Young secures top priorities in federal government funding package

Three of U.S. Sen. Todd Young’s (R-IN) major priorities received U.S. House of Representatives approval on Monday as part of a $1.4 trillion federal government funding package.

“This is a major win for Indiana,” Sen. Young said. “These three provisions will help protect Hoosier jobs, save lives and support our troops.”

Included in the spending package now before the U.S. Senate are the Tobacco to 21 Act; the Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2019; and a pay raise for U.S. military service members.

Sen. Young in April cosponsored the bipartisan, bicameral Tobacco to 21 Act, S. 1258, with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-HI) to prohibit the sale of tobacco products to individuals under the age of 21.

“Raising the legal tobacco age to 21 means that we will protect our youngest Hoosiers from the dangers of e-cigarettes and tobacco addiction,” said Sen. Young this week.

In March, Sen. Young signed on as an original cosponsor of the Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2019, S. 692, with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) and fellow cosponsor U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) to repeal the excise tax on the sale of medical devices by the manufacturer, producer or importer.

“Permanently repealing the medical device tax will safeguard innovation, patient care and crucial Hoosier jobs,” the senator said.

The funding package, which also is expected to pass the Senate this week and then be signed into law by the president to avoid a federal government shutdown, also includes a Sen. Young-supported 3.1-percent pay raise for military members serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.

“As a Marine, I am especially proud to support our men and women in uniform by giving them the largest pay raise in a decade,” Sen. Young said.