[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 44 (Tuesday, April 15, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H1461]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page H1461]]



                THE TRUTH ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF H.R. 400

  (Mr. COBLE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, several weeks ago I received a call from a 
man who identified himself as a frustrated small inventor. He then 
proceeded to give me a tongue-lashing about the patent bill, H.R. 400, 
claiming that it would put the little guy out of business.
  I asked him what was his source of information. He referred to a talk 
show featuring a Congressman who said that. I asked the caller if he 
had read the bill. No. I asked him if he wanted to read the bill. Yes. 
I mailed a copy of the bill to him, and then about 10 days later he 
called me and apologized. He said, this is a good bill, not at all like 
I was told on the talk radio show.
  Yesterday, Mr. Speaker, a woman came to me, a Member of this body who 
was scheduled to speak on behalf of the bill later this week. She said, 
I cannot do it. I said, why? Because I have received mail that says 
H.R. 400 is bad for the little guy. I said, were there any details 
spelled out? No, she said.
  This is how she bases her opinion. This is how the caller based his 
opinion. Scare tactics are very effective. Scare tactics make a 
formidable opponent.

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