[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 23, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        TRIBUTE TO DEBORAH COHN

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JAMES P. MORAN

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 23, 2007

  Mr. MORAN of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize the 
fine work of Deborah Cohn, Deputy Commissioner for Trademark Operations 
at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), for her 
leadership in promoting government telework. As a result of her 
ingenuity and perseverance with this program, Ms. Cohn spearheaded the 
development of the USPTO's telework program at a time when telework was 
unconventional, and her efforts have paid off as the program is among 
the most successful telework programs within the Federal workforce.
  This year, the Trademark Work at Home (TWAH) program is celebrating 
its 10th anniversary. Established in March of 1997, TWAH began as a 
pilot program with 18 telework volunteers. Today, TWAH is the most 
successful and progressive program in the Federal Government, involving 
85 percent of eligible trademark examining attorneys, who work 4 days 
per week at home.
  The USPTO, located in my congressional district in Alexandria, VA, 
has received many distinguished awards for opening doors to its 
telework program. These include the most recent 2007 Work-Life 
Innovative Excellence Award from the Alliance for Work-Life Progress--
the highest honor offered by the organization, which was created to 
showcase programs and policies that demonstrate excellence in promoting 
work-life effectiveness while achieving institutional goals. Other 
notable awards include those from the Metropolitan Washington Council 
of Governments, the Telework Exchange, the MidAtlantic Telework 
Advisory Council, and the International Telework Association and 
Council.
  The Trademark telework program is a successful model for other 
governmental agencies. Combining management by objective with hoteling 
results in proven space and related cost savings for the agency. The 
program also demonstrates that flexibility of schedules and location 
enables employees to maximize their working efficiency, which is 
reflected in production gains by its participants and the Office. The 
extremely low attrition rate experienced by the TWAH participants shows 
that agencies facing recruitment and retention problems would be well-
served by offering telecommuting options, similar to those of the 
USPTO, to attract and retain qualified workers.
  I have been a longtime advocate of commuter friendly policies such as 
telecommuting. Proven benefits include helping to offset the high price 
of gasoline, continuity of operations in the case of a future threat or 
disaster, improved air quality, reduction in traffic congestion, 
increased employee productivity and work quality, improved employee 
morale, and employee cost savings. As the Nation's largest employer, 
the Federal Government should be the leader in telework policy. The 
USPTO serves as the gold standard for the Federal Government thanks to 
the efforts of Deborah Cohn.

  Ms. Deborah Cohn is a graduate of The American University and George 
Mason University School of Law. She began her career at the USPTO in 
1983 as a trademark examining attorney, was promoted to senior attorney 
and then managing attorney, and then joined the Senior Executive 
Service as a Trademark Law Office Director in 2001. Ms. Cohn was named 
Deputy Commissioner for Trademark Operations in 2005 whereby she 
currently oversees the examination and processing of applications 
throughout the trademark operation and works with other USPTO business 
units in achieving agency goals.
  Throughout her legal career at the USPTO, Ms. Cohn has been involved 
in work-life improvement initiatives. She is a former Council of 
Excellence in Government fellow where she first began developing the 
TWAH program. Ms. Cohn is a sought after resource, speaker, and expert 
on the development and management of telework programs.
  I ask my colleagues to join me in commemorating Ms. Cohn's efforts in 
making the USPTO's telework program the most successful program within 
the Federal Government. I also ask my colleagues to join me in 
celebrating the 10th anniversary of the Trademark Work at Home program.

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