[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 114 (Friday, July 30, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1500]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS 
                               ACT, 2010

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                               speech of

                  HON. HENRY C. ``HANK'' JOHNSON, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 28, 2010

  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support H.R. 
5874, the United States Patent and Trademark Office Supplemental 
Appropriations Act of 2010. This bill will help reduce backlogs in 
processing patent applications. I am a proud to have voted with a 
majority of the House to pass this important piece of legislation.
  Processing patents is crucial to the U.S. economy. In order for our 
nation to thrive in a global economy, it is essential that patent and 
trademark applications are processed in a timely and efficient manner. 
Currently, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) can take an 
average of nearly three years to complete the examination of a patent 
application and has maintained a backlog of unexamined applications for 
several years. At this time, there are approximately 1.2 million patent 
applications in the system with more than 750,000 awaiting review by a 
USPTO patent examiner. The more time patent applications are waiting to 
be reviewed, the longer the U.S. goes without an invention that can 
spur economic growth.
  Specifically, H.R. 5874 provides up to $129 million, fully offset, to 
help prevent additional backlogs in the processing of patent 
applications. With this funding, the USPTO will be able to hire 
additional staff and afford to pay necessary overtime to prevent 
additional backlogs.
  Patents are critical to American innovation and economic growth. An 
efficient patent examination system will foster innovation and job 
creation by ensuring that individuals and small businesses have the 
ability to protect their intellectual property and continue to create 
new products.
  Again, I am a proud supporter of this supplemental appropriations 
bill for the USPTO. I am proud to have voted with a majority of the 
House yesterday to pass this vital legislation.

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