On the recordMarch 1, 2011
we have before us today an extremely important piece of legislation. It is called the America Invents Act of 2011. The reason I emphasize 2011 is because it has been almost 60 years since we had the last meaningful reforms of the Nation's patent system. We have tried on many occasions in recent years to get this bill on the Senate floor. The Judiciary Committee has reported out a number of bills over the years, and we have taken no action here on the Senate floor for a number of reasons. But it is now on the floor. There are a couple of issues to which our attention will be directed. I have received calls from a number of Senators who have amendments they want to offer that are in relation to this bill, only two of which I think are really meaningful, but I am sure there are others. I hope we can move through this. One of the first amendments filed is one that has nothing to do with patent reform, and we will dispose of that. I think it is important to understand that this bill, if we do it right, will create millions of jobs. Some estimates suggest literally millions of new jobs could be created through this reform. Not every patent creates a job or generates economic value. Some are worth thousands of jobs. Jack Kilby's 1959 patent for the semiconductor is an example of that, as well as Steve Wozniak's patent for a personal computer in 1979.
