In Support of H.R. 210; Supporting Goals of World Intellectual Property Day

April 27, 2005

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 210, a resolution acknowledging the importance of intellectual property in the United States and throughout the world. I thank Mr. Wexler for introducing this important legislation.

Prior to my election to Congress, I spent over twenty years in the consumer electronic industry. I know firsthand the importance of allowing an individual or company to reasonably protect their creative works. If it were not for this ability to prevent others from infringing upon a creator's ideas, the United States would not be the engine of economic growth that it is today.

World Intellectual Property Day was established in recognition of these principles. The goals of this Day are simple--to promote, inform, and teach the importance of intellectual property. Through my travels abroad, I have come to realize that not all entities around the globe, public or private, respect intellectual property rights to the same degree. For example, we still face increasing amounts of piracy of copyrighted works and counterfeiting of patented medications. Put plainly, the incentive to create stems in great part from the desire to do so exclusively. Ensuring the continuation of intellectual property rights in the United States and throughout the world will only serve to bring more high quality and safe products consumers want to the market.

 



April 2005 Floor Statements