”, queried Cernovich. Instead, as President Trump advised, conservatives need to be on-the-ground, grassroots advocates for life and family, changing the hearts and minds of Americans, not just changing the laws of the states. Cernovich has seen over again campaigns similar to that of the pro-life movement against gambling and marijuana fail due to a lack of affirmative messaging. “It’s not enough to be ‘anti’. You have to have a message that steers people away from that culture,” Cernovich explained. Through his interactions with the up and coming generations, Trump Jr observed, “We’re actually winning some of the culture wars finally, but like, [abortion] was the deal breaker.” Conservatives have a lot of ground to cover to make real change in the country on the issue of abortion, but keeping it at the state level is the proper place to start. The last two CPAC straw polls concur, indicating that the American people agree with President Trump and want abortion decided by the states.