[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 147 (Thursday, December 4, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Page S6354]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




ESTABLISHING THE LAW SCHOOL CLINIC CERTIFICATION PROGRAM OF THE UNITED 
                   STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE

  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be 
discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5108 and the Senate 
proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 5108) to establish the Law School Clinic 
     Certification Program of the United States Patent and 
     Trademark Office, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, today, the Senate has acted to ensure that 
law school students can gain valuable experience providing legal 
assistance to inventors before the United States Patent and Trademark 
Office--USPTO. This legislation is a clear win-win: students will gain 
tangible, hands-on experience in a vital area of the law, and inventors 
and small businesses will receive valuable legal assistance with their 
patent and trademark applications. By promoting innovation and helping 
creators turn their inventions into reality, the American public 
benefits from the results.
  The USPTO plays a key role in driving the engine of our economy. 
Close to 600,000 patent applications and 450,000 trademark class 
applications are filed with the Office each year. I am proud that 
Vermont routinely ranks among the most innovative States that have the 
highest patents per capita each year. By serving America's innovators, 
the USPTO helps Vermonters and citizens across the country build their 
businesses and bring their inventions to the global marketplace.
  Three years ago, Congress came together to pass the Leahy-Smith 
America Invents Act of 2011, the greatest transformation to our patent 
system in over 60 years. We worked for 6 years to pass this legislation 
to bring our patent system into the 21st Century. It helped simplify 
the process for patent approval, reduced backlogs at the USPTO, 
harmonized the U.S. patent system with the rest of the world, and 
improved patent quality.
  Importantly, the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act also contained key 
provisions to help inventors when they appear before the USPTO; 
something this law school clinic legislation builds on today. Because 
of the America Invents Act, the USPTO now has four satellite offices 
around the country to make the Office more accessible to inventors and 
businesses. The USPTO's pro bono program is expanding nationwide to 
provide resources to individuals who appear before the Office without 
counsel. The Patent Ombudsman for Small Businesses provides patent 
filing support and services.
  The Law School Clinic Certification Program established by this 
legislation expands the USPTO's strong efforts to support inventors and 
small businesses, while training our next generation of lawyers in how 
this important agency operates. After 6 years of a successful pilot 
program run by the USPTO, it is time to pass this legislation and make 
the program permanent. Representative Hakeem Jeffries should be 
congratulated for his work on this bill in the House. I thank my fellow 
Senators for joining me in support of this sensible program and 
continuing our work to support innovators in our home States and across 
the Nation.
  Mr. REID. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time, 
passed, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon 
the table, and there be no intervening action or debate.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 5108) was ordered to a third reading, was read the 
third time, and passed.

                          ____________________