mr. lujan: thank you very much, madam chair. i rise today in support of my amendment to h.r. 1246, the american invents act. the american invents act provides for the creation of the united states patent and trade market office, satellite offices. for many small businesses and independent inventors, navigating the patent process can be challenging. small businesses, entrepreneurs and innovators are the foundation of our economy, but do not always have the resources that larger corporations or institutions have to assist them in obtaining a patent. by improving access to the united states patent trademark office, satellite offices have the potential to help small businesses and independent investors and inventors navigate the patent application process. however, this bill essentially provides no guidance to determine the location of such satellite offices. while the language in the bill contains stated purposes for satellite offices, it does not specify that these purposes be part of the selection process. this amendment makes it

mr. lujan: lately we've seen a disturbing trend where marketers and retailers falsely use the unique brand of new mexico chili to misleading misadvertise their product. we take pride in our agricultural products. in particular, we take pride in our chili. we even spell it differently, madam, we spell it crmbing -- c-h-i-l-e. around new mexico i heard the plight of new mexico farmers. there's concerns with the importation of peppers, of chili powders from out of state and even from other countries that are hurting our producers in new mexico. it's a concern that may put them out of business and it's a concern that attacking the authentic new mexico chili brand. this unfair practice has led to decreased revenues for new mexico chili farmers who work all summer and to raise their crops for harvest in the fall months and when prices are undercut by imported products that falsely advertise as new mexico chili. it would not impose any cost to the federal government. my amendment would prevent any fun