To amend title 35, United States Code, to allow the Director of the Patent and Trademark Office to waive statutory provisions governing patents and trademarks in certain emergencies.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4742) to amend title 35, United States Code, to allow the Director of the Patent and Trademark Office to waive statutory provisions governing patents and trademarks in certain emergencies.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4742 currently under consideration.

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

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 4742, to amend title 35, United States Code, to allow the Director of the Patent and Trademark Office to waive statutory provisions governing patents and trademarks in certain emergencies.

The devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina in the gulf region affected the ability of applicants, patentees, trademark holders and other interested parties to do business with the PTO.

Following the disaster, the agency invoked as much administrative and statutory authority as it could to accommodate those affected. For example, the PTO created a toll-free hotline for victims to call with questions or problems; attempted to place calls to all registered practitioners in Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana; blocked outgoing mail to those living at relevant ZIP codes in the region; vacated all outstanding examiners' actions, to be remailed at a later time; and accorded ``special consideration'' to all reductions of patent term adjustments where the applicant delay was attributable to the hurricane.

Despite its best efforts to date, the PTO needs additional authority to provide individuals and businesses relief from certain statutory deadlines, especially those pertaining to the maintenance of granted patents and registered trademarks.

Pursuant to the bill, the PTO may waive statutory provisions governing the filing, processing, renewal and maintenance of patents, trademark registrations and applications to the extent the director deems necessary to protect the rights and privileges of applicants and other persons affected by certain emergencies or a major disaster.

Madam Speaker, this is a noncontroversial measure that will ensure that the PTO carries out its statutory mandates in a fair manner during emergency conditions.

I urge Members to support it.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

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

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

I too rise in support of this legislation. H.R. 4742 has been reported favorably by the Committee on the Judiciary with no controversy.

What we are talking about today responds in part to the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina. We all know that among the hurricane's wide-ranging impact was the destruction of infrastructure and a legal maelstrom caused by judicially and statutorily imposed deadlines for filing documents and making payments. This also is the case with the patent law, which forces individuals and businesses to comply with statutory deadlines for patent and trademark filings in the midst of a natural disaster.

The measure before us is designed to alleviate that pressure by permitting the Patent and Trademark Office director to extend statutory deadlines during emergencies. This section provides an opportunity to aid innovators who, because of devastation, might lose rights to their inventions and creation.

I am pleased to join with those that urge the swift passage of H.R. 4742.

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

Madam Speaker, I thank the Gentleman from Wisconsin for moving this legislatIon to the House floor.

The Committee Chairman did a good job of summarizing how the bill works, so I won't repeat his description.

I would point out that granting the additional authority to the PTO Director under H.R. 4742 is consistent with other actions by the Committee and Congress to assist other individuals and institutions in the Gulf region.

This includes enactment of legislation that allows Federal courts during emergency conditions to operate outside of their geographic domains; provide transportation and subsistence expenses for indigent defendants; and delay or toll judicial proceedings.

Madam Speaker, this is a good bill that will help inventors, trademark holders, and other interested parties maintain their intellectual property rights under adverse conditions.

I urge Members to support H.R. 4742.