Mark T. Esper, executive vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Global Intellectual Property Center, today issued the following statement regarding President Barack Obama’s selection of Victoria Espinel to be the nation’s first White House intellectual property enforcement coordinator (IPEC).

“Last year, Congress passed the bipartisan PRO-IP Act to protect the ownership rights of inventors and creators while ensuring the products consumers use are authentic, safe and effective. President Obama’s choice of Victoria Espinel as the nation’s first IP enforcement coordinator is significant, and marks an important step towards fulfilling the promise of the PRO-IP Act.