[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 45 (Wednesday, April 16, 1997)]
[House]
[Page H1546]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 400, THE 21ST CENTURY PATENT SYSTEM IMPROVEMENT ACT

  (Mr. DELAHUNT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DELAHUNT. Mr. Speaker, tomorrow we take up H.R. 400, the 21st 
Century Patent System Improvement Act, a bill supported by the entire 
Committee on the Judiciary and the vast majority of American inventors 
and developers of advanced technology.
  I commend the gentleman from North Carolina [Mr. Coble], our 
subcommittee chairman, and the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. 
Frank], the ranking member, for the diligent and fair-minded way in 
which they have worked with all interested parties to perfect this 
legislation over the past 3 years.
  As a new member of the subcommittee, I can sympathize with those of 
my colleagues who feel somewhat overwhelmed by this complex, arcane 
subject. Unfortunately, much of the information circulated over the 
past few weeks has been misinformation which has not made it any easier 
to get to the truth.
  I cosponsored this bill because of the benefits it offers to every 
U.S. inventor and our Nation as a whole. Passage of this bill is 
absolutely essential if we are to maintain our leadership in technology 
and successfully compete in the global economy.

                          ____________________