[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 33 (Monday, March 7, 2011)]
[Senate]
[Page S1322]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          America Invents Act

  In a few moments the Senate will take another important step toward 
passing the America Invents Act. This bipartisan bill will go a long 
way in ensuring our country remains the world leader in 
entrepreneurship, research, and development and, of course, innovation.
  Over the course of last week, every Senator had an opportunity to 
come to the floor and weigh in on this bill with amendments. We made a 
lot of progress, and as a result I am pleased to say we have a bill 
that is even better than the one we started with, a truly bipartisan 
product which will bring our patent system into the 21st century. If 
passed, this legislation will make the first comprehensive set of 
reforms to our Nation's patent process in almost 60 years. Sixty years.
  A lot has changed since then. The America Invents Act will create a 
legal framework that reflects current technology and a climate in which 
innovation can flourish. In doing so, it will unleash the power of our 
Nation's single most precious resource, the ingenuity of our people. I 
point out that it will do it without adding a penny to our deficit.
  An improved patent process will spark the kind of job creation and 
business growth our economy needs right now. I know you know that in 
Delaware--and we certainly know it in Minnesota. Those are not 
Democratic priorities--the priorities of competitiveness and 
innovation--and they are not Republican priorities, they are American 
priorities.
  I urge all Senators to support the motion so we can move forward with 
this important legislation. I thank Senator Grassley for all his work 
on this bill and Senator Leahy as well, and all the rest of the 
Judiciary Committee.
  I yield the floor, and we will soon have an update on whether we can 
yield back the time to start the votes at 5:30.
  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, we are prepared to yield back the 
balance of time on this side.
  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The assistant bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum 
call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Ms. KLOBUCHAR. I ask unanimous consent that all remaining time on 
both sides be yielded back.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.