On the recordMarch 1, 2011
I rise today to speak about the America Invents Act of 2011. As we all know, innovation, hard work, and ingenuity long have been the fuel of the American dream. This bill will make much needed improvements to our patent system to unleash the full power of American innovation once again. I am proud to be a cosponsor. Before I speak in more detail about the importance of this bill, I would like to recognize the hard work of Senator Leahy, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee. He long has sought to change our patent system from a drag on innovation into a driver of innovation. Chairman Leahy has led bipartisan negotiations on this bill, seeking input from all segments of the American intellectual property community. I applaud his work with Senator Grassley, Senator Hatch, and others of our colleagues in bringing this much needed legislation to the floor. I take particular interest in this bill because of Rhode Island's long and proud history of innovation, from the birth of the American industrial revolution to the high-tech entrepreneurs leading our State forward today. An area has developed in Providence, for example, that is rightfully known by the nickname 'the Knowledge District' for its remarkable innovation. We need to take every opportunity to support such work across our Nation. Make no mistake, this legislation will drive innovation and create high-quality jobs.
