[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 24 (Monday, February 10, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2123-S2124]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        NATIONAL INVENTORS' DAY

  Mr. ENZI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 10, S. Res. 49.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the resolution by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A resolution (S. Res. 49) designating February 11, 2003 as 
     National Inventors' Day.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
resolution.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I am pleased the Senate is passing S. Res. 
49 that Senator Hatch and I introduced to recognize February 11, 2003, 
as National Inventors' Day.
  More than 200 years ago, on July 30, 1790, Samuel Hopkins, a resident 
of Vermont, was granted the first United States patent. He had 
discovered a process for making potash, and was

[[Page S2124]]

awarded his patent by President George Washington, Attorney General 
Edmund Randolph and Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson.
  Samuel Hopkins is just one of the many resourceful and creative 
inventors from Vermont. The town of Brandon can boast Thomas Davenport, 
a self-educated blacksmith interested in electricity and magnetism. 
Through hands-on experiments with electromagnets, he built the first 
true electric motor in 1834. Initially, his patent request was denied 
because there was no prior patent on electric machinery. But he 
garnered the support of numerous professors and philosophers who 
examined his invention and endorsed his right to a patent on his novel 
device. In 1837, his determinism paid off, and he secured a patent.
  John Deere was born in Rutland, VT and spent most of his early life 
in Middlebury. After moving out West, John Deere realized the cast-iron 
plows he and other settlers brought with them were not going to work in 
the Midwest soil. He studied the problem and developed the first 
successful steel plow using steel from a broken saw blade. This new 
steel plow became the key for successful farming in the West, and 
``John Deere'' is still synonymous with farming equipment today.
  Vermont continues to be a leader in inventing and obtaining patents. 
My State ranks fourth in the Nation for number of patents issued. IBM's 
Essex Junction Plant, which designs and makes computer technology for a 
wide range of products, received 411 patents from the U.S. Patent & 
Trademark Office in 2002. Vermont's plant also has 18 inventors who 
together have earned more than 600 patents. One of those inventors is 
Steve Voldman, the top patent winner. Over the past 10 years, he has 
received 110 patents. In 2002, he received 29. Many of his 2002 patents 
had to do with silicon germanium, a new technology that has produced 
the world's fastest chip.
  Today's inventors are individuals in a shop, garage or home lab. They 
are teams of scientists working in our largest corporations or at our 
colleges and universities. In the spirit of independent inventors, 
small businesses, venture capitalists and larger corporations in 
Vermont and all over the United States, I would like to recognize 
February 11, 2003, as `'National Inventors' Day.''
  Mr. ENZI. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution and preamble be 
agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and any 
statements relating thereto be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 49) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution, with the preamble, reads as follows:

                               S. Res. 49

       Whereas the American people and the world have benefited 
     from the creations and discoveries of America's inventors; 
     and
       Whereas the patents that protect those creations and 
     discoveries spur technological progress, improve the quality 
     of life, stimulate the economy, and create jobs for 
     Americans: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Senate--
       (1) honors the important role played by inventors in 
     promoting progress in the useful arts;
       (2) recognizes the invaluable contribution of inventors to 
     the welfare of the people of the United States;
       (3) designates February 11, 2003, as ``National Inventors' 
     Day''; and
       (4) requests the President to issue a proclamation calling 
     upon the people of the United States to celebrate such day 
     with appropriate ceremonies and activities.

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