Porter Goss: “Mr. Speaker, I appreciate and I rise in strong support of this wide-open rule providing for consideration of H.R. 400.…”

“Mr. Speaker, I appreciate and I rise in strong support of this wide-open rule providing for consideration of H.R. 400. This open rule will allow for full debate on this very complex and controversial measure. Mr. Speaker, the objective of this legislation is to promote greater efficiency in our patent system, and of course put us on an even footing overseas, at the same time balance this with fair protection for the independent inventor, and this is obviously a very delicate process. My district is home to the Edison Inventors Association. We are very proud of that. They have directly and personally conveyed to me their very real concerns with the legislation as it is written, and I am sure the gentleman from California [Mr. Rohrabacher] is going to speak to several of those issues as the day goes along. Among the inventors, there is a real concern that the 18-month publication period provision in this bill will pose a risk to the little guy, the independent inventor. We certainly do not want to inadvertently create a situation, unintended negative consequences, where these entrepreneurs are squeezed out in the courtroom by large corporations.”