Lamar Smith

The gentleman's amendment strikes the first-inventor-to-file provisions from the bill. I strongly oppose the amendment. The move to a first-inventor-to-file system creates a more efficient and reliable patent system that benefits all…

I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Chair, I oppose the amendment to change the effective date for the tax strategy method section of the bill. It is possible to patent tax strategy methods, but it is bad policy. It is not fair to…

I oppose the gentleman's amendment to strike the PTO fee-setting authority from H.R. 1249. Although the PTO has the ability to set certain fees by regulation, most fees are set by Congress. History has shown that such a scheme does not…

Almost everyone in Congress wants to help small businesses. They are the foundation of our economy and are the primary job creators. But this amendment includes certain terms or phrases that have nothing to do with the underlying goal that…

I thank the gentleman for offering the amendment, and I urge my colleagues to support it. I yield back the balance of my time.

I want to clarify that Section 18 is designed to address the problem of low-quality business method patents that are commonly associated with the Federal Circuit's 1998 State Street decision. Not all business method patents are eligible…

I demand a recorded vote. A recorded vote was ordered. The SPEAKER pro tempore. This will be a 5-minute vote. The vote was taken by electronic device, and there were--ayes 304, noes 117, not voting 10, as follows: [Roll No. 491] AYES--304…

The Conyers amendment to tie the changes proposed in the America Invents Act to future changes that would be made in foreign law is unworkable. I oppose providing a trigger in U.S. law that leaves our patent system at the mercy of actions…

This amendment strikes the prior- user rights provision from the bill. I strongly oppose this amendment. The bill expands prior-user rights--a strong, pro-job, pro- manufacturing provision. This provision will help bring manufacturing jobs…

I oppose the motion to recommit and urge my colleagues to defeat it. The America Invents Act is the culmination of 6 years of effort. During this time, the House and Senate Judiciary Committees conducted 23 hearings on patent reform and…

I just want to say to the gentlewoman from Wisconsin that I appreciate her offering the amendment, and I urge my colleagues to support it.

I claim the time in opposition, although I support the amendment. The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes. There was no objection.

Section 23 of the bill requires the PTO Director to establish three or more satellite offices in the United States, subject to available resources. The provision lists criteria that the Director must take into account when selecting each…

I understand the underlying point of the Member's amendment, and I want to make it clear that my interpretation of this amendment and its intent is to highlight the problem posed by entities that pose as financial or technological…

I yield myself 1 minute. Madam Chair, I strongly oppose this amendment. It strikes a useful provision that would provide a way to review the validity of certain business method patents. The proceeding would create an inexpensive and faster…

I understand the underlying point of the Member's amendment, but other legislation and patent reform in particular have taught us that even small changes can have unintended consequences unless they have been vetted and have gone through…

I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, individuals who raise questions about the constitutionality of this legislation perhaps should review the Constitution itself. The Constitution expressly grants Congress the…

It is nice to be able to yield 1 minute to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Nadler), who is the ranking member of the Constitution Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee.

I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte), who is the chairman of the Intellectual Property Subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee.

I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Chairman, I know my colleagues know a lot about this subject, but I don't think they know more than the Founders themselves. The Founders, including those who wrote the Constitution, operated…

I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Chairman, the foresight of the Founders in creating an intellectual property system in the Constitution demonstrates their understanding of how patent rights benefit the American people…

May I inquire as to how much time remains on each side. The CHAIR. The gentleman from Texas has 2\1/2\ minutes remaining, and the gentlewoman from Ohio has 3 minutes remaining.

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 3, line 5, strike ``America Invents Act'' and insert ``Leahy-Smith America Invents Act''. Page 4…

I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas will be postponed.

I yield myself the balance of the time. Madam Chair, in closing, I want to thank the patent principles who devoted so much time, energy and intellect to this project. We've worked together for the common goal of comprehensive patent reform…