[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 37 (Tuesday, March 3, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E536-E537]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             INTRODUCTION OF THE PATENT REFORM ACT OF 2009

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 3, 2009

  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, today we are pleased to introduce the 
Patent Reform Act of 2009. The Patent Reform Act of 2009

[[Page E537]]

is bipartisan and largely, bicameral legislation intended to tackle a 
number of problems in our patent system. The bill reflects the 
substantial progress made last Congress in both the House and Senate. 
Indeed, the text of the Patent Reform Act is in many ways a composite 
of the bill that passed the House and the bill that was reported out of 
the Senate Judiciary Committee last Congress.
  This bill is a starting point for further discussion and in the 
matter of inequitable conduct reform, I will be looking to my friend 
from Utah, Orrin Hatch for his insights on that issue. It is my 
intention to work closely with him to craft language on inequitable 
conduct that can be incorporated into the bill at a later time.
  I am proud to stand today with my colleagues, Representatives Lamar 
Smith, Howard Berman, Robert Goodlatte, and Sheila Jackson Lee to 
introduce this legislation that is directed toward encouraging 
innovation now and long into the 21st century. I particularly thank two 
of my cosponsors, Howard Berman and Lamar Smith, for their hard work 
and dedication to this endeavor through the years which has provided a 
common-sense framework of reforms upon which to build.
  This piece of legislation is among the most important things that we 
will work on as our Nation's economic future is dependent on our 
ability to innovate and efficiently and effectively protect the 
products of that innovation. I look forward to working with all 
interested parties in perfecting the Patent Reform Act in the coming 
months.

                          ____________________