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Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, urged passage of H.R.6758, the SUCCESS Act, during a Judiciary Committee markup.  Congressman Nadler is an original cosponsor of the bill which would direct the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) and the Small Business Administration to study the underrepresentation of women and minorities among patent holders and recommend legislative solutions for increasing the participation of women and minorities in entrepreneurship activities.  The Judiciary Committee passed the bill by voice vote.

Congressman Nadler delivered the following opening remarks during the Judiciary Committee markup of H.R. 6758, the SUCCESS Act:

“Mr. Chairman, I am pleased to support H.R. 6758, the ‘SUCCESS Act.’

“This bipartisan legislation would extend the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s fee setting authority for eight years.  Since this authority was first granted to the PTO under the America Invents Act seven years ago, it has helped put the agency on solid financial footing, and has ensured that it can continue to perform the important work of helping to protect American intellectual property.

“The bill would also direct the PTO and the Small Business Administration to study the underrepresentation of women and minorities among patent holders.  And, it would require the agencies to recommend legislative solutions for increasing the participation of women and minorities in entrepreneurship activities, and increasing the number of them who apply for and obtain patents.

“Promoting greater inclusion in the innovation ecosystem is good for our economy and good for underserved communities.  One study estimated that per capita GDP could grow 4.6 percent if more women and African Americans were included in the initial stages of the innovation process.  It also found that exposure to innovation during childhood has an important impact on a person’s desire to become an inventor.  That makes it critical that young people have diverse role models in all fields of study.

“This bill would provide an important first step toward narrowing the race and gender gap among patent holders, and it deserves strong support.

“I am pleased to be an original cosponsor of this legislation, and I appreciate the leadership of Mr. Chabot, the sponsor of the bill, along with Chairman Goodlatte, Mr. Johnson, and Mr. Jeffries.  I want to particularly thank Ms. Velázquez, the Ranking Member of the Small Business Committee, for all she has done to bring attention to the lack of diversity among patent holders and the important issues highlighted in this bill.

“I look forward to continuing to work with her, and the other bill sponsors to advance not only this legislation, but other measures to address the underrepresentation of women and minorities within the innovation ecosystem.

“I urge my colleagues to support this bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.”