[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 27, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  INTRODUCTION OF THE PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE REAUTHORIZATION ACT

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                           HON. HOWARD COBLE

                           of north carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 27, 2001

  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, today I introduce the ``Patent and Trademark 
Office Reauthorization Act,'' and urge my colleagues to support what 
will prove to be an important contribution to our high-tech economy.
  Briefly, by way of background, the operations of the Patent and 
Trademark Office are fully-funded through user-fee revenue; the agency 
receives no stipend from the taxpayers. Since 1992, however, more than 
$600 million in PTO funds have been withheld and used for other 
purposes. This policy results in manpower shortages and inhibits the 
development of modernization efforts at the agency. With PTO workloads 
increasing every year, the ultimate losers are the men and women who 
pay the fees to have their patent and trademark applications processed. 
Our country suffers as well, since the development and export of 
intellectual property is crucial to the national economy.
  The Patent and Trademark Office Reauthorization Act will protect PTO 
revenues from diversion to other programs. The bill accomplishes this 
goal by amending two key provisions of section 42 of the Patent Act, 
which prescribes the PTO funding mechanism.
  First, the requirement in subsection (b) that all agency funds be 
credited to a special PTO Appropriation Account is deleted; instead, 
such funds are to be credited to a PTO Account in the Treasury.
  Second, the requirement in subsection (c) that subjects agency access 
to and expenditure of collected fees to appropriations is also deleted. 
This means that the Commissioner will have the authority to collect all 
fees and use them for agency operations until expended.
  This is a necessary bill for reasons that are known by all who 
support the operations of the Patent and Trademark Office. I urge my 
colleagues again to endorse the measure.

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