[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 50 (Friday, April 22, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E744-E745]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING NICHOLAS P. GODICI

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 21, 2005

  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor Nicholas P. 
Godici, a distinguished public servant who is retiring after more than 
32 years of exemplary service with the United States Patent and 
Trademark Office (USPTO). In 2000, Commissioner Godici was appointed by 
the Secretary of Commerce as the first Commissioner for Patents under 
the American Inventors Protection Act of 1999. That Act rechartered the 
USPTO and made the most significant changes to the U.S. patent system 
since the Patent Act of 1952.
  As Commissioner for Patents, Commissioner Godici effectively oversaw 
an organization that employs more than 3,700 patent examiners who 
review and process over 350,000, patent applications each year. He was 
instrumental in the drafting and implementation of the USPTO's 21st 
Century Strategic Plan which is a comprehensive, ongoing effort to 
increase productivity in patent processing time, enhance patent 
quality, and promote electronic filing and processing.
  Commissioner Godici began his career on June 25, 1972, as a patent 
examiner and his steady leadership and commitment to the patent system 
have earned him international recognition and the respect of his 
colleagues and the entire intellectual property rights community.
  He was appointed to the Senior Executive Service in 1990 as Group 
Director of a patent examination organization. In 1997, Nick was 
selected to serve as the Deputy Assistant Commissioner for Patents 
responsible for all

[[Page E745]]

aspects of the patent granting process. Since his appointment to 
Commissioner, he has represented the United States in a number of 
international negotiations involving intellectual property rights, and 
testified before Congress on a variety of patent issues and USPTO 
operations. He was also the Acting Under Secretary of Commerce for 
Intellectual Property and Acting Director of the USPTO from January to 
December 2001.
  I am honored to have this opportunity to publicly commend a dedicated 
public servant on the occasion of his retirement. Nicholas Godici 
embodies the excellence of our public servants, and I wish him all the 
best in his future endeavors.

                          ____________________