(WEDNESDAY, Dec. 7, 2022) – The Senate Tuesday night unanimously passed the Unleashing American Innovators Act, sponsored by Senators Leahy (D-VT), Tillis (R-NC), and Hirono (D-HI).

The Unleashing American Innovators Act builds on the legacy of the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act in broadening access and inclusivity in the patent system by increasing the outreach efforts of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, developing programs to help first-time and under-resourced inventors, and lowering patent application fees for small businesses and micro entities.  These efforts are designed to increase participation in the patent system by women, people of color, military veterans, individual inventors and other underrepresented groups to unleash the nation’s greatest natural resource: the genius of the American people.

Congresswoman Deborah Ross (D-NC), a member of the House Judiciary Committee Subcommittee on Courts, IP, and the Internet, along with Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC), introduced a version of the bill in the House in August 2022.

Leahy said:  “I’m delighted that the Senate has unanimously passed my bipartisan Unleashing American Innovators Act.  This bill will help us better tap into America’s greatest natural resource, the creativity of the American people.  It is a win-win.  It will open up our IP system to more innovators from all walks of life.  And it will strengthen our economy and secure our place as the world’s innovation capital.  Now I hope the House will take it up and swiftly pass it.”

Tillis said: “Fostering and securing innovation through strong IP rights is vital to fueling our economy and ensuring that the U.S. remains the world’s global leader and innovator. This bill will help spur innovation nationwide by providing additional local resources to innovators of all backgrounds. I’m proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill with Senator Leahy, and I look forward to it being signed into law this year.”

Hirono said: “Women, people of color and veterans are significantly under-represented in the U.S. patent system—which not only hurts our communities, but makes our country less competitive. The U.S. cannot afford to ignore the barriers under-represented communities face when it comes to entrepreneurship and innovation. The Unleashing American Innovators Act will help close our country’s innovation gap—and in doing so, address gender and racial inequities, create jobs, and ensure the U.S. can remain a global leader of innovation. I’m proud this bill passed the Senate and urge my House colleagues to quickly send this bill to the President’s desk.”

A link to the text of the bill is here.