109TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 109–22 

ISSUANCE OF THE 500,000th DESIGN PATENT BY THE 

UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE 

MARCH 17, 2005.—Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed 

Mr. SENSENBRENNER, from the Committee on the Judiciary, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H. Con. Res. 53] 

[Including Committee cost estimate] 

The Committee on the Judiciary, to whom was referred the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 53) expressing the sense of the 

Congress regarding the issuance of the 500,000th design patent by 

the United States Patent and Trademark Office, having considered 

the same, reports favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that the concurrent resolution be agreed to. 

CONTENTS 

Page 

Purpose and Summary ............................................................................................ 1 

Background and Need for the Legislation ............................................................. 2 

Hearings ................................................................................................................... 2 

Committee Consideration ........................................................................................ 2 

Vote of the Committee ............................................................................................. 2 

Committee Oversight Findings ............................................................................... 2 

New Budget Authority and Tax Expenditures ...................................................... 2 

Committee Cost Estimate ....................................................................................... 2 

Performance Goals and Objectives ......................................................................... 2 

Constitutional Authority Statement ...................................................................... 3 

Section-by-Section Analysis and Discussion .......................................................... 3 

Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill, as Reported ..................................... 3 

Markup Transcript .................................................................................................. 3 

PURPOSE AND SUMMARY

The purpose of H. Con. Res. 53 is to commend DaimlerChrysler 

and its employees for receiving the 500,000th design patent awarded by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). 

2 

BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR THE LEGISLATION

On December 21, 2004, the USPTO issued the 500,000th design 

patent to DaimlerChrysler for the design of an automobile, the 

Chrysler Crossfire. Ranking Minority Member John Conyers Jr., 

whose district includes Detroit, introduced H. Con. Res. 53 to commemorate the achievement. 

HEARINGS

No hearings were held on House Concurrent Resolution 53. 

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

On March 3, 2005, the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, 

and Intellectual Property met in open session and ordered favorably reported the resolution H. Con. Res. 53 by voice vote, a 

quorum being present. On March 9, 2005, the Committee met in 

open session and ordered favorably reported the resolution H. Con. 

Res. 53 by voice vote, a quorum being present. 

VOTE OF THE COMMITTEE

In compliance with clause 3(b) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee notes that there were no 

recorded votes during consideration of H. Con. Res. 53. 

COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee reports that the findings 

and recommendations of the Committee, based on oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1) of Rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, are incorporated in the descriptive portions of this report. 

NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY AND TAX EXPENDITURES

Clause 3(c)(2) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives is inapplicable because this legislation does not provide new budgetary authority or increased tax expenditures. 

COMMITTEE COST ESTIMATE

In compliance with clause 3(d)(2) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee believes that the bill will 

generate no cost for the current fiscal year 2005, and that the cost 

incurred in carrying out H. Con. Res. 53 would be $0 for the next 

five fiscal years. 

PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

H. Con. Res. 53 does not authorize funding. Therefore, clause 

3(c)(4) of Rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives is 

inapplicable. H. Con. Res. 53 commemorates DaimlerChrysler Corporation and its employees for receiving the 500,000th design patent issued by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. 

3 

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT

Pursuant to Rule XI, clause 2(1)(4) of the Rules of the House of 

Representatives, the Committee finds the authority for this legislation in article I, section 8, clause 8 of the Constitution. 

SECTION-BY-SECTION ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION

On December 21, 2004, the USPTO issued the 500,000th design 

patent to DaimlerChrysler for the design of an automobile, the 

Chrysler Crossfire. H. Con. Res. 53 expresses the sense of Congress 

that the USPTO has contributed significantly to the nation’s economy and that the DaimlerChrysler Corporation and its employees 

should be commended for their achievement in receiving the 

500,000th design patent. 

CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED

In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the Committee notes that H. Con. Res. 

53 makes no changes to existing law. 

MARKUP TRANSCRIPT

BUSINESS MEETING 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 9, 2005 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 

COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY, 

Washington, DC. 

The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:00 a.m., in Room 

2141, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. [Chairman of the Committee] presiding. 

[Intervening business.] 

Chairman SENSENBRENNER. The Chair now recognizes the gentleman from Texas on House Concurrent Resolution 53. 

Mr. SMITH. Mr. Chairman, the Subcommittee on Courts, the 

Internet, and Intellectual Property reports favorably the bill, H. 

Con. Res. 53, and moves its favorable recommendation to the full 

House. 

Chairman SENSENBRENNER. Without objection, H. Con. Res. 53 

will be considered as read and open for amendment at any point. 

[The resolution, H. Con. Res. 53, follows:] 

4 

IV

109TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. CON. RES. 53

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the issuance of the 500,000th

design patent by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

FEBRUARY 10, 2005

Mr. CONYERS (for himself, Mr. BERMAN, Mr. STUPAK, Mr. DINGELL, Mr.

ROGERS of Michigan, Mr. KILDEE, Mr. LEVIN, Mr. MCCOTTER, and Mr.

SCHWARZ of Michigan) submitted the following concurrent resolution;

which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

Expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the issuance

of the 500,000th design patent by the United States

Patent and Trademark Office.

Whereas the United States is the world leader in innovation

and ingenuity;

Whereas the United States Patent and Trademark Office has

protected and encouraged that innovation through the

issuance of patents; and

Whereas on December 21, 2004, the United States Patent

and Trademark Office awarded the 500,000th design

patent to DaimlerChrysler Corporation for the design of

the Chrysler Crossfire: Now, therefore, be it


CRES53I.AAB
5 

2

•HCON 53 IH

1 Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate

2 concurring), That it is the sense of the Congress that—

3 (1) the United States Patent and Trademark

4 Office has contributed significantly to the Nation’s

5 economy; and

6 (2) DaimlerChrysler Corporation and its em7 ployees should be commended for their achievement

8 in receiving the 500,000th design patent.

Æ


CRES53I.AAC
6 

Chairman SENSENBRENNER. The Chair recognizes the gentleman 

from Texas to strike the last word. 

Mr. SMITH. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I do move to strike the 

last word. 

Mr. Chairman, this House Con. Res. 53 was introduced by the 

Ranking Member of the full Committee, Mr. Conyers. It commends 

the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for its contributions to the 

Nation’s economy and the DaimlerChrysler Corporation and its employees for their achievement in receiving the 500,000th design 

patent issued by the PTO. 

I would like to congratulate Mr. Conyers on this legislation. I 

urge the Committee Members to support the bill. 

Chairman SENSENBRENNER. Does the gentleman yield back? 

Mr. SMITH. I yield back. 

Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Chairman? 

Chairman SENSENBRENNER. The gentleman from Michigan, Mr. 

Conyers? 

Mr. CONYERS. I rise briefly to thank you and the Subcommittee 

chair, Lamar Smith, and all of our colleagues on the Subcommittee 

that has sent this up to the full Committee. 

What we are doing is thanking the United States Patent and 

Trademark Officer for issuing the 500,000th design patent to 

DaimlerChrysler for their design of the Chrysler Crossfire, and this 

House Concurrent Resolution thanks all of them, congratulates 

Chrysler, and helps remind everybody that Detroit and Michigan 

is still the automobile capital of the world. 

I thank all my colleagues for joining in with the Michigan congressional delegation in recognizing this occasion, and I return the 

balance of my time. 

Chairman SENSENBRENNER. Without objection all Members can 

include opening statements at this point in the record. 

[The prepared statement of Mr. Conyers follows:] 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE JOHN CONYERS, JR., A REPRESENTATIVE

IN CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF MICHIGAN, AND RANKING MEMBER, COMMITTEE

ON THE JUDICIARY

I rise in support of this legislation and thank my colleagues, Subcommittee Chairman Lamar Smith and Subcommittee Ranking Member Howard Berman, for cosponsoring it, and Chairman Sensenbrenner for scheduling it for markup. 

On December 21, 2004, the United States Patent and Trademark Office issued the 

500,000th design patent to DaimlerChrysler Corporation for the design of the 

Chrysler Crossfire. House Concurrent Resolution 53 expresses the sense of Congress 

that the Patent and Trademark Office has contributed significantly to the Nation’s 

economy and that DaimlerChrysler and its employees should be commended for 

their achievement. 

As a member of the Judiciary Committee, I am well aware of the importance of 

intellectual property protection to our economy. Intellectual property rewards and 

encourages innovation and advancement; without it, we would not have the hightech, biotech, and everyday inventions that we have come to rely upon in everyday 

life. 

I also am proud of this patent because I happen to represent the automobile capital of the world. It is no secret that Michigan boasts the finest auto workers in the 

world, and it should be no surprise that it is the design of an American car that 

received the award. 

It is for these reasons that I, along with other members who recognize the importance of intellectual property protection and several members of Michigan’s congressional delegation, are recognizing this occasion. 

I urge my colleagues to vote ‘‘Yes’’ on this legislation. 

7 

Chairman SENSENBRENNER. Are there any amendments to House 

Concurrent Resolution 53? 

[No response.] 

Hearing none, without objection the previous question is ordered 

on reporting H. Con. Res. 53 favorably. We are still four short of 

a reporting quorum. 

[Intervening business.] 

Chairman SENSENBRENNER. The question now is ordering favorably reported House Concurrent Resolution 53, which expresses the 

sense of Congress regarding the issuance of the 500,000th design 

patent by the U.S. PTO. So many as are in favor of reporting this 

resolution favorably will as your names are—or will say aye. 

Opposed, no? 

The ayes appear to have it. The ayes have it. The Concurrent 

Resolution is reported favorably. 

Without objection the staff is directed to make any technical and 

conforming changes, and all Members will be given 2 days as provided by the rules in which to submit additional dissenting supplemental or minority views. 

[Intervening business.] 

Chairman SENSENBRENNER. There being no further business to 

come before the Committee, the Committee stands adjourned. 

[Whereupon, at 10:17 a.m., the Committee was adjourned.] 

Æ