Political Quotes

“Mr. President, I am pleased that the Senate is proceeding to consider legislation to reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research Program and Small Business Technology Transfer Program, SBIR/ STTR. Our Nation's small businesses and start-ups are crucial to maintaining America's position as the world leader in technology and innovation. The SBIR/STTR programs improve the ability of small businesses to take part in federally funded research. Last week, the Senate voted 95-5 to pass another bill to help small businesses and our economic recovery, the America Invents Act. This legislation will provide our small businesses and start-ups the legal landscape that they need to protect and commercialize their inventions to create jobs and boost our economy. The Small Business and Entrepreneurship Council, in strongly endorsing the America Invents Act, wrote that ``[p]atent reform is needed to clarify and simplify the system; to properly protect legitimate patents; and to reduce costs in the system, including when it comes to litigation and the international marketplace.'' Similarly, Louis Foreman, an inventor and advocate for other independent inventors wrote that the legislation ``will make independent inventors, such as myself, more competitive in today's global marketplace.'' Both the council and Mr. Foreman specifically noted the importance of transitioning to ``first-inventor-to-file'' and ending fee diversion at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.…”