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Chamber Supports Paulsen's Protect Medical Innovation Act

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 22, 2011

Chamber Supports Paulsen’s Protect Medical Innovation Act
World’s Largest Business Federation Backs Bipartisan Legislation to Repeal Onerous Medical Device Tax

Washington, D.C. – In another sign that Rep. Erik Paulsen’s efforts to repeal the job-crushing medical device tax are gaining steam, the United States Chamber of Commerce today expressed their full support of Paulsen’s Protect Medical Innovation Act. This bipartisan legislation would immediately repeal the new innovation tax that was passed last year as part of the new health care law. The Chamber’s support comes on the eve of the new health care law’s one-year anniversary.

“The medical technology and device industry is an American success story and continues to be a bright spot of our economy,” said Paulsen. “I greatly appreciate the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s support for the Protect Medical Innovation Act and look forward to continuing to work with the Chamber to pass this critical legislation so that we can keep America’s innovators strong.”

“This new 2.3 percent tax on virtually all medical devices beginning in 2013 will lead to increased health care costs, undercutting one of the primary goals of health care reform,” said R. Bruce Josten, the Chamber’s Executive Vice President for Government Affairs. “The Chamber looks forward to working with you and your colleagues to advance H.R. 436 and repeal this onerous tax on the medical technology industry.”

A copy of the letter is attached.

In January, Paulsen introduced the Protect Medical Innovation Act in the U.S. House of Representatives with 41 bipartisan original cosponsors, today the bill has 110 supporters in the House. Companion legislation has also been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT).
Paulsen, a champion of small business and advocate of free enterprise, entrepreneurship, and innovation currently serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, and is co-chair of the Congressional Korea-U.S. Free Trade Working Group and co-chair of the House Medical Technology Caucus.

For more information on Rep. Paulsen’s work in Congress, please visit www.paulsen.house.gov.

 

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Chamber Letter to Paulsen (03/22/11 12:17 PM PST)