The 225th Anniversary of the Patent Act Celebration

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, on April 10th we celebrate the 225th anniversary of President George Washington signing into law the Patent Act of 1790. We honor the wisdom of our founding fathers in creating the first patent system to recognize by law the inherent right of an inventor to have protection over their inventions and innovations. Our Constitution grants Congress the power ``to promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to their respective writings and discoveries.'' With the creation of the Patent Act came the ability for Americans to be rightfully credited for the use of their talents to progress our nation.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office has issued over nine million patents. These patents demonstrate the creativity and foresight of the American people and their outstanding contributions enhance lives worldwide. We celebrate the first Patent Act, and salute the men and women who have promoted the progress of science and arts to make America a technological, economic, and cultural leader among nations.

I applaud the Patent and Trademark Office for its continued efforts to encourage innovation and strengthen the nation's competitiveness in the global economy. We must recognize the critical importance of intellectual property. It is critical that Congress continues to acknowledge the need for effective patents, trademarks, and copyrights while upholding the vision of our Nation's founders. Today, I urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the Patent and Trademark Office--the model for managing patent systems around the world--for its stewardship of the patent system and for inspiring independent inventors, entrepreneurs, and small businesses to be innovators.

Source