[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 6]
[House]
[Page 8486]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   PROTECTING THE INNOVATION AND JOBS IN THE MEDICAL DEVICE INDUSTRY

  (Mr. PAULSEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PAULSEN. Mr. Speaker, the medical device industry is a Minnesotan 
and American success story. The innovation it fosters means longer 
lives, healthier patients, good-paying jobs, and economic growth.
  Just this morning, I attended a town hall meeting in Minnesota with 
the new head of the FDA's Center for Devices and Radiological Health, 
Dr. Jeffrey Shuren. Dr. Shuren and his team were in town to hear from 
device manufacturers, doctors and patients. I applaud his willingness 
and his team's willingness to listen.
  As the FDA looks to the future, it is critical that it strikes the 
right balance--protecting patients from harm while not hindering the 
availability of lifesaving innovations. An uncertain, unpredictable 
approval process for devices could absolutely reduce options for 
patients down the road. We need to keep the innovation here. We need to 
keep the jobs here. We need to keep the technology and the patient care 
here in the United States. That's why we need an effective process that 
protects patients while fostering the innovation and economic growth 
that this industry provides.

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