David Vitter

I really hope all of us...does get this right and acts in a targeted way.

That is a very un-American trend.

I think we need to be reversing that.

We want to encourage it. We want people to have access to capital. We want their patents protected.

Let me be clear. I am not talking about any package. I am talking about the general model of patent----

I have cosponsored Senator Coons' legislation, the Strong Patents Act of 2015.

It is no secret that the ever-changing federal rule book is one of the greatest obstacles for business growth and innovation.

These patent trolls are creating a substantial drain on the core of our economy.

A balanced approach is the only solution that would sustain and support America's innovative culture.

I remain unconvinced that allowing an OPM entity, whether its name be FIS or NBIB, is the correct path in the long term.

One of the main points of emphasis I made along with Mr. Lieu was the need for the Department of Defense to own the data for our service members and Department civilians.

For me and my friend Congressman Ted Lieu, who also received a letter, this is not some academic issue.

I began working with my good friend and colleague Congressman Ted Lieu on a path forward that would protect not just the personal and private information of those who hold security clearances but what amounts to crown jewels for any…

Thank you, Chairman Inhofe and Ranking Member Boxer, for holding this very important hearing on the Water Resources and Development Act.

I think we should be forced to follow the law, and it was OPM, under pressure from Members of Congress and the Administration, that circumvented the very clear language of the law.

Again requesting information he requested really a couple years ago under the OPM's decision to grant special treatment to Members of Congress and their staff under Obamacare.

Has each of the 11 agencies required to participate in SBIR met their statutory participation goals in each of the past five years?

Okay. And, the data that will be included in it--that is included in it--it is done--will be how current?

I am optimistic that, working together with Ranking Member Shaheen, we will work to avoid those types of delays that can really cripple innovation and create uncertainty for those small businesses affected.

The importance of small business innovation to national and economic security cannot be overstated.

So, we should see it in less than three months?

I would simply close by saying for an aye vote. It has great consensus support in the Gulf.

I first want to thank very much the Senator from Delaware for his courtesy in this regard. (The remarks of Mr. Vitter pertaining to the introduction of S. 2284 are printed in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint…

Senator Vitter's office sent a letter to the VA OIG Director Richard Griffin demanding that the list be investigated.

We have never gotten the data sets de-identified so that can be independently reviewed