I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 8, 2011, at 2:30 p.m., to hold a International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs and…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights, be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on September 8, 2011, at 2 p.m., in room SD-226 of the…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on September 8, 2011, at 10 a.m., in SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct an executive business…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet, during the session of the Senate, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Examining Quality and Safety in Child Care: Giving Working…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 8, 2011, at 9:30 a.m., in room 215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Tax Reform…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 8, 2011, at 10 a.m. in room 406 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING OFFICER…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 8, 2011, at 10 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered…

today I would like to pay tribute to two dedicated public servants in Vermont who passed away tragically in the floods of Hurricane Irene. Both Michael Garofano Sr. and Michael Garofano Jr. were employees at the Rutland City Water Facility…

when the America Invents Act was first considered by the Senate last March, I spoke about the contributions Vermonters have made to innovation in America since the founding of our Nation. The distinguished Presiding Officer and I know…

I ask unanimous consent that I be allowed to reserve the remainder of my time, and I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.

this is an amendment that can derail and even kill this bill--a bill that would otherwise help our recovering economy, unleash innovation and create the jobs that are so desperately needed. I have worked for years against Patent Office fee…

I suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oklahoma has the floor. Is there objection?

I thank the distinguished Senator from Iowa for his words, and I join with the Senator from Iowa in opposing the amendment for two reasons. First, as just simply as a practical matter, the amendment would have the effect, if it passed, of…

I will use my time to note some of the things happening in my own very special State of Vermont, the State in which I was born. As Vermonters come together and continue to grapple with the aftermath of storm damage from Irene, I wish to…

I will speak later about the comments made by the distinguished Senator from Alabama. He has been very helpful in getting this patent bill through. He is correct that this amendment he speaks to is one added in the other body, not by us…

Reserving the right to object, the Senator from Oklahoma knows that the basic thing he is trying to do is something I had supported. As he knows, I put it in the managers' package. He also is aware that my belief is--obviously we…

My colleague is correct in his reasoning and his understanding of what is intended by section 5. The methods used by Edison in producing multiple failures for electric light bulbs were no less commercial uses before the ultimate production…

The bill is important for our economy. It is important for job creation. It is a product of bipartisan and bicameral collaboration. It is the way our system is supposed to work. I look forward to passing the bill and sending it directly to…

I would note that it has been suggested somehow the Appropriations chairman is not going to keep his word. Well, Chairman Rogers is a Republican. I have worked with him a lot. He has always kept his word to me, just as we have the most…

I thank the Senator. I reserve the remainder of my time and suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.

The America Invents Act is now going to be the law of the land. I thank all my colleagues who worked together on this. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Washington is recognized.

Yes. My colleague and I are in agreement that it is our intention, as the sponsors of this comprehensive measure, that the prior use right set forth in section 5 of H.R. 1249 shall vest when innovative technology is first put into…

I thank my colleague for the question. His understanding is correct. So long as the prior use begins more than 1 year prior to the effective filing date of a subsequent patent or publication by a later inventor, the initiation of…

The proceeding created by Section 18 is modeled on the proposed post-grant review proceeding under Section 6 of the Act. As in other post-grant proceedings, the claims should typically be evaluated to determine whether they, among other…

Have the yeas and nays been ordered? The PRESIDING OFFICER. They have not. The question is on agreeing to the Sessions amendment No. 600.