; and (5) it is the intent of Congress to preserve ex parte reexamination proceedings under chapter 30 of title 35, United States Code. 5. Abolishing the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (a) Repeal of patent trial and appeal board Section 7 of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act ( Public Law 112–29 ) is repealed, including each amendment made by such section, and any amendment made by such section to any provision shall be effective as if the provision had not been amended by such section. (b) Board of patent appeals and interferences (1) Amendment Section 6 of title 35, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 6. Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences (a) Establishment and composition There shall be in the Patent and Trademark Office a Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences. The Director, the Deputy Director, the Commissioner for Patents, the Commissioner for Trademarks, and the administrative patent judges shall constitute the Board. The administrative patent judges shall be persons of competent legal knowledge and scientific ability who are appointed by the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Director. (b) Duties The Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences shall, on written appeal of an applicant, review adverse decisions of examiners upon applications for patents and shall determine priority and patentability of invention in interferences declared under section 135(a). Each appeal and interference shall be heard by at least three members of the Board, who shall be designated by the Director. Only the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences may grant rehearings. The Board shall not invalidate an issued patent except in an ex parte reexamination under chapter 30. (c) Authority of the Secretary The Secretary of Commerce may, in the Secretary’s discretion, deem the appointment of an administrative patent judge who, before the date of the enactment of this subsection, held office pursuant to an appointment by the Director, to take effect on the date on which the Director initially