Pelosi Statement on the America Invents Act

Washington, D.C. - Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi submitted today the following statement on H.R. 1249, the America Invents Act, into the Congressional Record:

"M. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this patent reform bill, misnamed the America Invents Act.

"It had been our hope that we would be voting on a patent bill that encourages entrepreneurship, protects intellectual property rights, and sends a message abroad that strengthens patent rights at home.  The bill before us fails on all these scores.

"Instead, by favoring large international companies, we have before us a missed opportunity to encourage entrepreneurship.  It is a missed opportunity to strengthen intellectual property rights here at home.

"For these and other reasons, I urge my colleagues to vote no on the Manager's amendment, yes on the Boren-Sensenbrenner-Waters-Schock amendment, and no on the final passage of this disappointing bill.  Let's go back to the drawing board for a real bill to keep America number one."