On the recordMarch 7, 2011
so everyone knows what this amendment does, we looked at the National Science Foundation regarding a program called EPSCoR. A number of sparsely populated States are disadvantaged with this program. However, in talking with a number of Senators, this amendment we are going to seek modification of at a later time would have no, zero, effect on scoring. There is no score to it whatsoever. But we are going to try--not trying to, we are going to include every State because it costs nothing. Even though a lot of States are not funded adequately with this EPSCoR money, there is no reason every State that has a State university and does something inventive should have to pay exorbitant patent fees. It does not cost any money. It is the right thing to do. We will discuss it at a further time. If someone has some problem with it, we will have to make a determination. At this stage, I think it would be the right thing for the country.
