Press Releases
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) recently introduced H.R. 5638, a bill creating an exemption for repair parts in U.S. patent law. This bill applies only to repair and replacement parts that restore an article’s original appearance. This legislation was introduced partly in response to a recent International Trade Court (ITC) decision holding that automakers could assert patents on purely ornamental and cosmetic features of exterior vehicle parts to prevent the manufacture or importation of repair parts, such as bumpers.
Today, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) introduced the bi-partisan, pro-consumer “Cell Tax Fairness Act,” which provides for a 5-year moratorium on any new discriminatory wireless tax or fee. A typical consumer already pays 15.19% in federal, state, and local taxes on their cell phone bill as compared to 7.07% for most other taxable goods and services. Between January 2003 and July 2007, the effective rate of taxation on wireless service increased four times faster than the rate for other taxable goods and services.
Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) inserted the following statement into the Congressional Record honoring Cesar Chavez on the 81st anniversary of his birth.
Statement for the Congressional Record
Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (CA-16)
Remembering and Honoring Cesar Chavez
Today, Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) cosigned a letter with Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA) to Secretary of Homeland Security Chertoff questioning the adequacy of the security and anti-counterfeiting features on the new U.S. Passport Card. The letter also questions the posting of the Passport Card’s specifications and artwork on the internet. Full text of the letter below:
March 14, 2008
Secretary Michael Chertoff
United States Department of Homeland Security
Washington, DC 20229
Dear Secretary Chertoff:
Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) today issued the following statement in response to a recent ruling by the United States District for the Central District of California in Castaneda v. U.S., et al.
Today, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) introduced H. Res. 1044, co-sponsored by Rep. William Delahunt (D-MA), calling on the government of Pakistan to restore its “ supreme court and high court justices and other members of the legal profession in Pakistan who were removed from office since the imposition of emergency rule€” Full text of the resolution is below.
Condemning the dismissal of the Supreme Court in Pakistan and calling for their reinstatement by the Government of Pakistan.
Today, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) introduced a resolution, co-sponsored by Reps. Dan Lungren (R-CA) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fl), calling for the release of Dr. Nguyen Quoc Quan and other political prisoners being held by the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. Dr. Nguyen Quoc Quan, a U.S. citizen, is being held by the Vietnamese government for speaking out against human rights violations committed by the communist government.
Last week, Representative Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) joined with several of her colleagues in signing letters to President Bush and Secretary of State Rice, urging them to do everything possible to ensure that the Vietnamese government desists from all violent repression of the protestors and supports a negotiated settlement regarding the confiscation of religious property.
Full text of both letters below:
The Honorable George W. Bush
The President of the United States
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
