Innovation and Technology

Innovation is the driving force behind a strong and growing economy, and nowhere is that better exemplified than in Silicon Valley, America's hub of innovation. As a recognized leader and respected voice on technology issues, Zoe advocates strongly for Silicon Valley in Washington, D.C.

Advancing Internet Freedom

A longtime champion of a free and open Internet, she supports free expression, universal network access, and privacy protection. Recognizing that technology and Internet services are thriving components of our economy and culture, she is an advocate for multi-stakeholder Internet governance and removing barriers to innovation.

Leadership in the Digital Age

Among her colleagues in Congress, she is valued for her thoughtful insight and the forward-leaning policies she advances to spur the development of new technologies and the growth of America's economy in the Digital Age. Zoe was also instrumental in the selection of Silicon Valley for a new regional patent office so startups and inventors can have direct access to the services they need to thrive and innovate. Zoe's Committee assignments on the House Judiciary Committee and the House Science, Space and Technology Committee provide strong platforms to advocate for issues that are key to Silicon Valley.

Government Surveillance

Patent Reform

Cybersecurity

Copyright

Net Neutrality

Free Expression

More on Innovation and Technology

Rep. Zoe Lofgren Presses Australian Ambassador for Answers on WIPO Director's Shameful Conduct

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) released a letter today to Mr.Kim Beazley, the Australian Ambassador to the United States, outlining her continued concerns over the troubling conduct of Francis Gurry, director-general of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). Late last month, Rep. Lofgren and a group of senior bipartisan Congressional leaders signaled their alarm to the Obama Administration over the widening reports of scandal and misconduct during Gurry's tenure as WIPO leader, including a secret technology transfer to North Korea and Iran.

Key Congressional Leaders: Replace Scandal Plagued WIPO Director

Senior bipartisan Congressional leaders signaled their alarm today to the Obama Administration over the widening expose of reports of scandal and misconduct by Francis Gurry, director-general of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). In a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, the lawmakers warned "the interests of the United States and its large community of innovators cannot be served well with Mr. Gurry continuing as Director General of WIPO." The lawmakers urged the Obama administration "to identify and support an alternate candidate to lead WIPO."

House Judiciary Committee Approves Patent Reform Bill

The House Judiciary Committee today approved the Innovation Act (H.R. 3309) by an overwhelming vote of 33-5. This bipartisan bill takes steps to combat the ever increasing problem of abusive patent litigation. The legislation addresses abusive practices taking place in our courts.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren Celebrates Selection of San Jose City Hall as Silicon Valley Patent Office's Permanent Home

Rep. Zoe Lofgren joined together today with Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Reps. Anna G. Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) and Mike Honda (D-San Jose) to celebrate the selection of San Jose's City Hall building as the permanent location for the Silicon Valley satellite patent office. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) announcement comes after a search for a permanent office space was put on hold in July due to federal budget sequestration.

Reps. Lofgren, Goodlatte, Coble and DeFazio Introduce Bipartisan Patent Litigation Reform Bill

Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) today joined House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet Chairman Howard Coble (R-NC) and Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR) in introducing a bill to address the ever increasing problem of abusive patent litigation. The bipartisan Innovation Act (H.R. 3309) builds on the reforms that were made last Congress in the America Invents Act and addresses certain abusive practices taking place in our Courts.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren Releases Letter to Secretary of State Kerry on Upcoming WIPO General Director Election

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) released the following bipartisan letter to U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry regarding the upcoming election for Director General at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

September 19, 2013

The Honorable John Kerry

Secretary, U.S. Department of State

Washington, DC 20520

Dear Secretary Kerry,

We write to express our deep concern regarding the upcoming election for Director General at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Rep. Zoe Lofgren on Time Warner Cable/CBS Blackout

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose, Calif.) issued the following statement on the ongoing Time Warner Cable-CBS contract dispute that has resulted in the television blackout of millions of people in markets across the country:

"When contract disputes between cable and content providers arise, it is often customers who bear the brunt of the effects. In a trend that is becoming all too common, the recent blackout between Time Warner Cable and CBS has left millions of customers without access to the programming they were promised.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren and Bipartisan Congressional Coalition Introduce Surveillance Order Reporting Act

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and a bipartisan coalition of leading Congressional voices calling to rein in overreaching surveillance programs have introduced legislation today that would enable companies to shed light on the number of surveillance orders they receive and how many of their users are affected by those demands for information.

Rep. Zoe Lofgren Joins Bipartisan Coalition of 16 Members of Congress Urging FISA Court to Release Opinions

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), as part of a bipartisan coalition of sixteen Members of Congress, filed an amicus brief with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), urging the court to release its secret opinions interpreting Section 215 of the Patriot Act. Recent leaks to the media revealed that the National Security Agency (NSA) has conducted a massive surveillance program on all domestic telephone users over the last seven years.

Silicon Valley Congressional Delegation Proposes PATENT Jobs Act

Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose), Mike Honda (D-San Jose) and Anna G. Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) introduced the Patents And Trademarks Encourage New Technology (PATENT) Jobs Act today to exempt the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) from the debilitating cuts imposed by budget sequestration (bill text). Even though the USPTO is funded solely by patent user fees, the sequester requires cuts of nearly $150 million in the agency's funding.

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