Political Quotes

“Mr, President, I support H.R. 5874, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2010. This bill gives the Patent and Trademark Office additional funding to tackle the patent backlog, helping innovative businesses protect new ideas faster. The Patent and Trademark Office is the central hub of an innovation friendly Government. It protects intellectual property in the United States and encourages invention, innovation, and investment. New patents boost America's competitiveness, increase productivity, bring new products and services to market, support entrepreneurs and small businesses, and, most importantly, help to create new jobs. As chairwoman of the Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations Subcommittee that funds the Patent and Trademark Office, I have been critical of this agency's performance. The Patent and Trademark Office has struggled for years to reduce patent pendency and tackle the overall patent backlog. I have heard from inventors and businesses about how long it takes the Patent and Trademark Office to protect their ideas. I have also heard from Patent employees about their unrealistic job performance standards which have led to high turnover of patent examiners. Numerous reviews conducted by the Government Accountability Office showed that for every two examiners hired one leaves the agency.”