News release from Congressman Marlin Stutzman’s office:
Congressman Stutzman Leads Field Forum on Medical Device Industry
Forum highlights industry’s success, fights to eliminate job-killing tax
(Indianapolis – October 24, 2011) – Today, Congressman Marlin Stutzman (IN-03) hosted a congressional field forum on Indiana’s medical device industry. Congressman Stutzman organized the event with Congressman Young (IN-09) in an effort to highlight the Hoosier industry’s success and potential pitfalls.
Members of the Indiana delegation were joined by Congressmen Erik Paulsen (MN-03) and Brett Guthrie (KY-02) to hear from industry representatives and patients alike. The forum also highlighted H.R. 436, the Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2011. Mr. Stutzman, an original cosponsor of the legislation, has worked to build a coalition around the proposal to repeal a new medical device tax that threatens 10% of the industry’s jobs.
“The medical device industry is one of Indiana’s great success stories. I am incredibly proud to represent Warsaw, Indiana, the largest concentration of orthopedic firms in the nation. It’s worked hard to earn its title as the capital of the medical device industry. Companies like Zimmer, Biomet, and DePuy lead the industry, providing jobs and exporting products around the globe,” said Stutzman.
“Unfortunately, the industry is under a very real attack from a new 2.3% tax on medical device sales. This tax threatens an industry that brings jobs to our communities and great value to cancer survivors, seniors, and wounded veterans around the country,” said Stutzman. “We’ve worked hard to repeal this misguided tax and I have no doubt that we will see this through. The future of the 3rd District and Indiana as a whole offers opportunities for growth. The medical device industry is ready to seize those opportunities. We can’t let Washington stand in the way.”
Dr. Dane Miller of Biomet, Mr. Stephen Ferguson of Cook Group, Inc., and Mr. David Floyd of OrthoWorx offered a look at the industry’s economic impact. The forum also heard from Sheila Fraser, a young leukemia survivor who, thanks to a custom device, now leads a normal, active life.
“Sheila has an inspiring story,” said Congressman Stutzman. “I’m happy to say that it’s only one of many.”
Congressman Stutzman represents the 3rd Congressional District of Indiana and serves on the House Committee on Agriculture, the House Committee on the Budget and the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity. Indiana’s 3rd District contains all of DeKalb, Kosciusko, Lagrange, Noble, Steuben, and Whitley counties, as well as parts of Allen and Elkhart counties.
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