Innovation Act

Floor Speech

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Mr. MASSIE. Madam Chair, I want to briefly tell you about a young boy who grew up in modest surroundings in rural Kentucky.

Although he had no money, he was inspired to invent. So he collected junk to build his inventions--broken clocks, radios, vacuum cleaners. Who knows, maybe one day he could assemble this junk into an invention that would allow him to pull himself out of his humdrum environment.

He was inspired to invent by stories of Edison, Ford, and Tesla. In the seventh grade, he invented this robot arm that you see here, which won him a prize at the science fair. He even invented a flower pot that would water itself for his grandmother.

He went on to college, where he met other inventors, inspired, again, not just by creativity but by the fact that they can make an honest living by improving the lives of others.

One of his inventor friends invented a robot that vacuums floors for millions of people now. This boy went on to invent a touch interface for computers, obtain 29 patents, raise venture capital, and create dozen of jobs.

His story is only possible in America, where our robust intellectual property system and judicial system work together to protect the property rights of inventors.

Knowing this and relying on this, many inventors dedicate their entire lives to inventing things that will improve and extend the lives of others.

Today's patent reform bill is a serious threat to American inventors. That is why inventors are urging us not to pass this bill today. It will extinguish creativity and invention in America.

Recklessly weakening the patent system, as this bill does, will deprive inventors of income and a livelihood. They will pursue other careers. As the role models for young inventors quietly fade into history, fewer young students will pursue invention. A decade from now, Congress will further lament the lack of interest among the next generation in science, engineering, technology, and math, arrogantly unaware that it was Congress that killed that interest today with this bill, should it pass.

How do I know this boy's story so well? How can I anticipate the unintended consequences of this bill? I am the boy in this picture, and that was my story.

It would be shameful and wrong to kick out the ladder from our next generation of inventors, as this bill would do; but if my story doesn't compel you, please listen to the words of Dean Kamen. Pick your favorite inventor in history--Tesla, Edison--and Dean Kamen is that inventor of our time. Perhaps you know him as the inventor of the Segway, but he has invented a dialysis machine, an insulin pump, and a self-balancing wheelchair. These inventions have improved the lives of millions of people all over the world.

Here is what Mr. Kamen has to say about this very legislation:

Adding uncertainty and cost to getting and maintaining patents will be the largest single cause of the decline of innovation and, therefore, of the economy in this country that I've seen in my lifetime.

Mr. Kamen doesn't just invent. He inspires the next generation to invent with his America FIRST Robotics Competition that millions of students have participated in. He inspires the next generation to invent with his robotics contest.

The CHAIR. The time of the gentleman has expired.

Mr. CONYERS. Madam Chair, I yield the gentleman an additional half minute.

Mr. MASSIE. I am scheduled to speak at two of these robotic contests in Kentucky this weekend, not to inspire these kids to be politicians, but to inspire them to be inventors. Should this bill pass, should we kick the ladder out from our young inventors, it is going to be hard for me to face them Saturday.

I urge my colleagues to listen to the inventors of America, who are pleading to them to oppose this bill.

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