OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Paulsen Statement on Reopening the Government

Statement

Date: Jan. 22, 2018
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Health and Health Care Government Budget and Spending

Congressman Erik Paulsen (MN-03) released the following statement after Congress voted to end the government shutdown and fund the federal government through Thursday, February 8:

"I'm glad the Senate finally came together in a bipartisan effort to fund the government, just as we did in the House last week," said Congressman Paulsen. "We can now move past this avoidable shutdown and reopen the federal government. This agreement also protects Minnesota jobs and medical innovation with a two-year suspension of the medical device tax, and includes a six-year reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which is vital to Minnesota children and their parents. I'm now looking forward to turning our focus to resolving other matters, such as a solution for DACA recipients."

The continuing resolution included a two-year suspension of the medical device tax as well as a six-year reauthorization of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Congressman Paulsen is the chief author of legislation to permanently repeal the medical device tax, the Protect Medical Innovation Act. It has the broad bipartisan support of 262 co-sponsors. In 2015, Congressman Paulsen secured a two-year suspension of the medical device tax, which was set to expire in 2018 unless action was taken by Congress.

Congressman Paulsen is a longtime supporter of CHIP and voted for its expansion and reauthorization in 2009 and in the House bill in December 2017. CHIP provides matching federal funds to states to provide low-cost health coverage to children in families of modest means that earn too much money to qualify for Medicaid. In Minnesota, 125,000 children and pregnant mothers rely on this important health care program.

Congressman Paulsen, a champion of small business and advocate of free enterprise, entrepreneurship, and innovation, serves on the House Ways and Means Committee, chairs the bicameral Joint Economic Committee, and is co-chair of the Congressional Medical Technology Caucus.

For more information on Congressman Paulsen's work in Congress visit paulsen.house.gov.


Source
arrow_upward