This week, the Senate took a major step toward bolstering America’s innovative ecosystem with the unanimous passage of the Patents for Humanity Act of 2022.
The bipartisan legislation — sponsored by Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) — codifies the USPTO’s Patents for Humanity Program, which recognizes U.S. innovators who leverage their patented technologies to tackle today’s global challenges. Since its creation in 2012, the program has gone a long way in incentivizing cutting-edge, life-saving innovation that pushes the human condition forward.
Now, only a final House vote stands in the way of enshrining the Patents for Humanity Program into law. Fortunately, swift passage in the chamber is expected. Representatives Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Victoria Spartz (R-IN) already paved the way on a companion bill that passed by voice vote earlier this year.
The Patents for Humanity Program has proven to be a remarkable success over the last decade. Coming together — in bipartisan fashion — to send this legislation to President Biden’s desk for signature will ensure the brightest days of American-led innovation are still to come.
Frank Cullen is executive director of the Council for Innovation Promotion.