Statement on Governor Gary Locke's Appointment
to Department of Commerce

Washington, D.C. – The Coalition for 21st Century Patent Reform released the following statement after former Washington governor Gary Locke was named to be the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Commerce by President Obama.

"Governor Locke's nomination to lead the Department of Commerce is welcome news for America's economic growth and recovery. His widely recognized organizational and managerial skills that led to Washington being named as one of America's five best managed states will greatly benefit the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Governor Locke's leadership will enhance the ability of the PTO to stimulate the innovation and manufacturing that will be instrumental to our nation's economic recovery. Our coalition's 50 companies from 18 different industries look forward to working Secretarydesignate Locke and the Congress to ensure our patent system is balanced, fair and promotes innovation and jobs around the country."

The coalition has 50 members and includes many of the nation's leading manufacturers and researchers. The coalition's steering committee includes 3M, Caterpillar, General Electric, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly and Procter & Gamble. The coalition has members in a variety of industry sectors including: Aerospace and Defense, Chemical, Computers, Consumer, Diversified Financials, Diversified Technology, Energy, Food Production, Forest & Paper Products, Health Care, Household & Personal Products, Industrial Equipment, Medical Equipment & Devices, Network & Communications, Payroll Services, Pharmaceutical, Biotechnology, Semiconductors & Electronic Components, and Transportation Equipment.

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