U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-IN) on Tuesday hailed passage of a fiscal year 2020 government spending agreement by the U.S. House of Representatives that includes her bipartisan bill to permanently repeal a 2.3 percent excise tax on medical devices.
“After years of fighting Speaker Pelosi and special interests, today we’ve secured a major victory for Hoosier workers and patients across the country: permanent repeal of Obamacare’s job-killing medical device tax,” Rep. Walorski said on Dec. 17. “Ending this destructive tax once and for all will protect manufacturing jobs in northern Indiana, boost research and innovation of medical technologies, and ensure patients continue to have access to the cutting-edge products they need.”
Two other Obamacare taxes to be slashed in the agreement include a 40 percent excise tax on employer-provided health plans that exceed certain thresholds, also known as the Cadillac Tax, and a health insurance tax.
“We’re also repealing two other costly Obamacare taxes that threatened to raise the cost of health care — the health insurance tax and the Cadillac tax. We’re ensuring states have the resources they need to transform their foster care systems and put families first,” said Rep. Walorski. She added that lawmakers are “providing certainty and tax relief to American farmers and small businesses by extending the biodiesel tax credit and the short line railroad tax credit.”
The congresswoman also noted that the final agreement prioritizes national security by providing funds to continue rebuilding the U.S. military; supports a 3.1 percent pay raise for military service members; and would provide $1.375 billion in new funding for the president’s border wall.
“While this legislation is not perfect — it is clearer than ever that both parties need to come together to implement long-term spending reforms in order to get our national debt under control — it will protect Hoosier jobs, keep our nation’s economic momentum going, and prioritize the safety and security of the American people,” Rep. Walorski said. “This is a win for Hoosier manufacturers, farmers, workers, and families.”
The legislation, which also provides federal government funding for the remainder of FY 2020, now awaits action by the U.S. Senate.