Orrin Hatch: “let me take a moment to speak about an amendment that has not been discussed in the last several days. Under the…”

“let me take a moment to speak about an amendment that has not been discussed in the last several days. Under the unanimous-consent agreement, I am permitted and had planned to offer a scaled-down version of broadly supported and bipartisan patent reform legislation, which was favorably reported to the Senate by the Judiciary Committee more than a year ago. Nevertheless, having spoken with the majority leader, and in the interest of expediting activity on pending Senate business, I have agreed to withhold my amendment. But I want to take a moment to clarify why I believe this amendment is so important. In short, the provisions of this amendment represent the most important and most comprehensive reforms to our nation's patent system in nearly half a century. In the last 50 years, our nation has witnessed an explosion of technology growth and a tremendous expansion of the global market for American intellectual property. Yet our patent laws have remained largely unchanged. My bill would effect those changes that are necessary to bring our patent system up to speed with the growing demands of the global economy, to preserve American competitiveness into the 21st century, and to ensure adequate protection for American innovators, both at home and abroad. In all, there have been nine days of hearings and 78 witnesses who have testified in the House and Senate on the provisions of this legislation.”