Small Business Innovation Protection Act of 2017

Floor Speech

I rise to support H.R. 2655, the Small Business Innovation Protection Act of 2017.

Innovation is an indispensable driver of economic growth and it ensures America's competitive edge in the global marketplace, but many small innovators who should have IP rights are disadvantaged by a complex system which allows their property to be pirated. Much of the time, all they needed was access to the resources, the expertise, and the knowledge to obtain, monitor, and enforce their rights.

H.R. 2655 corrects this by creating a partnership between the two agencies best suited to help these innovators: the Small Business Administration and the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

By leveraging existing IP education and training programs and utilizing the immense network of Small Business Development Centers, innovators will have all the necessary resources to better protect their interests both domestically and internationally.

I applaud Representative Evans for recognizing the problem and working to advance the interests of our Nation's small businesses.

Mr. Speaker, intellectual property protections offer small innovative firms and entrepreneurs much needed protection at home and in other countries.

In fact, small business firms with IP rights earned 32 percent more in revenue on average per employee when compared to their counterparts without IP rights.

Without those protections, our economy may not be what it is today.

H.R. 2655 offers necessary education and training to sustain America's competitive edge and drive continued economic growth.

As such, I once again urge my colleagues to support this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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