Category: News

House Passes Walorski Bill to Help Seniors Live at Home

House Passes Walorski Bill to Help Seniors Live at Home

Bipartisan Comprehensive Care for Seniors Act Would Modernize Programs Like Saint Joseph PACE in Mishawaka

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today applauded House passage of her bipartisan legislation to modernize a program that helps seniors live at home longer. The Comprehensive Care for Seniors Act, which passed by a unanimous voice vote, would bring improvements to Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), which allow seniors with complex care needs to continue living at home.

“Seniors facing health challenges should be able to get high-quality health care while continuing to live in their own homes,” Congresswoman Walorski said. “Innovative programs like Saint Joseph PACE in Mishawaka have proven effective in improving health outcomes and allowing seniors to be more independent. This bipartisan, commonsense legislation will modernize these programs so more Hoosier seniors can live at home longer.”

“We are grateful for Rep. Walorski’s continued support in seeking ways to make PACE more available for the people of Indiana,” said Stacey Newton, Executive Director of Saint Joseph PACE. “PACE is proven to be the most effective way for people with long term care needs to continue to live in the community with the highest quality of life possible.  This bill will allow PACE to grow faster and reach more people and families in need not only in Indiana but across the country.”

“NPA expects the PACE final rule to provide much needed flexibility, in contrast to current PACE regulations, which will allow PACE to grow faster and to operate more efficiently,” said National PACE Association President & CEO Shawn Bloom. “Today we applaud the House of Representatives for passing this critically important legislation. In particular, we commend the strong leadership of  H.R. 6561’s sponsor Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN-2).”

Video of Walorski speaking on the House floor in support of the legislation is available here. The full text of her remarks is below.

“I rise today in support of H.R. 6561, the Comprehensive Care for Seniors Act of 2018. This bipartisan legislation would require the Secretary of HHS to finalize updated regulations for the Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, commonly known as PACE, while still giving the Secretary the flexibility to make updates and changes to the proposed regulation.

“The PACE program is a proven model for delivering high-quality, comprehensive, community-based health care for seniors. It helps seniors whose health conditions would otherwise land them in a nursing home to remain in their own homes for as long as possible by allowing them to see health professionals and social service providers at local PACE centers.

“There are currently 124 PACE organizations in 31 states that serve over 45,000 Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, enabling them to live safely in the community through the fully integrated services and supports provided. This allows beneficiaries to live longer, experience better health, and have fewer hospital visits. Seniors facing health challenges should have the option to receive high-quality health care while continuing to live at home, and programs like St. Joseph PACE in Mishawaka in my district allow them to do that.

“In 2016, CMS released a proposed rule to update the original guidelines from 2006. A bipartisan group of members of Congress sent letters in November 2017 and June 2018 urging CMS to prioritize updating the existing regulatory framework, which is more than a decade old. The agency has unfortunately not taken any action.

“This much-needed update would allow PACE programs to customize their interdisciplinary team around the needs of each enrollee, provide more services in the community, and give greater flexibility to partner with community providers.”

BACKGROUND

Walorski recently joined U.S. Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.), and Judy Chu (D-Calif.) and U.S. Sens. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) in introducing the bipartisan, bicameral legislation.

H.R. 6561 / S. 3338 would require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to finalize updated regulations for PACE programs by the end of the year. PACE is a proven model for delivering high-quality, comprehensive, integrated, and coordinated community-based health care to seniors and individuals with disabilities who meet the criteria for nursing home care but wish to live at home.

Organizations supporting the Comprehensive Care for Seniors Act include the National PACE Association, the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the Alzheimer’s Association, and UsAgainstAlzheimer’s.

Currently, 124 PACE organizations across 31 states serve more than 45,000 people. Trinity Health operates Saint Joseph PACE, which serves Hoosiers at a center in Mishawaka.

Walorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

###

Committee Approves Walorski Bill to Help Seniors Live at Home

Committee Approves Walorski Bill to Help Seniors Live at Home

Ways and Means Sends Bipartisan Comprehensive Care for Seniors Act to House Floor

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today applauded Ways and Means Committee passage of the Comprehensive Care for Seniors Act, her bipartisan legislation to speed up the modernization of Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), which allow seniors with complex care needs to continue living at home.

“Seniors facing health challenges should have the option to receive high-quality health care while continuing to live at home, and the PACE program helps them do that,” Congresswoman Walorski said. “St. Joseph PACE in Mishawaka has proven this model of care is effective in improving health outcomes and quality of life. The PACE program is long overdue for an update, and this bipartisan, commonsense legislation will ensure improvements are made quickly so more seniors can live at home longer.”

Video of Walorski speaking at today’s committee markup is available here. The full text of her remarks is below.

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to urge my colleagues to support H.R. 6561, the Comprehensive Care for Seniors Act of 2018. I introduced this bipartisan legislation with Representatives Jenkins, Chu, Blumenauer, and Kind. I want to thank them for their hard work on this bill and their previous work on this issue.

“The Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly, commonly known as PACE, is a proven model for delivering high-quality, comprehensive, integrated, and coordinated community-based health care for seniors. It helps seniors whose health conditions would otherwise land them in a nursing home to remain in the community for as long as possible by allowing them to see health professionals and social service providers at local PACE centers.

“In 2016, CMS released a proposed rule to update the original guidelines from 2006. This much-needed update would allow PACE programs to customize their interdisciplinary team around the needs of each enrollee, provide more services in community settings outside of a PACE center, and give greater flexibility to partner with community providers.

“H.R. 6561 requires the Secretary of HHS to finalize updated regulations for PACE by the end of this year while still giving the Secretary the flexibility to make updates and changes to the proposed regulation.

“Seniors facing health challenges should have the option to receive high-quality health care while continuing to live at home, and the PACE program helps them do that. St. Joseph PACE in Mishawaka, Indiana, has proven this model of care is effective in improving health outcomes and quality of life. The PACE program is long overdue for an update, and this bipartisan, commonsense legislation will ensure improvements are made quickly so more seniors can live at home longer.

“I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense bill, and I yield back the balance of my time.”

BACKGROUND

Walorski recently joined U.S. Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.), and Judy Chu (D-Calif.) and U.S. Sens. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) in introducing the bipartisan, bicameral legislation.

H.R. 6561 / S. 3338 would require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to finalize updated regulations for PACE programs by the end of the year. PACE is a proven model for delivering high-quality, comprehensive, integrated, and coordinated community-based health care to seniors and individuals with disabilities who meet the criteria for nursing home care but wish to live at home.

Currently, 124 PACE organizations across 31 states serve more than 45,000 people. Trinity Health operates St. Joseph PACE, which serves Hoosiers at a center in Mishawaka.

Walorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

###

Walorski Statement on Tariff Exclusion Process Improvements

Walorski Statement on Tariff Exclusion Process Improvements

Commonsense Fixes Include Changes Walorski Requested to Help American Manufacturers

MISHAWAKA, Ind. – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today released the following statement on improvements to the steel and aluminum tariffs product exclusion process:

“It has been clear from the beginning that the product exclusion process for steel and aluminum tariffs is broken. By addressing some of the concerns I have raised after hearing from manufacturers across the country, these commonsense fixes will go a long way toward improving the process. I welcome President Trump’s action to ensure local businesses are treated more fairly and to protect American jobs. I remain concerned about the lack of transparency and consistency for companies seeking product exclusions, and I will continue working with Secretary Ross to bring about additional improvements.”

BACKGROUND

President Trump on Wednesday signed proclamations related to the section 232 steel and aluminum tariffs. The proclamations make the following changes to the product exclusion process:

  1. Allowing companies to file for exclusions for products from countries subject to quotas;
  2. Providing limited grandfathering for certain contracts for steel from quota countries; and
  3. Extending retroactivity of relief to the date of filing, rather than the date of posting.

Congresswoman Walorski earlier this year called for improvements to the product exclusion process in order to reduce burdens on manufacturers and other small businesses. She led a bipartisan letter signed by 38 of her colleagues asking Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to implement changes to streamline the process and provide certainty and relief to small businesses impacted by the tariffs. Among the changes Walorski requested were extending relief retroactive to the date of submission and grandfathering existing contracts.

At a Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee hearing in July, Walorski renewed calls for the Commerce Department to fix the broken exclusion process and highlighted problems encountered by U.S. manufacturers in all three phases of the process: posting, objections, and decisions.

Walorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

###

Walorski Statement on U.S.-Mexico Understanding on Trade

Walorski Statement on U.S.-Mexico Understanding on Trade

MISHAWAKA, Ind. – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today released the following statement after President Trump announced an understanding was reached in trade negotiations with Mexico:

“I just met with Hoosier corn and soybean farmers in Miami County, and they told me what I hear from farmers and manufacturers across northern Indiana: they need long-term certainty when it comes to trade. A stronger, modernized trade agreement among the U.S., Canada, and Mexico is critical to building on our nation’s economic momentum and helping Hoosiers thrive.

“Today’s announcement is a positive step, and I am optimistic it will lead to an agreement that better meets the needs of our nation’s manufacturers, farmers, businesses, and workers. I hope Canada returns quickly to the negotiating table, and I look forward to reviewing the details of any final agreement.”

BACKGROUND

Walorski earlier today spoke with Hoosier corn and soybean farmers at a “Shop Talk” event in Macy, Ind., hosted by the Indiana Corn Growers Association and Indiana Soybean Alliance.

In April, she led a letter signed by 64 members of Congress urging President Trump to build on the economic momentum spurred by tax cuts by remaining in the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and modernizing the trade pact for the 21st century.

Walorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

###

House, Senate Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Modernize Medicare Program That Helps Seniors Live at Home

House, Senate Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Modernize Medicare Program That Helps Seniors Live at Home

Bipartisan Legislation Requires CMS to Finalize Updated Regulations for PACE Health Care Program by End of Year

WASHINGTON – U.S. Reps. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) and Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) and U.S. Sens. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), and Bill Cassidy (R-La.) have introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to speed up the modernization of Programs of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), which allow seniors with complex care needs to continue living at home.

“Seniors facing health challenges should have the option to receive high-quality, comprehensive health care while continuing to live at home, and the PACE program helps them do that,” Congresswoman Walorski said. “PACE organizations across the country, including St. Joseph PACE in Mishawaka, have proven this integrated care program is effective in improving health outcomes and quality of life. The PACE program is long overdue for an update, and this bipartisan, commonsense legislation will ensure improvements are made quickly so more seniors can live at home longer.”

“The PACE program has proven to be extremely beneficial to the elderly and individuals living with disabilities in my community and in communities across the country,” said Congressman Blumenauer. “The administration has a responsibility to modernize the program and make it available to more Americans. This legislation will force this modernization and go a long way in achieving our goals of better care at lower costs for those in need.”

“We have a responsibility to care for the most vulnerable among us, and PACE organizations around the country help us to do just that by providing comprehensive and high-quality care to both seniors and those living with disabilities,” said Senator Carper. “This bipartisan legislation will help to ensure that PACE remains an integral component of care for American senior citizens, and I urge both the House and Senate to take it up and pass it quickly.”

“Pennsylvania’s PACE programs help thousands of seniors who need an institutional-level of treatment remain in their homes while still receiving quality medical care,” said Senator Toomey. “As enrollment in PACE continues to grow, the program’s regulations must be flexible enough for providers to introduce new medical technologies that allow for better coordinated care. I hope the Finance Committee will soon take up our bipartisan legislation.

“We appreciate strong leaders in Congress supporting our efforts to expand the number of individuals who can benefit from the PACE model of care and the sites needed to serve them,” said Shawn Bloom, president and CEO of the National PACE Association (NPA). “The flexibility to be provided in the new PACE Final Rule are practices that have been developed and field tested over 20 years during which PACE providers have been serving many different types of people, families and communities.”

“We appreciate Rep. Walorski’s support of PACE,” said Stacey Newton, the executive director of  Saint Joseph PACE in Mishawaka, Ind. “The new PACE Final Rule will allow us to expand PACE more quickly to improve the lives of individuals whose health care needs make them eligible for nursing home care. By serving them in the community, PACE is able to dramatically impact their quality of life and the quality of life for their families.”

BACKGROUND

H.R. 6561 / S. 3338 would require the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) to finalize updated regulations for PACE programs by the end of the year. PACE is a proven model for delivering high-quality, comprehensive, integrated, and coordinated community-based health care to seniors and individuals with disabilities who meet the criteria for nursing home care but wish to live at home. Currently, 124 PACE organizations across 31 states serve more than 45,000 people. St. Joseph Health System operates a PACE organization serving Hoosiers at a center in Mishawaka.

In November 2017 and June 2018, a bipartisan group of members of Congress sent letters urging CMS Administrator Seema Verma to prioritize updating the existing regulatory framework, which is more than a decade old. An updated rule was proposed nearly two years ago but has not been finalized.

The members called for changes to improve efficiency and increase flexibility, including:

  • Allowing PACE organizations to include community physicians as part of their hallmark interdisciplinary teams (IDT);
  • Decreasing the burden of expansion by allowing existing PACE organizations to open new PACE centers without an application;
  • Providing services in alternative settings, other than the PACE Center, to better respond to beneficiaries’ needs and preferences; and
  • Configuring the IDT to meet the needs of individual participants.

Walorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

###

Walorski Statement on Strong Economic Report

Walorski Statement on Strong Economic Report

Economy Grew 4.1% in 2nd Quarter, Highest Rate of GDP Growth in Nearly Four Years

MISHAWAKA, Ind. – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today released the following statement on the strong economic report showing 4.1 percent growth of gross domestic product (GDP) in the second quarter of 2018:

“Today’s strong economic report is the latest sign the American economy is booming. Historic tax cuts and regulatory reforms have put our country on a stronger path, and we need to keep this momentum going. That’s why I’ll continue fighting for Hoosier workers, farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses so hardworking families have the opportunity to achieve the American Dream.”

Walorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

###

Walorski Votes for National Defense Bill to Support Troops, Keep America Safe

Walorski Votes for National Defense Bill to Support Troops, Keep America Safe

FY19 NDAA Conference Report Continues Military Rebuilding, Gives Troops Biggest Pay Raise in 9 Years

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today released the following statement after the House passed legislation to continue the rebuilding of the military and provide servicemembers their biggest pay raise in nine years:

“Providing for the national defense is our most important responsibility, and this bipartisan legislation puts the safety and security of the American people first.

“It boosts readiness by investing in maintenance, modernization, and training. It restores our Armed Forces to full strength. And it gives our troops their biggest pay raise in nine years.

“This critical bill continues the rebuilding of our military and gives our brave servicemembers the tools and support they need both on and off the battlefield.”

BACKGROUND

The House passed the Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 5515, the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2019 by a bipartisan vote of 359 to 54. The Senate is expected to follow suit in the coming days and send the legislation to the president’s desk.

Rebuilding Our Military

  • Authorizes $708.1 billion in discretionary defense funding for FY19.
  • Increases size of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Naval and Air Reserve, and Air Guard.
  • Improves readiness through increased training and flying hours.
  • Boosts investment in maintenance, modernization, rebuilding, and replacement of equipment.
  • Makes key reforms to Pentagon bureaucracy and streamlines acquisition process.

Supporting Troops and Military Families

  • Fully funds a 2.6 percent pay increase for servicemembers – the largest increase in nine years.
  • Extends special pay and bonuses for servicemembers in high-demand fields.
  • Provides additional assistance to military spouses seeking employment by enhancing the My Career Advancement program.
  • Requires comprehensive review of wounded warrior care and mental health services.
  • Ensures no military medical treatment facility is closed until all facilities are transitioned to the Defense Health Agency.

Keeping Our Nation Safe

  • Maintains existing prohibitions on closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay or transferring terrorist detainees to U.S. soil.
  • Supports partners and allies fighting ISIS, the Taliban, and other terrorist organizations.
  • Enhances missile defense and nuclear deterrence capabilities to counter threats from Iran and North Korea.
  • Strengthens cyberdefense and provides critical resources to confront threats from hostile nations.
  • Continues support for European allies to deter Russia and provides funding to counter Russian cyber and information warfare threats.
  • Supports co-development of missile defense systems with Israel and co-production of Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow weapons systems.

Walorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

###

Walorski Votes for Bills to Lower Health Care Costs, Expand Patient Choice

Walorski Votes for Bills to Lower Health Care Costs, Expand Patient Choice

House Passes Legislation to Delay Health Insurance Tax, Modernize Health Savings Accounts

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today voted for two bills aimed at expanding consumer-directed health care and lowering premiums for individuals and families.

“With rising premiums and fewer options, Hoosier families need more affordable health care and more control over how they pay for it,” Congresswoman Walorski said. “These commonsense solutions will improve flexibility, expand consumer choice, and bring down costs. By delaying the costly health insurance tax and modernizing tax-advantaged health savings accounts, we are taking an important step to empower families and help ease the financial burden of health care.”

BACKGROUND

H.R. 6311, the Increasing Access to Lower Premium Plans and Expanding Health Savings Accounts Act, which passed the House by a vote of 242 to 176, would:

  • Make more individuals eligible for tax-advantaged health savings accounts (HSAs) and increase allowable contributions;
  • Allow flexible spending account (FSA) balances to be carried forward each year;
  • Allow anyone in the individual market to access lower cost “catastrophic” plans;
  • Make “bronze” and “catastrophic” plans eligible for an HSA; and
  • Delay Obamacare’s health insurance tax for an additional two years, providing relief from premium increases caused by the tax.

H.R. 6199, the Restoring Access to Medication and Modernizing Health Savings Accounts Act, which passed the House by a vote of 277 to 142, would expand the range of qualified medical expenses, including allowing health savings account (HSA) funds to be used for over-the-counter medical products.

Walorski spoke on the House floor in support of the provision in H.R. 6311 that would delay the health insurance tax for two years. In May, Walorski helped introduce H.R. 5963, bipartisan legislation to delay the tax until after 2020.

Video of Walorski speaking on the House floor is available here. The full text of her remarks is below.

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I rise in support of H.R. 6311, the Increasing Access to Lower Premium Plans and Expanding Health Savings Accounts Act.

“This important bill contains a two-year delay of the Health Insurance Tax, or HIT. Like the medical device tax, which the House voted yesterday to repeal, the HIT is yet another damaging tax from Obamacare. It raises premiums for families, small businesses, and seniors and the disabled enrolled in Medicare Advantage. In fact, the HIT could raise annual premiums for the typical Medicare Advantage couple by $500 if it returns in 2020.

“I’m a proud original cosponsor with Representatives Noem, Sinema, and Bera of HR 5963, which delays the HIT for two years, and I’m thrilled the bill we’re voting on today includes it.

“I look forward to the day when we can finally repeal this tax that falls on the backs of seniors, the disabled, small businesses, and hardworking families, but until then I urge my colleagues to support delaying it and I yield back.”

Walorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

###

Walorski: Tariff Exclusion Process Is Broken

Walorski: Tariff Exclusion Process Is Broken

U.S. Manufacturers Testify at Ways and Means Hearing on Problems Plaguing Exclusion Process for Steel and Aluminum Tariffs

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today at a Ways and Means Trade Subcommittee hearing renewed calls for the Commerce Department to fix the broken exclusion process for steel and aluminum tariffs.

“The current exclusion process is broken – it’s opaque, unfair, and breathtakingly inconsistent,” Congresswoman Walorski said. “We’re not asking Commerce to grant every request. We’re saying there are major structural issues that are causing uneven outcomes. We’re saying that the deck seems to be stacked toward one side right now and it needs to be rebalanced.”

Walorski highlighted problems encountered by U.S. manufacturers in all three phases of the process: posting, objections, and decisions. In May, Walorski led a bipartisan letter signed by 39 members of Congress asking Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to implement 10 commonsense changes to the exclusion process.

Posting

Businesses granted product exclusions are eligible for reimbursement of tariffs paid, but relief is retroactive to the date of posting for public comment rather than the date of the request.

According to data available on Regulations.gov and compiled by Walorski’s office, applications are posted an average of 3-4 weeks after they are submitted. Such delays are made worse when companies are forced to re-submit applications due to unclear guidelines or inconsistent rejections for minor errors.

Todd Adams, president of Sanitube LLC and vice president of Stainless Imports, Inc., testified that his company was forced to pay tariffs on a one-time order of imported steel. Although the shipments were initiated before Section 232 tariffs took effect, the company is ineligible for retroactive relief on two shipping containers of steel that arrived after the exclusion request was submitted but before it was posted. The company is still awaiting a decision on one of its applications.

Objections

Exclusion requests are posted for a 30-day public comment period, but there is no process in place to allow businesses to rebut objections.

Out of more than 5,700 objections submitted in response to steel and aluminum exclusion requests, only 54 were posted before the end of the comment period, leaving businesses no opportunity to respond. Some were told they had to re-submit their request – starting the process over – in order to make a rebuttal.

Willie Chiang, executive vice president, COO, and director of Plains All American Pipeline, testified that several objections to his company’s exclusion request were submitted on the last day of the 30-day comment period and were posted a week after it closed. The exclusion request was denied.

Decisions

The Commerce Department has made decisions on approximately 1,100 exclusion requests but is providing no explanation for its approvals or denials.

The department provides one of two reasons for denying a request: there is sufficient quantity and quality of domestic supply, or the application was incomplete. However, it does not provide an explanation or disclose its analysis. Demonstrating the lack of transparency in the decision process, Commerce has denied seven exclusion requests on the basis of sufficient supply even though there were no objections submitted.

One Commerce official predicted this opaque an inconsistent process in June, telling the Washington Post: “It’s going to be so unbelievably random, and some companies are going to get screwed.”

Video of Congresswoman Walorski’s comments at the hearing is available here.

Walorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

###

Walorski Votes to Repeal Job-Killing Medical Device Tax

Walorski Votes to Repeal Job-Killing Medical Device Tax

House Passes Permanent Repeal of Tax That Puts Hoosier Jobs and Innovation at Risk

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) today voted to repeal the job-killing medical device tax and protect Hoosier jobs in the innovative medical device manufacturing industry.

“Our economy is booming because of historic tax cuts and regulatory reforms, and we need to keep that momentum going,” Congresswoman Walorski said. “It’s time to end the medical device tax once and for all. Permanently repealing this job-killing tax will protect Hoosier workers and help patients access the life-saving medical technology they need.”

The House passed H.R. 184, the Protect Medical Innovation Act, which would permanently repeal the 2.3 percent excise tax on medical device sales, by a vote of 283 to 132. Congress earlier this year suspended the tax through 2019. Walorski in December introduced H.R. 4617, which would have suspended the medical device tax for five years.

Video of Walorski speaking on the House floor in support of H.R. 184 is available here. The full text of her remarks is below.

“Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I rise today in support of H.R. 184, the Protect Medical Innovation Act.

“This legislation will permanently repeal the job-killing medical device tax. Hoosiers are proud to be leaders in medical innovation, with more than 300 medical device manufacturers in our state that support nearly 55,000 jobs. These are high-paying jobs, with workers in the industry earning about $50,000 per year on average.

“However, after Obamacare’s medical device tax took effect, the industry lost almost 29,000 good-paying jobs nationwide from 2012 to 2015, according to Commerce Department data. That’s why Congress took bipartisan action in 2015 to suspend the tax for two years, and did so again earlier this year. But if it goes back into effect after 2019, it will impede new discoveries and stifle medical innovation while destroying good jobs.

“Right now, our economy is booming because of historic tax cuts and regulatory reforms, and we need to keep that momentum going. It’s time to end the medical device tax once and for all. Permanently repealing this job-killing tax will protect American workers and help patients access the life-saving medical technology they need.

“Mr. Speaker, the medical device tax would have a devastating impact on Hoosier workers and people from across the country who depend on these products. The Protect Medical Innovation Act will boost American innovation and manufacturing, and it will encourage medical research and development that make a real difference in people’s lives. I urge my colleagues to support this vital piece of legislation, and I yield back.”

Walorski represents the 2nd Congressional District of Indiana, serving as a member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

###

Get News & Updates