Washington, DC – Congressman Howard L. Berman (D-CA), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, hailed the nomination today of Victoria Espinel to be the first Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator.

“It gives me great confidence that Victoria Espinel has been nominated our country’s first IP Enforcement Coordinator,” Berman said. “This step will ensure that the protection and promotion of intellectual property rights will be a priority at the highest level of our government. Congress created this position last year to safeguard a resource that is vital to the American economy. Ms. Espinel has great experience in promoting intellectual property rights both here and abroad, and I have no doubt that she will do a first-rate job.”

Berman is one of the authors of the Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act (PRO-IP Act), which protects the rights of inventors and creators. The legislation, passed in late 2008, established the IP Enforcement Coordinator position.