Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2017

Floor Speech

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Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my thoughts on H.R. 184, the Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2017. I recognize concerns regarding the implications of an excise tax on medical devices for the consumer. However, this bill is a clear effort by the House Majority to continue taking a sledgehammer to the Affordable Care Act and pander to corporate interests.

H.R. 184 is neither good policy nor good messaging. Americans need thoughtful legislation that will improve upon the Affordable Care Act, lower healthcare costs and insurance premiums, expand access to care, and improve the quality of care they receive. Instead, the House Majority brought H.R. 184 to the Floor, without providing for the cost of eliminating the tax, increasing the deficit by $20 billion dollars over 10 years, all to benefit major corporations. As we've seen them do before after the passage of their Tax Scam, Republicans would then cynically use the rising deficits as an excuse to target Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. Therefore, I do not believe it is prudent to repeal this tax, especially without a plan to offset the cost.

I encourage the Majority to make an earnest effort to improve the state of our healthcare systems. I'd gladly join them in working to produce legislation that strengthens the Affordable Care Act by protecting preexisting conditions, expanding access to critical health services, increasing insurance coverage enrollment, decreasing costs and premiums, and improving the quality of treatment all Americans receive. H.R. 184 accomplishes none of these.

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