[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 47 (Tuesday, April 19, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H2113-H2114]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  SENSE OF CONGRESS REGARDING ISSUANCE OF 500,000TH DESIGN PATENT BY 
               UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree 
to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 53) expressing the sense of 
the Congress regarding the issuance of the 500,000th design patent by 
the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 53

       Whereas the United States is the world leader in innovation 
     and ingenuity;
       Whereas the United States Patent and Trademark Office has 
     protected and encouraged that innovation through the issuance 
     of patents; and
       Whereas on December 21, 2004, the United States Patent and 
     Trademark Office awarded the 500,000th design patent to 
     DaimlerChrysler Corporation for the design of the Chrysler 
     Crossfire: Now, therefore, be it

[[Page H2114]]

       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring),  That it is the sense of the Congress that--
       (1) the United States Patent and Trademark Office has 
     contributed significantly to the Nation's economy; and
       (2) DaimlerChrysler Corporation and its employees should be 
     commended for their achievement in receiving the 500,000th 
     design patent.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Conyers) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. 
Sensenbrenner).


                             General Leave

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 53, 
currently under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this concurrent resolution commends the U.S. Patent and 
Trademark Office for its contribution to the Nation's economy and the 
DaimlerChrysler Corporation and its employees for their achievement in 
receiving the 500,000th design patent issued by the Patent and 
Trademark Office.
  Mr. Speaker, we all recognize the important role that innovation and 
invention have played in our Nation's history and economy. We also know 
that by ensuring protection for our ideas, we provide significant 
incentive for inventors to continue to come up with new concepts that 
improve our lives, whether it is a machine that raises productivity or 
a pharmaceutical drug that cures a life-threatening disease. The 
efforts of the PTO in aiding such accomplishments are certainly 
noteworthy.
  I commend the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers), the Motor City, 
for introducing this resolution and congratulate DaimlerChrysler as the 
recipient of this landmark number patent. I urge the House to support 
this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may 
consume.
  I begin by thanking the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), 
the distinguished chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, and as 
well the committee leaders, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) and 
the gentleman from California (Mr. Berman), for moving this measure 
swiftly through the Committee on the Judiciary.
  On December 21 of last year, the United States Patent and Trademark 
Office issued its 500,000th design patent to the DaimlerChrysler 
Corporation for the design of the popular Chrysler Crossfire. House 
Concurrent Resolution 53, before us now, expresses the sense of 
Congress that the Patent and Trademark Office has contributed 
significantly to the Nation's economy and to the reputation in the 
United States that we enjoy worldwide for our technological innovation 
and ingenuity.
  This is a very distinguished commendation, and I am very proud of the 
Patent and Trademark Office, which has helped us in protecting and 
preserving intellectual property.
  As a senior member of the Committee on the Judiciary, I am well aware 
of the importance of intellectual property protection and what it means 
to our economy. Intellectual property rewards and encourages innovation 
and advancement. Without it, we would not have the high-tech, biotech 
and everyday numerous inventions that we have come to rely upon in 
everyday life, and that we have permitted to be exported to all the 
concerns of the planet.
  I am also proud of this patent because I happen to represent the 
automobile capital of the world still. It is no secret that Michigan 
boasts the finest automobile workers in the world, and it should be no 
surprise that it is the design of an American car that has received 
this award.
  So for these reasons and others, I am so proud of my colleagues who 
have joined me in this presentation, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. 
Stupak); the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), the dean of the 
Congress; the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Rogers); the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Kildee); the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter); and 
the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Schwarz), all. It is a proud moment 
for us, and we are glad to be honored.
  On a more personal note, my father was a worker and union organizer 
for the United Automobile Workers for Chrysler, Local 7. It was the 
first company, Chrysler, to be brought into collective bargaining, and 
so I urge that the Members favorably consider House Concurrent 
Resolution 53.
  Mr. WU. Mr. Speaker, I rise to strongly support H. Con. Res. 53, a 
resolution expressing the sense of Congress regarding the issuance of 
the 500,000th design patent by the United States Patent and Trademark 
Office.
  For over 200 years, the basic role of the United States Patent and 
Trademark Office, USPTO, has been to promote the progress of science 
and the useful arts by securing for limited times to inventors the 
exclusive right to their respective discoveries. Under this system of 
protection, American industry has flourished. New products have been 
invented, new uses for old ones discovered, and employment 
opportunities created for millions of Americans. The strength and 
vitality of the U.S. economy depends directly on effective mechanisms 
that protect new ideas and investments in innovation and creativity. 
The continued demand for patents and trademarks underscores the 
ingenuity of American inventors and entrepreneurs. The USPTO is indeed 
at the cutting edge of America's technological progress and 
achievement.
  As many of you may know, on December 21, 2004, the USPTO reached an 
important milestone and awarded the 500,000th design patent to 
DaimlerChrysler Corporation for the design of the Chrysler Crossfire. I 
would like to congratulate the USPTO and its employees for being at the 
core of our nation's creative forces. It is with their commitment to 
excellence our Nation moved from a young Nation to the world economic 
power that it is today.
  As the Ranking Member on the House Science Subcommittee on 
Environment, Science and Standards and a former technology lawyer, I 
profoundly value the work of the USPTO, and urge my colleagues for 
their support for this important institution. As the 109th Congress 
moves to take up our FY06 appropriations bills, I look forward to 
working on ensuring a strong funding level for the USPTO.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. If the 
gentleman will yield back, we can vote and pass this resolution.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield back my time.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 53.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was 
agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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