Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the issuance of the 500,000th design patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.

I begin by thanking the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner), the distinguished chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, and as well the committee leaders, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Smith) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Berman), for moving this measure swiftly through the Committee on the Judiciary.

On December 21 of last year, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued its 500,000th design patent to the DaimlerChrysler Corporation for the design of the popular Chrysler Crossfire. House Concurrent Resolution 53, before us now, expresses the sense of Congress that the Patent and Trademark Office has contributed significantly to the Nation's economy and to the reputation in the United States that we enjoy worldwide for our technological innovation and ingenuity.

This is a very distinguished commendation, and I am very proud of the Patent and Trademark Office, which has helped us in protecting and preserving intellectual property.

As a senior member of the Committee on the Judiciary, I am well aware of the importance of intellectual property protection and what it means to our economy. Intellectual property rewards and encourages innovation and advancement. Without it, we would not have the high-tech, biotech and everyday numerous inventions that we have come to rely upon in everyday life, and that we have permitted to be exported to all the concerns of the planet.

I am also proud of this patent because I happen to represent the automobile capital of the world still. It is no secret that Michigan boasts the finest automobile workers in the world, and it should be no surprise that it is the design of an American car that has received this award.

So for these reasons and others, I am so proud of my colleagues who have joined me in this presentation, the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Stupak); the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell), the dean of the Congress; the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Rogers); the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Kildee); the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. McCotter); and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Schwarz), all. It is a proud moment for us, and we are glad to be honored.

On a more personal note, my father was a worker and union organizer for the United Automobile Workers for Chrysler, Local 7. It was the first company, Chrysler, to be brought into collective bargaining, and so I urge that the Members favorably consider House Concurrent Resolution 53.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to strongly support H. Con. Res. 53, a resolution expressing the sense of Congress regarding the issuance of the 500,000th design patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

For over 200 years, the basic role of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, USPTO, has been to promote the progress of science and the useful arts by securing for limited times to inventors the exclusive right to their respective discoveries. Under this system of protection, American industry has flourished. New products have been invented, new uses for old ones discovered, and employment opportunities created for millions of Americans. The strength and vitality of the U.S. economy depends directly on effective mechanisms that protect new ideas and investments in innovation and creativity. The continued demand for patents and trademarks underscores the ingenuity of American inventors and entrepreneurs. The USPTO is indeed at the cutting edge of America's technological progress and achievement.

As many of you may know, on December 21, 2004, the USPTO reached an important milestone and awarded the 500,000th design patent to DaimlerChrysler Corporation for the design of the Chrysler Crossfire. I would like to congratulate the USPTO and its employees for being at the core of our nation's creative forces. It is with their commitment to excellence our Nation moved from a young Nation to the world economic power that it is today.

As the Ranking Member on the House Science Subcommittee on Environment, Science and Standards and a former technology lawyer, I profoundly value the work of the USPTO, and urge my colleagues for their support for this important institution. As the 109th Congress moves to take up our FY06 appropriations bills, I look forward to working on ensuring a strong funding level for the USPTO.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 53) expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the issuance of the 500,000th design patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H. Con. Res. 53, currently under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, this concurrent resolution commends the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its contribution to the Nation's economy and the DaimlerChrysler Corporation and its employees for their achievement in receiving the 500,000th design patent issued by the Patent and Trademark Office.

Mr. Speaker, we all recognize the important role that innovation and invention have played in our Nation's history and economy. We also know that by ensuring protection for our ideas, we provide significant incentive for inventors to continue to come up with new concepts that improve our lives, whether it is a machine that raises productivity or a pharmaceutical drug that cures a life-threatening disease. The efforts of the PTO in aiding such accomplishments are certainly noteworthy.

I commend the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers), the Motor City, for introducing this resolution and congratulate DaimlerChrysler as the recipient of this landmark number patent. I urge the House to support this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. If the gentleman will yield back, we can vote and pass this resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.