On the recordMarch 8, 2011
I rise today in support of S. 23, the America Invents Act. This bipartisan bill is the product of a great deal of hard work and negotiation, and I congratulate Senators Leahy, Hatch and Grassley on their accomplishment. This bill is a reasonable compromise that will update and strengthen our U.S. Patent system so that American businesses can better compete in the 21st Century. The American system of patenting inventions has helped make our country the center of innovation for more than two centuries. The America Invents Act will ensure that inventors and those who invest in their discoveries are able to rely on their most important asset--their patent. Patents are vital components in the research and development cycle that help create small businesses and jobs. In my home State of Wisconsin, we have a strong tradition of invention and innovation--from the invention of the first practical typewriter in 1869 to a cure for Rickets disease in 1925 to cutting edge drug therapies for the 21st Century. More than 50 Wisconsin based startup companies have been fueled by patents that resulted from research at the University of Wisconsin. And there are countless other Wisconsin companies that rely on patents to sustain and grow their business. I am able to support the Patent Reform Act because of the improvements made to the bill since it was first introduced.
