[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 9 (Wednesday, February 2, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E148]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                INTRODUCTION OF MAGLITE PATENT EXTENSION

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                             HON. JOE BACA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 2, 2005

  Mr. BACA. Mr. Speaker, while many manufacturers have been cutting 
costs by relocating overseas or contracting to foreign companies, one 
small flashlight manufacturer has decided to stay put in the U.S.A.
  Right now that company is in danger and needs our help.
  Mag Instrument, maker of the Maglite flashlight, filed for a reissue 
patent in 1990 but was not approved until 2003--13 years later. The 
delay in that 2-year extension led to countless foreign manufacturers 
copying the design, flooding foreign markets with their knock-offs ever 
since.
  The Maglite patent expires this year. If we let that happen we can 
expect a flood of knock-offs here in the U.S.A., jeopardizing 900 
American jobs and a great American product.
  Today, I am proud to introduce legislation to extend the patent for 
the Maglite flashlight for an additional 2 years.
  The Maglite flashlight is not some fancy medicine or artificial 
heart, but nonetheless represents American innovation and the ability 
of one man to turn a great idea into ``the American dream.''
  The Maglite is a beloved tool of police officers, firefighters, and 
E.M.T.'s nationwide. Military units often replace their service issue 
flashlights with Maglites. Engineers at the USS Cole credited this 
flashlight with helping them to save lives and to keep the ship from 
sinking.
  That is why I am proud to introduce this legislation today along with 
10 of my colleagues, and the support of the National Association of 
Police Organizations, its 52 affiliates and my hometown police 
organization, the San Bernardino County Safety Employees' Association.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me by cosponsoring this 
bill. We need to make sure our police officers and first responders 
have this nearly indestructible American-made steel flashlight instead 
of a fragile foreign knock-off flashlight made of aluminum or plastic.
  We need to keep the seal ``Made in the U.S.A.'' on this great all-
American flashlight.

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