On the recordJune 7, 2012
I thank the gentleman for yielding. I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 436, one more piece of Republican legislation that protects special interests at the expense of working with families. This is just another message in an attempt to undercut the Affordable Care Act. It repeals a small excise tax imposed on the medical device industry as their contribution to health reform in light of their expanded market. I might remind you that repealing this tax costs $29 billion in deficit losses. {time} 1450 How do they finance this legislation? Like they always do--take it out of the hides of low- and middle-income working families and give it to rich manufacturers. The bill eliminates protections in the health reform law that prevent families from potentially being hit with an unexpected tax because of unforeseen income changes. According to the Joint Committee, this change by the Republicans would cost over 350,000 people to become uninsured. It's important to note that the medical device industry stood with President Obama and others in the health care industry in May of 2009 and pledged to contribute their fair share toward making health reform a reality. Well, it's time to put your money where your mouth was. The medical device industry gains more than 30 million newly insured Americans through health reform, many of whom will use medical devices at some point in their lives.…
