By Penny Young Nance in The Hill

Few would dispute that the American economy is still in need of a serious boost. Some are more hopeful than others about the future, but the fact remains that our economy shrank in the first quarter of this year. This is concerning for those of us who know that our economic policies affect every aspect of our lives, especially the wellbeing of what I consider the first unit of growth for our country: the family.

The family unit is the bedrock of our society and economic instability is devastating to it.

This is why it is puzzling to read that the House of Representatives is seriously considering a bill that could diminish the national patent system. The “Innovation Act” places excessive burdens on patent holders seeking to protect their intellectual property. That means that foreign infringers would have a much easier time avoiding punishment for copying American designs.