Well, I suppose implicit in the argument that the '76 act, too, should have been declared void, and that we might leave it alone because of the disruption, is that for all these years the act has impeded progress in science and the useful arts. I just don't see any empirical evidence for that.

Based on that paragraph can we conclude that this sentence is true?
The Ac tin discussion refers to an act that wasn't passed in 2076.