Presidential Proclamation -- National Farm Safety and Health Week, 2011

NATIONAL FARM SAFETY AND HEALTH WEEK, 2011

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BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

The food, fiber, and fuel generated by our agricultural sector are vital to America's 21st-century economy.  Farmers represent the best of the American dream -- passing on proud traditions of hard work and commitment to their children.  This week, we celebrate farmers' contributions to the fabric of our Nation as they cultivate the products that sustain us, serve as stewards of our environment, and stand as the backbone of communities across our country.

The self-discipline and determination of farm communities have allowed them to persevere through drought, storms, and hard times, always emerging strong and vibrant.  Each day, our farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers face multiple dangers.  They work with heavy machinery, livestock, and toxic materials, and in potentially dangerous environments like grain elevators and processing facilities.  Physically demanding and all-encompassing, farm work requires the resourcefulness and grit that has been essential to our Nation's success.  This week, we pay tribute to the tremendous work ethic of America's farmers, and encourage safe farm practices for all.

Supporting farmers, ranchers, and growers is critical to creating and sustaining a thriving economy.  My Administration has worked to create new markets for these products, and to provide assistance to farms, supporting jobs across our country.  We continue to work to make capital more accessible and help aspiring young farmers buy land.  Farms are critical to achieving our goal of doubling our exports, and American agricultural exports are now worth over $100 billion a year.  They are also the source of biofuels that will help lead us to energy independence.  My Administration is working to speed the development of next-generation biofuels, and their production will benefit farmers, rural communities, and Americans across our country.

As the fall harvest begins, I encourage farm and ranch families to embrace safe farming practices and to participate in farm safety and health programs.  Communities and neighbors can support local farmers by understanding the risks involved with farm work and the role everyone can play in preventing and responding to accidents.  We are grateful for the fruits of every farmer's labor, and we honor their tireless dedication to the well-being of their families and our Nation.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim September 18 through September 24, 2011, as National Farm Safety and Health Week.  I call upon the agencies, organizations, businesses, and extension services that serve America's agricultural workers to strengthen their commitment to promoting farm safety and health programs.  I also urge Americans to honor our agricultural heritage and express appreciation to our farmers, ranchers, and farm-workers for their remarkable contributions to our Nation.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eleven, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.
 

BARACK OBAMA

Remarks by the President at Signing of the America Invents Act

Thomas Jefferson High School
Alexandria, Virginia

11:17 A.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you.  Thank you so much, everybody.  Please, please have a seat.  I am thrilled to be here at     Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology.  And thank you so much for the wonderful welcome. 

I want to thank Rebecca for the unbelievable introduction.  Give Rebecca a big hand.  (Applause.)  In addition to Rebecca, on stage we've got some very important people.  First of all, before we do, I want to thank your wonderful principal, Dr. Evan Glazer, who's right here.  (Applause.) Stand up, Evan.  Yay!  (Applause.) The people who are responsible for making some great progress on reforming our patent laws here today -- Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont -- (applause) -- and Lamar Smith, Republican from Texas. (Applause.) 

And in addition, we've got Representative Bob Goodlatte, Representative Jim Moran, Representative Melvin Watt are all here.  (Applause.)  Becky Blank, who's our Acting Secretary of Commerce.  (Applause.) David Kappos, who's the Director of U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.  (Applause.) And we've got some extraordinary business leaders here -- Louis Foreman, CEO of Eventys.  (Applause.) Jessica Matthews, CEO of Uncharted Play.  (Applause.)  Ellen Kullman, CEO of Dupont.  (Applause.)  John Lechleiter, CEO of Eli Lilly.  (Applause.)  And we've got another outstanding student -- Karishma Popli -- your classmate.  (Applause.)     

This is one of the best high schools in the country.  (Applause.)  And as you can see, it’s filled with some pretty impressive students.  I have to say, when I was a freshman in high school, none of my work was patent-worthy.  (Laughter.)  I was -- we had an exhibit of some of the projects that you guys are doing, and the first high school student satellite, a wheel-chair controlled by brain waves, robots.  There's one thing -- I don't know exactly how to describe it -- (laughter) -- but it's measuring toxicity in the oceans.  It's unbelievable stuff.

So, to the students here, I could not be more impressed by what you guys are doing.  I'm hoping that I will learn something just by being close to you -- (laughter) -- that through osmosis -- (laughter and applause) -- I will soak in some knowledge.  I already feel smarter just standing here.  (Laughter.) 

One President who would have loved this school is the person that it’s named after -- Thomas Jefferson.  He was a pretty good inventor himself, and he also happened to be the first American to oversee our country’s patent process.

And that’s why we’re here today.  When Thomas Edison filed his patent for the phonograph, his application was approved in just seven weeks.  And these days, that process is taking an average of three years.  Over the last decade, patent applications have nearly tripled.  And because the Patent Office doesn’t have the resources to deal with all of them, right now there are about 700,000 applications that haven’t even been opened yet.

These are jobs and businesses of the future just waiting to be created.  The CEOs who are represented here today, all of them are running companies that were based on creativity and invention and the ability to commercialize good ideas.  And somewhere in that stack of applications could be the next technological breakthrough, the next miracle drug, the next idea that will launch the next Fortune 500 company.  And somewhere in this country -- maybe in this room -- is the next Thomas Edison or Steve Jobs, just waiting for a chance to turn their idea into a new, thriving business. 

So we can’t afford to drag our feet any longer -- not at a time when we should be doing everything we can to create good, middle-class jobs that put Americans back to work.  And we have always succeeded because we have been the most dynamic, innovative economy in the world.  That has to be encouraged.  That has to be continued.

We have to do everything we can to encourage the entrepreneurial spirit, wherever we find it.  We should be helping American companies compete and sell their products all over the world.  We should be making it easier and faster to turn new ideas into new jobs and new businesses.  And we should knock down any barriers that stand in the way.  Because if we’re going to create jobs now and in the future, we're going to have to out-build and out-educate and out-innovate every other country on Earth. 

We've got a lot of competition out there.  And if we make it too hard for people with good ideas to attract investment and get them to market, then countries like China are going to beat us at it and beat us to it. 

So that’s why I asked Congress to send me a bill that reforms the outdated patent process; a bill that cuts away the red tape that slows down our inventors and entrepreneurs.  And today, I’m happy to have the opportunity to finally sign that bill.  It’s a bill that will put a dent in the huge stack of patent applications waiting for review.  It will help startups and small business owners turn their ideas into products three times faster than they can today.  And it will improve patent quality and help give entrepreneurs the protection and the confidence they need to attract investment, to grow their businesses, and to hire more workers. 

So I want to thank all the members of Congress for helping to get this done.  I especially want to thank Patrick Leahy and Lamar Smith, who led the process in a bipartisan way in the House and in the Senate. 

I have to take this opportunity while I've got some members of Congress here to say I've got another bill that -- (laughter) -- I want them to get passed to help the economy right away.  It’s called the American Jobs Act.  (Applause.)  And these things are connected.  This change in our patent laws is part of our agenda for making us competitive over the long term.  But we've also got a short-term economic crisis, a set of challenges that we have to deal with right now. 

And what the American Jobs Act does is it puts more people back to work and it puts more money into the pockets of working Americans.  And everything in the proposal, everything in the  American Jobs Act, is the kind of proposal that’s been supported by Democrats and Republicans in the past.  Everything in it will be paid for.  And you can read the plan for yourselves during all the free time that you guys have here at Thomas Jefferson -- (laughter) -- on whitehouse.gov.  I want Congress to pass this jobs bill right away.

Let me give you an example of why this is relevant.  We’re surrounded today by outstanding teachers -- men and women who prepare our young people to compete in a global economy.  If Congress passes this jobs bill, then we can get thousands of teachers all across the country who've been laid off because of difficulties at the state and local level with their budgets -- we can get them back to work, back in the classroom. 

This jobs bill will put unemployed construction workers back to work rebuilding our schools and our roads and our bridges.  And it will give tax credits to companies that hire our veterans, because if you serve our country, you shouldn’t have to worry about finding a job when you get home.

It connects the long-term unemployed to temporary work to keep their skills sharp while they're looking for a job, and it gives thousands of young people the hope of a job next summer.  And it will cut taxes for every middle-class family and small business owner in America.  And if you’re a small business owner that hires more workers and raises salaries, you get an extra tax cut. 

It won't add to the deficit.  And we’ll pay for it by following the same rules that every family follows:  Spend money on things you need, cut back on things you don’t.  And we’ll make sure that everybody pays their fair share, including those of us who've been incredibly fortunate and blessed in this country. 

This bill answers the urgent need to create jobs right away. But, as I said, we can’t stop there.  We have to look further down the road and build an economy that lasts into the future -- and that's going to depend on the talents of young people like you -- an economy that creates good, middle-class jobs that pay well and offer families a sense of security. 

We live in a world that is changing so rapidly, companies like the ones represented here today, they can set up shop anywhere where there’s an Internet connection.  And if we want startups here and if we want established companies like a Dupont or a Eli Lilly to continue to make products here and hire here, then we're going to have to be able to compete with any other country around the world.

So this patent bill will encourage that innovation.  But there are other steps that we can take.  Today, for example, my administration is announcing a new center that will help companies reduce the time and cost of developing lifesaving drugs.  When scientists and researchers at the National Institutes of Health discover a new cure or breakthrough, we’re going to make it easier for startup companies to sell those products to the people who need them.  We got more than 100 universities and companies to agree that they’ll work together to bring more inventions to market as fast as possible.  And we’re also developing a strategy to create jobs in biotechnology, which has tremendous promise for health, clean energy and the environment.

Now, to help this country compete for new jobs and businesses, we also need to invest in basic research and technology, so the great ideas of the future will be born in our labs and in classrooms like these.  You guys have such an unbelievable head start already, but as you go to MIT and Cal Tech and UVA, and wherever else you guys are going to go, what you're going to find is, is that the further you get along in your pursuits the more you're going to be relying on research grants.  And government has always played a critical role in financing the basic research that, then, leads to all sorts of inventions.

So we're going to have to make sure that we're continuing to invest in basic research so you can do the work that you're capable of -- and still pay the rent, which is important, you will find out.  (Laughter.)   

We need to continue to provide incentives and support to make sure the next generation of manufacturing takes root not in China or in Europe, but right here in the United States -- because it’s not enough to invent things here; our workers should also be building the products that are stamped with three proud words:  Made in America.  (Applause.)  

And if we want companies to hire our workers, we need to make sure we give every American the skills and education that they need to compete.  We've got to have more schools like Thomas Jefferson.  And it's got to start even before kindergarten and preschool, and before high school.  The reason that you guys are doing so well is you had a foundation very early on in math and science and language arts that allowed you to succeed even at a very young age.  We've got to make sure that opportunity is available for all kids.  All kids.  (Applause.)  Including this little guy right here.  (Laughter.)  With the hair.  (Applause.)

That’s why we’re boosting science and technology and engineering and math education all across the country.  And that’s why we’re also working with businesses to train more engineers, and revitalize our community colleges so they can provide our workers with new skills and training.  And, finally, that’s why we’re making sure that all of our children can afford to fulfill their dream of a college education -- that they can afford to go to school and that Pell grants and student loan programs ensure that they don't come out of college with mountains of debt.  (Applause.)  

This is the economy we need to build -- one where innovation is encouraged, education is a national mission, and new jobs and businesses take root right here in America. 

So that's the long-term project.  We still have a short-term agenda, and that is putting people to work right now.  We've got to do everything we can to get this economy growing faster in the short term.  That’s why I'm asking members of Congress to meet their responsibilities -- send me the American Jobs Act right away. 

There are folks in Washington who may be fine waiting until the next election to settle our differences and move forward.  But the next election is 14 months away.  The American people can’t wait that long.  There are a lot of people out there who are living paycheck-to-paycheck, even day-to-day.  They’re working hard; they're making tough choices; they're meeting their responsibilities.  But they need us to do the same. 

So I need everybody who’s listening, here and across the country, tell Congress, pass the American Jobs Act.  We came together to pass patent reform.  We should be able to come together to also put people back to work.

And to all the students at Thomas Jefferson, I could not be prouder of you.  I expect that among you are going to be incredible scientists and engineers and business leaders.  You guys are going to transform the world.  And I'm just looking forward to taking advantage of the incredible science and technology that you develop in the years to come. 

You guys are our future.  And whenever I see what young people like you are doing, I know that America's future is going to be bright.

Thank you so much, everybody.  (Applause.)  God bless you.  God bless the United States of America.  (Applause.)
         
END
11:36 A.M. EDT

President Obama Signs America Invents Act, Overhauling the Patent System to Stimulate Economic Growth, and Announces New Steps to Help Entrepreneurs Create Jobs

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, at Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Alexandria, Virginia, President Obama signed the America Invents Act, historic patent reform legislation that will help American entrepreneurs and businesses bring their inventions to market sooner, creating new businesses and new jobs. In addition, the President announced additional steps that will help convert the ideas from America’s universities and research labs into new products, expanding our economy and creating 21st century jobs.

“I am pleased to sign the America Invents Act.  This much-needed reform will speed up the patent process so that innovators and entrepreneurs can turn a new invention into a business as quickly as possible,” said President Obama. “I’m also announcing even more steps today that will help bring these inventions to market faster and create jobs. Here in America, our creativity has always set us apart, and in order to continue to grow our economy, we need to encourage that spirit wherever we find it.”

Passed with the President’s consistent leadership and strong bipartisan support, the America Invents Act represents the most significant reform of the Patent Act since 1952. It will give a boost to American companies and inventors who have suffered costly delays and unnecessary litigation, and let them focus instead on innovation and job creation.  These reforms were also a key recommendation of the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, which has been a strong advocate for patent reform as a way to support job creation and strengthen America’s competitiveness in the global economy.

President Obama was joined at the signing by Acting Secretary of Commerce Rebecca Blank, US Patent and Trademark Office Director David Kappos, Ellen Kullman, CEO of DuPont and a Member of the President’s Jobs Council, John Lechleiter, CEO of Eli Lilly, as well as students from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology, Members of Congress who have been instrumental in passing the bill, and inventors and small business owners who will benefit from this reform.

Key Elements of America Invents Act

The America Invents Act was passed with the President’s strong leadership to move this bill forward, after nearly a decade of legislative efforts. It reflects strong bipartisan cooperation and Congress working together on behalf of American innovation.

Many key industries in which the U.S. leads, such as biotechnology, medical devices, and advanced manufacturing, depend on a strong and healthy intellectual property system. The America Invents Act will help businesses, inventors, and entrepreneurs in five immediate ways:

• A fast track option for Patent Processing within 12 Months: Instead of an average wait time of almost three years, the Patent and Trademark Office will be able to offer startups growing companies an opportunity to have important patents reviewed in one-third the time – with a new fast track option that has a guaranteed 12-month turnaround.  Patent ownership is a critical factor venture capital companies consider when investing in entrepreneurs hoping to grow their business.
• Reducing the current patent backlog: Under the Obama Administration, the patent backlog has already been reduced from over 750,000 patent applications to 680,000, despite a 4% increase in filings. The additional resources provided in the law will allow the Patent and Trademark Office to continue to combat the backlog of nearly 700,000 patent applications and will significantly reduce wait times.
• Reducing litigation: The Patent and Trademark Office will offer entrepreneurs new ways to avoid litigation regarding patent validity, at costs significantly less expensive than going to court.
• Increasing patent quality: The Patent and Trademark Office has re-engineered its quality management processes to increase the quality of the examinations and has issued guidelines that clarify and tighten its standards for the issuance of patents.  The legislation gives the USPTO additional tools and resources to further improve patent quality, and allows patent challenges to be resolved in-house through expedited post-grant processes.
• Increasing the ability of American Inventors to protect their IP abroad: The new law will harmonize the American patent process with the rest of the world to make it more efficient and predictable, and make it easier for entrepreneurs to simultaneously market products in the U.S. and for exporting abroad.  The Patent and Trademark Office has also expanded work-sharing with other patent offices around the world to increase efficiency and speed patent processing for applicants seeking protection in multiple jurisdictions.

Additional Initiatives Announced Today to Move Ideas from Lab to Market

Launch of new National Institutes of Health (NIH) center to assist biotech entrepreneurs:  To help industry shorten the time needed and reduce costs for the development of new drugs and diagnostics, the NIH plans to establish a new National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS).  NCATS aims to help biomedical entrepreneurs by identifying barriers to progress and providing science-based solutions to reduce costs and the time required to develop new drugs and diagnostics. For example, as one of its initial activities, NCATS will partner with DARPA to support development of a chip to screen for safe and effective drugs far more swiftly and efficiently than current methods.

Development of a National Bioeconomy Blueprint:  By January 2012, the Administration will develop a Bioeconomy Blueprint detailing Administration-wide steps to harness biological research innovations to address national challenges in health, food, energy, and the environment. Biological research lays the foundation of a significant portion of our economy. By better leveraging our national investments in biological research and development the Administration will grow the jobs of the future and improve the lives of all Americans. The Blueprint will focus on reforms to speed up commercialization and open new markets, strategic R&D investments to accelerate innovation, regulatory reforms to reduce unnecessary burdens on innovators, enhanced workforce training to develop the next generation of scientists and engineers, and the development of public-private partnerships.

University Presidents Commit to Commercialization Initiative: In coordination with the Administration, the Association of American Universities, and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, 135 university leaders committed to working more closely with industry, investors, and agencies to bolster entrepreneurship, encourage university-industry collaboration, and enhance economic development. Today, over 40 universities are answering the President’s call to expand their commercialization programs and goals.  These institutions include The Georgia Institute of Technology, which has outlined its expanded initiatives, as well as universities like the University of Virginia and Carnegie Mellon University, which are announcing plans today.

Coulter Foundation and NSF Launch a University Commercialization Prize with AAAS:  This prize competition will be used to identify and promote incentives to adopt best practices that improve university commercialization efforts. Supported by $400,000 in funding from the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation and NSF, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) will lead the design and implementation of the prize in coordination with a diverse array of partner agencies, foundations, and organizations.

Developing University Endowments Focused on Lab to Market Innovations: Today, the Coulter Foundation is announcing that they have selected four new universities to participate in their Translational Research Partnership program -- Johns Hopkins University, University of Louisville, University of Missouri and University of Pittsburgh. As part of the program, each university will create a $20 million endowment to foster research collaboration between biomedical engineers and clinicians, with the goal of developing new technologies to improve patient care and human health. Translational research moves new ideas and discoveries from university laboratories to new products and services that directly impact human health, often by creating startups or by partnering with established businesses.

New Tools and License Agreements for Start-Ups and Small Businesses: The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Technology Transfer has developed new agreements for start-up companies obtain licenses for early-stage biomedical inventions developed by intramural researchers at NIH or FDA. Companies that are less than 5 years old and have fewer than 50 employees will be eligible to use the new, short-term exclusive Start-Up Evaluation License Agreement and the new Start-Up Commercial License Agreement. These agreements allow a start-up company to take ideas sitting on the shelf, and attract additional investments to develop these NIH and FDA inventions into life-saving products.

New Help for Small Businesses: In addition, the USPTO, in collaboration with NSF and SBA, will pilot a program to assist SBIR grant recipients in taking advantage of the USPTO’s small business programs and resources. The USPTO pilot will provide comprehensive IP support to, initially, 100 NSF SBIR grant recipients to take advantage of accelerated examination and benefits stemming from the America Invents Act and will engage external stakeholders to provide pro bono or low cost IP services to awardees.