Michael Bennet: “I thank Chairman Leahy for working to pass an amendment I introduced last week with Senator Udall to authorize the…”

“I thank Chairman Leahy for working to pass an amendment I introduced last week with Senator Udall to authorize the Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, USPTO, to establish three or more satellite offices. This amendment will go a long way toward improving the efficiency and quality at the USPTO. I really appreciate the chairman and ranking member for working with us to modify the amendment's language in order to address colleagues' concerns on both sides of the aisle. We struck a good balance to not tie the hands of the USPTO, allow the Office to take advantage of the work it has done on the satellite office concept, and ensure that PTO can have an open, competitive process in making determinations for future regional satellite offices. The establishment of regional satellite offices will help the USPTO recruit and retain workers from across the country. Regional offices will draw local scientists, engineers and patent attorneys into the USPTO, which add real world expertise to the patent review process.”