Political Quotes

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, the medical device industry is a unique American success story, both for patients and for our economy. Within the last two decades, we have seen a rapid growth in medical technology companies in my home State of Pennsylvania, providing tens of thousands of jobs, billions of dollars in revenue, and contributing to better health outcomes for millions of Americans and patients globally. These are good-paying jobs that help sustain the middle class in our country, and we must create an environment that encourages 21st century innovative industries like medical device manufacturing. As our economy continues to struggle, an additional 2.3 percent excise tax would be a burdensome charge on an industry that is steadily growing and creating jobs. One medical device company that employs hundreds in my district told me: We are at full capacity and need to expand. This excise tax will prevent any plans for growth in the near future. Mr. Speaker, we simply cannot allow the potential for job growth, the potential for further American innovation and competitiveness to be lost in today's economy. Last year, I cosponsored the original version of the Protect Medical Innovations Act. There is bipartisan support to repeal this tax, but in the past week Republicans have muddied the process and decided to play politics with this bill.…”