[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 98 (Thursday, June 18, 2015)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E931-E932]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 PROTECT MEDICAL INNOVATION ACT OF 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 17, 2015

  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 160, the 
``Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2015,'' which would repeal the 2.3 
percent excise tax on medical devices that was enacted as part of the 
Affordable Care Act.
  I oppose this bill strongly because repeal of the excise would 
increase the deficit by $24.4 billion over 10 years.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 160 is nothing but our Republican friends' latest 
unpaid-for permanent tax cut bill.
  If H.R. 160 were to become law, House Republicans will have passed 
unpaid-for GOP tax cuts that increase the deficit by a total of $611 
billion just this year.
  Mr. Speaker, given the real challenges facing our nation, it is 
irresponsible for the Republican majority to continue bringing to the 
floor bills that have no chance of becoming law and would harm millions 
of Americans if they were to be enacted.
  House Republicans have tried at least 58 times to undermine the 
Affordable Care Act, which has enabled more than 16 million previously 
uninsured Americans to know the peace of mind that comes from having 
access to affordable, accessible, high quality health care.
  Their record to date is 0-58; it will soon be 0-59 because the 
President has announced that he will veto this bill if it makes it to 
his desk.
  Mr. Speaker, all sectors of the health care industry are benefiting 
from the projected 25 million Americans who will gain coverage under 
reform, all were called upon to contribute.
  The medical device tax that H.R. 160 would repeal was simply the 
medical device industry's contribution to this collective undertaking.
  A repeal of the medical device tax would encourage drug companies, 
health insurers, hospitals, clinical laboratories, and home health 
agencies to seek the repeal of their own contributions as well.
  According to a study conducted by Wells Fargo Securities, increasing 
the number of insured Americans, will increase medical device sales by 
3.6 percent over its first decade.
  Moreover, the medical device tax, which went into effect in 2013, has 
not damaged the medical device industry.
  In fact, the medical device industry is prospering grandly.
  A recent analysis by Ernst and Young indicates that the medical 
device industry's revenue increased by $8 billion in 2013, while R&D 
spending by the industry increased by 6 percent and employment in the 
industry increased by 23,500.
  Also, despite industry's claims to the contrary, the medical device 
tax has not forced companies to ship jobs overseas and there is no 
disadvantage for U.S.-based firms.
  Mr. Speaker, our friends across the aisle just cannot accept the fact 
that the Affordable Care Act is a success and is making a positive 
difference in the lives of more than 16 million persons.
  These Americans come from all walks of life.
  They are women, who can no longer be denied coverage or be forced to 
pay exorbitant amounts for coverage simply because of their sex.
  They are nine million seniors and people with disabilities, who have 
saved $1,600 each on expensive and lifesaving prescription medication.
  And they are this country's most vulnerable citizens; people who are 
working hard and struggling to make ends meet while living in near-
poverty, and who have been covered by Medicaid expansion in 27 states 
and the District of Columbia.
  These benefits have been felt across the country, and especially in 
my home state of Texas where:
  1. 10,695,000 individuals with pre-existing conditions such as 
asthma, cancer, or diabetes--including up to 1,632,000 children--will 
no longer have to worry about being denied coverage or charged higher 
prices because of their health status or history.
  2. 4,889,000 uninsured Texans have new health insurance options 
through Medicaid or private health plans in the Marketplace.
  3. 5,198,000 individuals on private insurance have gained coverage 
for at least one free preventive health care service such as a 
mammogram, birth control, or an immunization in 2011 and 2012.
  4. In the first ten months of 2013, 233,100 seniors and people with 
disabilities saved on average $866 on prescription medications.
  5. 357,000 young adults have gained health insurance because they can 
now stay on their parents' health plans until age 26.

[[Page E932]]

  In addition to the tangible healthcare benefits for millions of 
families, the ACA has had powerful effects on the financial state of 
our nation.
  Since the passage of the Affordable Care Act, we have extended the 
solvency of the Medicare Trust fund by more than a decade, and helped 
save taxpayers $116 billion through new Medicare efficiencies.
  H.R. 160 will not make our country better, it will not help uninsured 
Americans obtain coverage; it will cost the medical device industry 
jobs and will increase the deficit.
  It is an irresponsible proposal and should, like the previous 58 
attempts to undermine Obamacare, be rejected.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in voting against H.R. 160.

                          ____________________