Very interesting to see Darrell Issa (R - CA) as a sponsor on this bill, given how eloquently he's spoken out against SOPA in the Judiciary Committee. Here's the copy of the email I just sent his office: I'll try and contact his office by phone tomorrow.

  Hello,

  It's been with great pleasure that I've been able to watch Representa-
  tive Issa speak out against SOPA in the Judiciary.

  However, I'm concerned at seeing him offer "H.R.3699 -- Research Works
  Act" as such an act is a major blow to scientific openness.

  As you may well be aware, in many nations it's a requirement that re-
  search receiving federal funds (i.e. research at taxpayer expense) be 
  made available for free to the public. The recent policy proposal by 
  the NIH would move the US towards a similarly open policy and would 
  help foster the openness of research that made this country such a 
  leader in science and technology for so long.

  Unfortunately, companies like Elsevier have increasingly treated pub-
  lishing as a private cash cow, banking (in part) on the burgeoning 
  costs of a university education to widen its coffers. The journals 
  published by Elsevier cost colleges and universities millions of 
  dollars each year and burden students with growing debt (and for 
  others, preclude the possibility of higher education at all).

  I ask that Representative Issa revisit his stand on this issue. 
  Thank you.