Examining the role of the medical device industry for patients and the economy

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Leonard Lance (NJ-07) will join a group of House Republicans centered on improving the Food and Drug Administration’s regulatory process in holding a first-of-its kind Jobs and Innovation Forum focusing on medical devices, will begin at 2 p.m., Tuesday, September 20, 2011 on Capitol Hill. 

Medicaldevice innovators will demonstrate their latest technological advancements and engage in a roundtable discussion with members of Congress and discuss how the FDA’s review process impacts their ability to make these devices accessible to American patients.

New Jersey is home to more than 60,000 medical technology related jobs — the sixth highest employment in the Nation.  Lance noted that New Jersey’s Seventh District includes scores of medical devices companies, including Bard, Baxter, Johnson & Johnson, 3M Health Care, ConvaTec, Roche, Stryker, Varian Medical Systems, Kinetic Concepts, Thoratec and Zimmer Holdings.

Congressman Leonard Lance is one of the leading advocates for New Jersey's medical device industry.  He is a lead sponsor of H.R. 436, the "Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2011" which would repeal the excise tax on medical devices.  Lance, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, has also called for the reform of the 510(k) approval process and bringing greater transparency to the regulatory system as two proposals to help the medical technology industry.

Click here <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QlJQe-7z98w> to watch a preview of the event.  Members of the public are encouraged to participate in the discussion and submit their questions online through Facebook <http://www.facebook.com/energyandcommerce?sk=app_202641663099561> and Twitter <http://twitter.com/#!/HouseCommerce>. The event will be webcast live.

For location and other details, members of the media should contact Angie Lundberg angie.lundberg@mail.house.gov

 

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