Providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the joint resolution (H.J.Res. 59) making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes, and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3210) making continuing appropriations for military pay in the event of a Government shutdown.

Mr. Speaker, we all know that the medical technology industry is one of America's leading manufacturing industries and has huge potential to continue being a vehicle for creating jobs.

This American success story employs more than 400,000 workers, pays salaries 40 percent higher than the average national wage, is one of our country's few industries that actually exports more than it imports; and it is an industry that is fueled by innovation and is made up of mostly small businesses. Eighty percent of these businesses have less than 50 employees; 98 percent of them have less than 500. Most importantly, however, this is an industry that saves and improves lives for patients.

Medical devices helped slash the death rate from heart disease by a stunning 50 percent and cut the death rate from stroke by 30 percent. But, Mr. Speaker, last January, a new $30 billion medical device tax was enacted as a part of ObamaCare. It's not a tax on profit; it's a tax on revenue. It's a tax on sales.

Nobody can explain why this industry was singled out, other than tens of billions of dollars needed to be brought in to pay for an over- trillion-dollar law. But you know what, the effects have been devastating--10,000 job losses across the country have been announced; companies are moving their operations overseas. And once these jobs move overseas, they don't just come back.

Countless small, privately held companies, they've cut jobs and investment in research and development to deal with this onerous policy; and research and development is the very lifeblood of this industry.

I have a letter, Mr. Speaker, from 975 organizations in support of repealing the device tax. The signers include the Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, numerous doctors and physicians and health care groups, and others who are directly impacted by the tax. I will include it in the Record.

Mr. Speaker, we know this tax is bad policy. We know there is support in this Chamber and in the Senate to repeal this tax. Last year, the House passed my repeal legislation with overwhelming bipartisan support, but the Senate didn't act before the end of the year. But this year, we have 263 cosponsors of my legislation to repeal this tax--far more than last year and more than enough to pass it in the House.

Last April, when the Senate was debating their budget resolution, 79 Senators voted their intention to also repeal the device tax, and 33 of those Senators were Democrats. Mr. Speaker, how often do we have such an overwhelming bipartisan support on an issue? This is our opportunity.

Winston Churchill is to have said that people ``occasionally stumble over the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing ever happened.''

The truth that we all know about the medical device tax is that it has destroyed jobs, it's destroyed innovation, and it has hurt patient care. These are the very pillars that the health care reform was actually supposed to support.

Repealing this policy sends a very strong and commonsense message to the American people that Congress may not always agree on what is the right path forward, but we can absolutely recognize when a policy has set us on the wrong path; and today we have an opportunity to right this wrong.

This amendment repeals a tax that is threatening America's global leadership in innovation. This is about saving lives. It's important that we do act now--and today. Let's stop the job losses. Let's protect these high-wage jobs; and let's ensure that America continues to invent, continues to innovate, and continues to develop the very cutting-edge and lifesaving technologies for our patients.

Vote for the repeal of the medical device tax.

September 28, 2013.

Hon. Harry Reid,

Majority Leader, U.S. Senate.

Hon. John Boehner,

Speaker of the House, U.S. House of Representatives.

Hon. Mitch McConnell,

Republican Leader, U.S. Senate.

Hon. Nancy Pelosi,

Minority Leader, U.S. House of Representatives.

Dear Majority Leader Reid, Speaker Boehner, Minority Leader

McConnell and Minority Leader Pelosi: As Congress nears the

end of the calendar year, we respectfully request that repeal

of the medical device excise tax be addressed as a top

priority. Implementation of what was to be a $20 billion

excise tax and is now estimated to collect over $30 billion

in taxes--is adversely impacting patient care and innovation,

and will substantially increase the costs of health care. The

Senate and House have both passed repeal legislation with

strong bipartisan majorities. On behalf of the more than 975

undersigned organizations, associations, companies, patients,

providers and venture capital firms representing hundreds of

thousands medical technology jobs, we ask that you act to

repeal the medical device tax during this session of

Congress.

As you know, the medical device industry is a unique

American success story--both for patients and our economy.

The United States is the world leader in manufacturing life-

saving and life-enhancing treatments, and the industry is an

important engine for economic growth. The industry employs

more than 400,000 workers nationwide; generates approximately

$25 billion in payroll; pays out salaries that are 40 percent

more than the national average ($58,000 vs. $42,000); and

invests nearly $10 billion in research and development (R&D)

annually. The industry is fueled by innovative companies, the

majority of which are small businesses with 80 percent of

companies having fewer than 50 employees and 98 percent with

fewer than 500 employees.

Unfortunately, the health care law imposes over $30 billion

in new excise taxes on medical technology companies that are

stifling innovation and U.S. competitiveness. The tax is

already having an adverse impact on R&D investment and job

creation, jeopardizing the U.S. global leadership position in

medical device innovation. If this tax is not repealed, it

will continue to force affected companies to cut

manufacturing operations, research and development, and

employment levels to recoup the lost earnings due to the tax.

It will also adversely impact patient access to new and

innovative medical technologies.

In short, this tax on innovation should be repealed for the

following three important reasons:

The tax stifles innovation and has already costs thousands

of high-paying jobs. It has increased the effective tax rate

for medical technology companies, thereby reducing financial

resources that should be used for R&D, clinical trials and

investments in manufacturing. The impact is especially hard

on smaller companies whose innovations are not immediately

profitable.

The tax will increase health care costs as confirmed by a

report issued in April 2010 by the Office of the Actuary at

the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). In some

cases, the 2.3% tax will be passed on to

consumers, leading to higher health care costs.

The tax is not being offset by increased demand for medical

devices. In fact, it is important to note that there is no

evidence suggesting a device industry ``windfall'' from

healthcare reform. Unlike other industries that may benefit

from expanded coverage, the majority of device-intensive

medical procedures are performed on patients that are older

and already have private insurance or Medicare coverage.

Where states have dramatically extended health coverage, such

as in Massachusetts where they added 400,000 new covered

lives, there is no evidence of a device ``windfall.''

At a time when the federal government is working to promote

investment in U.S. industries of the future, it is

inconsistent that a tax of this magnitude is placed on the

medical device industry. We must do all we can to encourage

and promote research, development, investment and innovation.

Instead, increased taxes, such as this one on the medical

device industry, coupled with the increased regulatory

uncertainty the industry also faces, is leading to further

job losses, hindering the development of breakthrough

treatments and delaying patient access to medical technology.

We respectfully request timely action on legislation to

repeal this over $30 billion excise tax.

3C Spine, Inc., 3D Medical Manufacturing, Inc., 3M

Healthcare, A-dec, A.R. Hinkel Company, Abaxis, Abbey Moor

Medical, Abiomed, Inc., Acacia Research Corporation, Academy

of General Dentistry, AccessClosure, Accuitive Medical

Ventures, Accuray Incorporated, Acertara Acoustic

Laboratories, LLC, Aciont Inc., ActivaTek Inc., Active

Implants, Actus Medical, Acumen Healthcare Solutions, LLC.

Adagio Medical, Inc., Adept-Med International, Inc.,

Adhezion Biomedical, LLC, ADM Tronics, Adroit Medical,

Advanced BioHealing, A Shire Company, Advanced Bionics,

Advanced Circulatory Systems, Inc., Advanced Medical

Technology Association, Advanced Orthopaedic Solutions (AOS),

Advanced Surgical Instruments, Advanced Technology Ventures,

AdvanDx, Aerocrine, Inc., Aesculap, Inc., AestheTec, Inc,

Aethlon Medical, Inc., AFC Tool, Affinity Capital, Agamatrix,

Inc., Agendia, Inc., Alabama Dental Association,

Albright Technologies, Alcon, A Novartis Group Company,

Aleeva Medical Inc, Align Technology, Inc., Alkaline

Corporation, Allegro Diagnostics Corp., Allergan, Allvivo

Vascular, Inc., ALPCO Diagnostics, Alphatec Spine, Inc., Alta

Partners, ALung Technologies, Inc., AlvaMed Inc., Alverix,

Inc., Ambio Health, Ambu, Inc., Amedica Analogic Corp,

America's Blood Centers (ABC), American Academy of Facial

Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, American Academy

of Periodontology, American Association of Endodontists,

American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American

Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, American

Association of Orthodontists, American College of

Prosthodontists, American College of Radiology, American

Dental Association, American Medical Systems, American

Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, American Society

of Dentist Anesthesiologists, American Society of Plastic

Surgeons, Andersen Products, Andover Healthcare, Andrew

Technologies, Angel Medical Systems, AngioDynamics.

AngioScore Inc., Anulex Technologies, Inc., AOTI Inc.,

Apnex Medical, Inc., Apollo Endosurgery, Applied Dexterity,

Inc., Applied Research & Photonics, Inc., Aptus

Endosystems, Inc., Aqueduct Neurosciences, Inc., Aqueous

Biomedical, Inc., AcrueSys, Inc., ARC Medical, Inc.,

Ardiem Medical, Inc., Argenta Advisors, ARIBEX, Inc.,

Arizona BioIndustry Association, ArKal Medical, Inc.,

ARKRAY Arteriocyte, ARTHROSURFACE, INCORPORATED.

Articulinx, Asante Solutions, Inc., Aso LLC, Aspen Medical

Products, Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM),

Associates of Cape Cod, Inc., Astute Medical, AtCor Medical

Holdings, Ltd., ATEK Medical, Ativa Medical, ATL Technology

Utah, Atlanta BioMedical Corporation (ABC), Atlas Spine,

Inc., Atos Medical Inc., AtriCure, Inc., Atrium Medical

Corporation, Aurident, Inc., Autonomic Technologies, Inc.,

Auxogyn, Inc., Avacen MOD Corporation.

Avantis Medical Systems, Inc., Avedro, Avinger, Axiom

Medical, Inc., AxioMed Spine Corporation, AxoGen, Inc., B.

Braun Medical, Inc., Balchem Corporation, Banyan Biomarkers,

BAROnova, Inc., BaroSense, Inc., BARRX Medical, Inc., Baxano

Surgical, Inc., Baxter Healthcare, BayBio, BD, BEACON

(Biomedical Engineering Alliance & Consortium), Beaver

Visitec, Beckman Coulter, Belmont Instrument Corporation.

BeneChill, Inc., Benvenue Medical, Inc., Berlin Heart,

Inc., Berman Medical BioBDx, Bioanalytical Systems, Inc.,

BioBDx, BioCardia, Inc., BioCare Systems, Inc., BIOCOM,

Bioconnect Systems, Inc., BioDerm, Inc., BioElectronics,

BioFlorida, BIOforward, BioHouston, BioMedical Life Systems,

BioMedix, bioMerieux, Inc., Biomerix Corporation, Biomet,

Inc., Biomimedica.

BioMimetic Therapeutics, Inc., Bionix Development

Corporation, BioOhio, Biophan Technologies, Inc., BIOSAFE,

Inc., Bioscale, Bioscience Association of Maine, BioSculpture

Technology, Inc., BioSET, Inc., Biotest Laboratories, Inc.,

BIOTRONIK, Inc., Bioventus LLC, Birchwood Labatories Inc.,

Boston Healthcare Associates, Inc., Boston Scientific

Corporation, Botanical Laboratories, BrainScope Company,

Inc., Breathe Technologies, Breg, BridgePoint Medical, BTE

Technologies, Inc., Busse Hospital Disposables.

C.R. Bard, Inc., Cabochon Aesthetics, Inc., Cadence, Inc.,

Caldera Medical, Inc., California Healthcare Institute (CHI),

Calypso Medical, Canaan Partners, Cannuflow Inc., Cantel

Medical Corp., Cantimer, Inc., Cape Cod, Inc., Carbylan

Biosurgery, Inc., Cardia Access, Cardiac Dimensions, Inc.,

Cardiac Science, CardiacAssist, Inc., CardiAQ Valve

Technologies, Inc., Cardinal Health, Cardinal Scale

Manufacturing Company.

CardioDx, Inc., CardioFocus, Inc., CardioKinetix Inc.,

CardioMEMS, Inc., CardioNexus Corporation, Cardiovascular

Systems, Inc., CareFusion Corporation, Carmell Therapeutics

Corporation, CarrierCOM, Carrot Medical, Carticept Medical,

Cartiva, Inc., Case Medical, Inc., Catheter Connections,

Inc., Cayenne Medical, CEA Medical Manufacturing, CEA

Technologies, Inc., Celleration, Cellestis Inc., Center for

Medical Device Innovations.

Cepheid, CeQur, Cerephex Corporation, Ceterix Orthopaedics,

Checkpoint Surgical, CHF Solutions, Inc., Christcot Medical

Company, Cianna medical, Circadiance, City Hill Ventures,

LLC, CivaTech Oncology, Claret Medical, Inc., Clarity Medical

Systems, Inc., Claro Scientific, LLC, Clarus Medical, LLC,

ClarVista Medical, Cleveland Medical Devices Inc., Clinical

Research Consultants, Inc., CoAlign Innovations, Inc.,

CoAxia, Inc., Cochlear.

Cohera Medical, Inc., Coherex Medical, Colorado Bioscience

Association (CBSA), Colorado Dental Association (CDA),

Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Command Medical Products, Inc.,

COMPASS International Innovations, Compression Therapy

Concepts, Concert Medical, Congress of Neurological Surgeons,

ConMed Linvatec, CONNECT, Consensus Orthopedics, Inc.,

ConvaTec Inc., Cook Medical, Core Medical Imaging, Corgenix

Medical Corporation, Corin USA Limited, Corindus Vascular

Robotics, Corinthian Ophthalmic, Inc., Cormatrix.

Corventis, Inc., COTERA, Inc., Council for Affordable

Health Coverage, Covalent Medical, Inc., Covidien, Creatv

MicroTech, Inc., Critech Research, Critical Diagnostics,

Crux Biomedical, Cryothermic Systems, CSA Medical, Inc.,

Curexo Technology Corporation, Curo Medical, Inc.,

CurveBeam, CV Ingenuity, CVRx Inc., CyberHeart,

Cyberonics, Cynosure, CytoMedical Design Group LLC.

Cytopherx, Cytori Therapeutics, Inc., CytoSorbents

Corporation, D&D Medical, Inc., D&R Products, Dallen Medical,

dataCon Inc., DataPhysics Research, Inc., DaVinci Biomedical

Research Prod., Inc., De Novo Ventures, DEKA R&D Corp,

Delcath Systems, Inc., Dental Trade Alliance (DTA),

Denterprise International, Inc., DERMA SCiENCES, INC., Design

Mentor, Devicix, DFine, Inc., DG Medical, Digirad, Direct

Flow Medical.

Disposable Instrument Co., Inc., DJO Global, Inc., Domain

Associates, L.L.C., Domain Surgical, Inc., Drexler Medical,

Dynatronics, E. Benson Hood Laboratories, Inc., EarlySense

Inc., eCardio Diagnostics, Echelon Biosciences, Inc., Echo

Therapeutics, Edwards Lifesciences, EKOS Corporation,

Electrical Geodesics, Inc., Electromed, Inc., Ellipse

Technologies, Inc., Ellman International, Emergence, Emergent

Medical Partners.

Emerson Consultants, Inc., Endo Health Solutions, Inc.,

Endo-Therapeutics, Inc., EndoChoice, Inc., EndOclear, LLC,

EndoGastric Solutions, EndoShape, Inc., eNeura Therapeutics,

Engineered Medical Systems/Pulmodyne, Entellus Medical,

EnteroMedics, Inc., EPIC Research & Diagnostics, Erchonia

Corp., Essex Woodlands, eVent Medical, Evergreen Medical

Technologies, Exactech, Experien Group, ExploraMed

Development, LLC, FAST Diagnostics.

FemCap Inc., Ferris Mfg. Corp., Fidia Pharma USA Inc.,

Figure 8 Surgical, Fisher Wallace Laboratories, Fjord

Ventures, Flexicath, Inc., Flexuspine, Inc., Flight Medical,

Flocel Inc., Florida Medical Manufacturers' Consortium, Inc.,

Fluidnet Corporation, ForSight Labs, Fortimedix USA, Inc.,

FOUNDRY NEWCO XI, Fresenius Medical Care NA, Freshmedx,

Frontier Scientific Inc., FTSI, FUJIFILM SonoSite Inc.,

Fujirebio Diagnostics, Inc., Galil Medical.

Galt Medical, Gambro, GE Healthcare, Genesis Plastics

Welding, GENICON, Gentis Inc., Georgia Bio, Georgia Dental

Association, GI Dynamics, Inc., Gilero, LLC, Glaukos

Corporation, Glenveigh Medical, Globe Composite Solutions,

Ltd., Globus Medical, GluMetrics, Gradient Technologies, LLC,

Great Lakes NeuroTechnologies Inc., Greatbatch Medical,

Ground Zero Pharmaceuticals, GT Urological, LLC, Gulden

Opthalmics,

Haemonetics Corp., Halo Healthcare Inc., HALT Medical,

Inc., Hausmann Industries, Inc., Health Industry Distributors

Association (HIDA), Health IT Now Coalition, HealthCare

Institute of New Jersey, HealthpointCapital, HeartFlow,

HeartWare International, Inc., Heidelberg Engineering,

HEMERUS, Hemosphere, Hill-Rom, Hispanic Dental Association

(HDA), HITACHI MEDICAL SYSTEMS AMERICA, INC., Holaira,

Hologic/Gen-Probe, Home Dialysis Plus, Hospira Inc., Hotspur-

Cardiac Care.

Hotspur Technologies, Inc., HoverTech International, Hull

Associates, Hycor Biomedical, Inc., Hydrocision, ibiliti-

iCAD, Inc., ICAP Patent Brokerage, Ichor Medical Systems,

ICONACY Orthopedic Implants, LLC,

ICU Medical, Inc., IKARIA, Illinois Biotechnology Industry

Organization--iBIO, Illinois State Dental Society, IlluminOss

Medical, Inc., ImaCor, Imalux Corporation, IMARC Research,

ImpediMed.

Impliant, Inc., ImThera Medical, Inc., InaVein, LLC, Incept

LLC, Incline Therapeutics, Indiana Chamber of Commerce,

Indiana Dental Association, Indiana Health Industry Forum,

Indiana Manufacturers Association, Indiana Medical Device

Manufacturers Council, InfoBionic, Infraredx, Inc.,

InfraScan, Inc., InjectiMed, Inc., Innovative Pulmonary

Solutions, Inc., Innovative Surgical Designs, Inc.,

Innovative Trauma Care Inc, Innovent Medical Solutions, Ltd.,

Inogen, Insight Medical, inSite Medical Technologies.

Instratek, Inc., Insulet Corporation, Insurgical LLC,

Intact Vascular, Inc., Integra LifeSciences, International

Franchise Association, International Medical Industries,

Inc., International Sterilization Laboratory LLC,

Intersect ENT, InterValve, Inc., Interventional Autonomics

Corporation, IntraPace, IntriCon, IntriMed Technologies,

Intrinsic Therapeutics, Intuitive Marketing Strategists,

Intuity Medical, Inc., Ionix Medical, Inc., Iowa Dental

Association, iRhythm Technologies, Inc., Irvine Chamber of

Commerce.

iSonea, Limited, ISTO Technologies, Inc., Ivantis, Inc.,

Ivera Medical Corporation, Ivivi Health Sciences LLC, iWalk,

J.H. Garver Consulting, LLC, Jabil, Jack Saladow &

Associates, Kalypto Medical, KCI, Kensey Nash Corporation,

KFx Medical Corporation, Kimberly-Clark Health Care, Kinamed

Inc., Knee Creations, LLC, KRONUS, Inc., Kspine, Inc., LAAx,

Inc., Laser Peripherals, LLC, LeukoDx Ltd., LFI Medical.

Life Core Technologies, Life Science Tennessee, Life Spine,

Inc., Life Technologies, Lifecore Biomedical, LLC,

LifeScience Alley, LifeScience Plus, Inc., LifeWave,

Lightstone Ventures, Linde Healthcare, LipoScience, Inc.,

LogicMark, LLC, Logikos, Inc., Lonestar Heart, Inc.,

Louisiana Dental Association, Luminex Corporation, Lutonix,

Inc., Mack Medical, MacuCLEAR, Inc., Magellan Technologies,

Inc., Magnolia Medical Technologies, Inc., Maine Standards

Company, LLC.

Mammotome, Manufacturers Association of Maine, Mardil

Medical, Inc., MarketLab, Masimo, Massachusetts Dental

Society, Massachusetts Medical Device Industry Council MedIC,

MassBio, Materna Medical, Mauna Kea Technologies, MB Venture

Partners, LLC, MBio Diagnostics, Inc., MBL International

Corporation, Mectra Labs Inc., MED-EL Corporation, Medafor,

Inc., MedDx Capital Advisors, Medenovo, LLC, Medical Device

Consultants, Inc., Medical Device Manufacturers Association,

Medical Engineering Innovations, Inc., Medical Imaging &

Technology Alliance.

Medical innovations Intl. Inc., Medical Polymers, Inc.,

Mediclever, Medigroup, Inc.-, MediStim USA, Inc., MedOne

Surgical, Inc., Medrobiotics Corporation, MedShape, MedTech

Association of New York, Med Waves, Inc., Megadyne, Mercury

Medical, Merit Medical Systems, Inc., Metric Medical Devices,

Inc., Metronom Health, Inc., Mettler Electronics Corp.,

Mevion Medical Systems, Inc., MGC Diagnostics, Micardia

Corporation, Micell Technologies, MichBio, Michigan Dental

Association.

MicroCube, Microline Surgical, Inc., Micronics, Inc.,

MicroTransponder Inc., Midmark Corporation, Mighty Oak

Medical, Millar Instruments, Inc., MIM Software Inc., Minerva

Medical, Minnesota Dental Association, Minnetronix, Mirabilis

Medica, Inc., Mirador Biomedical, Miramar Labs, Mississippi

Dental Association, Missouri Biotechnology Association,

MitraGen, Mitralign, Inc., Molecular Detection, Inc., Monebo

TEchnologies, Inc., Moog Medical Devices.

Morgenthaler Ventures, Morris Innovative, Mound Laser &

Photonics Center, MOXI Enterprises, LLC, Moximed, MPM

Capital, MPR Product Development, Mustang Medical, Mustang

Vacuum Systems, MyoCardioCare, Inc., Myomo, Inc., Myo

Science, nanoMAG LLC, nanoMR, Nanostim, Nasiff Associates

Inc., National Association for the Support of Long Term Care

(NASL), National Association of Manufacturers (NAM), National

Federation of Independent Business, National Venture Capital

Association (NVCA), Natus Medical Incorporated, NaviMed

Capital.

Naviscan, Inc., NDH Medical, Nebraska Dental Association,

Nelson Laboratories, Inc., Neocure, Neodyne Biosciences,

Neograft Technologies, Inc., Neomend, Inc., NeoMetrics, Inc.,

NeoTract, Inc., Neovista Inc., Neuro Kinetics, Inc., Neuro

Resource Group, Inc., Neuro-Fitness LLC, Neuronetics, Inc.,

NeuroPace, NeuroTherm, NeuroTronik, NeuroVista Corportation,

NeuroWave Systems Inc., Neuvomedica Ltd., NeuWave Medical.

Nevada Dental Association, Nevro, New Enterprise

Associates, New Hampshire Dental Society, New Jersey Life

Sciences Vendors Alliance, New Leaf Venture Partners, NexDx,

Inc., NinePoint Medical, Niveus Medical, Nocimed, LLC, Non-

Invasive Medical Systems, Nonin Medical, Norris Capital,

Inc., North Carolina Biosciences Organization, North

Carolina Dental Society, Nova Biomedical, NovaSom, Novasys

Medical, NRG, NuMED, Inc., NuOrtho Surgical, Inc.,

NuVasive.

Nuvimedix LLC, NxStage Medical, Inc., NxThera, Inc, O.E.

Meyer Co., Obalon Therapeutics, OBMedical Company, OCTANe,

Ohio Chamber of Commerce, Ohio Manufacturers' Association,

OmniGuide Surgical, OmniGuide, Inc., OMNIlife science, Inc.,

On-X Life Technologies, Inc., Onciomed, Inc., OncoHealth,

ONSET Ventures, OPHTEC USA, Inc., OptiMedica, OptiScan

Biomedical, Inc., Orange County Business Council.

OraSure Technologies, Inc., Oraya Therapeutics, Orbital

Research Inc., Orchid Orthopedic Solutions, Oregon Bioscience

Association, Orlucent, Ortho Kinematics, OrthoCor Medical,

Orthodontic Manufacturers Association, Orthofix International

N.V., OrthogenRx, Inc., Orthopaedic Implant Company (OIC),

OrthoSensor, OrthoWorx, OsteoMed, Ostial Corporation,

Ottobock U.S. HealthCare, Owens & Minor, Palo Alto Health

Sciences, Inc., Paracor Medical, Inc., Paradigm Spine, LLC,

PasticsOne.

Pathfinder Therapeutics, Inc., Pathway Medical

Technologoes, Patient Pocket, LLC, Penn-Century, Inc.,

Pennsylvania Bio, Pennsylvania Dental Association, Penumbra,

Inc., PercSys, Percutaneous Systems, Philips Electronics

North America, Phillips Consulting Group, LLC, Phlebotics,

Inc., PhotoMed Technologies, Inc., PhotoThera, Inc., Pioneer

Surgical, Pittsburgh Life Sciences Greenhouse, Pittsburgh

Technology Council Pivot Medical Inc., Plasma Technologies,

Inc., Plexus Corp., Pluromed, Inc., Poilgrim Software, Inc.,

Portaero.

Preceptis Medical, Inc., Precise-Pak Inc., Pressure

Biosciences, Inc. (PBIO), Presymtec Medical, Prism

VentureWorks, Prizm Medical, Inc., Pro2Med Inc., ProMedTek,

Prosolia, Inc., Prospect Venture Partners, Prospex Medical,

Proteus Bimedical, Inc., PuriCore, QHeart Medical Inc.,

Qualcomm Life, Inc., QualPro Consulting, Quasar Bio-Tech

Inc., Quidel Corporation, RBC Capital Markets, Redpoint

Corporation.

Regenesis Bomedical, Inc., Regulatory & Quality Solutions

LLC, Reichert Technologies, Reimbursement Strategies, LLC,

Relievant Medsystems, Inc., ReShape Medical Inc., ResMed,

Respicardia, Inc., Respira Therapeutics, Inc., Respiratory

Motion, Inc., Respiratory Research, Inc., Respiratory

Technologies Inc., Response Biomedical Corporation, ReVent

Medical, Inc., Reverse Medical, ReVision Optics, Inc.,

RhinoSystems, Inc., Rhythmlink International, LLC, Richmond

Products Inc., Rinovum Women's Health, Inc., RITM America.

Robomedica, Inc., Roche Diagnostics, Rochester Electro-

Medical, Inc., Rodman Media Corp, RODO Medical, Inc.,

RoundTable Healthcare Partners, ROX Medical, Royal Oak

Medical Devices, LLC, RxFunction, Inc., s2a molecular, inc.,

Safeguard Scientifics, Inc., Sakura Finetek USA, Inc.,

Saladax Biomedical, Inc., Salix Pharmaceuticals, Inc.,

SandBox Medical LLC, Sanofi, SCBIO, Scientific Imaginetics,

SDRS LLC, Sebacia Inc., Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.,

Sekisui Diagnostics.

Sensable, Sequent Medical Inc., SI-BONE, Inc., Siemens

Healthcare, Sight Sciences Inc., SightLine Partners, SIGNUS

Medical, LLC, Silere Medical Technology, Inc, Silicon Valley

Leadership Group, Silver Bullet Therapeutics, Inc., Sirtex

Medical Inc, Skyline Ventures, Small Bone Innovations, Inc.,

Smart Perfusion, LLC, Smith & Nephew, Inc., Smiths Medical,

Soft Tissue Regeneration, Inc., Solace Therapeutics, Solta

Medical, Inc., Solvonics Medical.

Sonendo, Inc., Sonitus Medical Inc., Sonoma Orthopedics,

SonoSite Inc., Sorin Group USA, Inc., Soteira, Inc., Sotera

Wireless, South Carolina Dental Association (SCDA),

Southeastern Medical Device Association, Southern California

Biomedical Council (SoCalBio), SP Surgical, SPE Medical,

SpectraScience, Inc, Spherlngenics, Inc., Spinal Kinetics,

Spinal Modulation, Inc., Spinal Ventures, LLC, SpinalMotion,

Inc., Spine Wave, Inc., SpineAlign Medical Inc., SpineGuard.

Spineology Inc., Spinofix, Inc., Spiracur Inc., Spiration,

Inc., SPIWay, LLC Split Rock Partners, St. Jude Medical,

STAAR Surgical Company, STD Med, Inc., SteriPack USA, Ltd,

Steris Corporation, Stimwave, Stout Medical Group, Strada

Consulting, Streamline, Inc., Streck, Inc., Strohl

Medical, Stryker, Sunshine Heart, SunShine Medical LLC.

superDimension, Ltd., Surface Solutions Labs, Inc.,

SurgeOptix, SurModics, Inc., Svelte Medical Systems, Inc.,

Swan Valley Medical, Incorporated, Sylvan Fiberoptics,

Synapse Biomedical, Inc., Synarc, Inc., SynCardia Systems,

Inc., Synecor, LLC, Synergy Life Science Partners, Syntermed,

Inc., Sysdyne Corporation, Tactile Systems Technology, Inc.,

Tandem Diabetes, Targeson, Inc.,-Target Discovery, Inc.,

Tarsus Medical Inc., TearScience, Inc., TEI Biosciences Inc.,

TEKNA Manufacturing, LLC.

Teleflex Incorporated, Temptime, Tenaxis Medical, Inc.,

Teratech Corporation, Terumo BCT, Inc., Terumo Medical,

Tethys Bioscience, Inc.,Texas Healthcare and Bioscience

Institute, The Eclipse Group, The Foundry, The Innovation

Factory, The Plastics Industry Trade Association (SPI), The

Spectranetics Corporation, The Tech Council of Maryland, The

Vertical Group, Therapeutic Resources, Inc., TheraTogs, Inc.,

ThermalTherapeutic Systems, Inc.

Thermo Fisher Scientific, ThermoGenesis Corp., Therox, THI,

Inc., Thoratec Corporation, Three Arch Partners, ThreeWire,

Thubrikar Aortic Valve, Inc., TIDI Products, Tissue Regenix

USA Inc., Titan Spine, LLC, Toshiba America Medical Systems,

Inc., Tosoh Bioscience Inc., Trademark Medical, Transcend

Medical, Transcorp Spine,TransEnterix, TransMedics, Inc.,

Transonic Systems, Inc., Trillium Diagnostics, LLC, Trillium

Engineering.

TriReme Medical, Inc., TriVascular, Inc., Twin Star

Medical, TYRX, Inc., U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Ulthera,

UltiMed, Unilife medical solutions, Uresil, Urologix, Inc.,

Uromedica, Inc., Uroplasty, Inc., Urovalve, Inc., USGI

Medical, Inc., USHIFU, LLC, Utah Dental Association, Utah

Technology Council, Valeritas, Inc., Valley Ventures,

ValveXchange, Inc., Vapotherm.

Vascular Solutions, Inc., Vector Resources, Vector

Surgical, LLC, VectraCor, Inc., Velico Medical, Inc.,

Velomedix, Inc., Ven-Tel Plastics Corporation, VENITI, Inc.,

Venous Health, Ventus Medical, Inc., Veracyte, Verax

Biomedical Incorporated, Veritomyx, Inc., Versant Ventures,

VertiFlex' Inc., Vertos Medical Inc., Vibrynt,

Inc., VIDA Diagnostics, Vidacare, Viking Systems, Inc.,

Virginia Bio.

Virginia Biotechnology Association, Virginia Dental

Association, VirtualScopics, Inc., Viscogliosi Bros., LLC,

Vision-Sciences, Inc., VisionCare Ophthalmic Technologies,

VisionQuest Industries, Inc., Vital Images, Inc., Vital

Therapies, Inc., Vital/Med Systems Corporation, Vitalcor,

Viveve, Volcano Corporation, VueTek Scientific, LLC, W. L.

Gore & Associates, Warsaw-Kosciusko County Chamber of

Commerce, Washington Biotechnology. & Biomedical Association,

Water Street Healthcare Partners, Waters Corporation,

WaterStreet.

WaveTec Vision, Welch Allyn, Wenzel Spine, Inc., Wescor,

White Pine Medical, Inc., Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati,

Wisconsin Dental Association, Woolfson Eye Institute, Wright

Medical, Wyoming Dental Association, X-Spine, Xlumena, Yukon

Medical, ZELTIQ, Zilico Limited, Zimmer, Inc., Zoe Medical,

Inc., ZOLL Medical, Zyga Technologies, Zynex.

Mr. Speaker, by direction of the Committee on Rules, I call up House Resolution 366 and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, for the purpose of debate only, I yield the customary 30 minutes to the gentlewoman from New York (Ms. Slaughter), the ranking member of the committee and my friend, pending which I yield myself such time as I may consume. During consideration of this resolution, all time yielded is for the purpose of debate only.

General Leave

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks.

House Resolution 366 provides for consideration of the Senate amendment to H.J. Res. 59, the Continuing Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2014, and a closed rule for consideration of H.R. 3210, the Pay Our Military Act of 2013.

Mr. Speaker, at midnight on Monday, just 2 days from now, the Federal Government will shut down if Congress does not act to provide the necessary appropriations. The legislation before us today will ensure that a shutdown does not happen; and, if adopted, the House amendments would make important steps to ensure that ObamaCare, the Affordable Care Act that President Obama and every Democrat voted for, does not have the opportunity to hurt American jobs and drag down our economy.

The first of these three amendments would repeal the medical device tax included in ObamaCare. This medical device tax is also known as what might be the tax that will harm not only the creation of investment but also the products of medical devices, including pacemakers and other medical products that keep America's health care a leading edge. The medical device industry provides our Nation with innovative health care services as well as much-needed jobs for many, many hardworking Americans. ObamaCare's onerous medical device tax-- what we also call the pacemaker tax--is already causing job loss in this industry and negatively impacting innovation of new and other lifesaving devices.

I would like to insert into the Record a letter from a gentleman from Dallas, Texas, Mr. Walt Humann, CEO of OstoeMed, who came to my office over a year ago in June of 2012. He spoke with me about how innovative medical devices clearly help not only Americans, but doctors perform very difficult and leading-edge surgeries. And I will tell you that Mr. Humann spoke very clearly about how this onerous tax would literally tax the production, not the sale, but the production of medical devices to an industry that needs more and more innovation. That clearly explains the damaging effects that this has on American businesses. His letter, Mr. Speaker, clearly outlines how it harms not only his company, but the industry as a whole.

The second amendment would delay all aspects of ObamaCare for 1 year. This proposal is an important step to prevent the costly job-killing regulations contained in President Obama's health care plan from becoming an unfortunate reality. The President has already delayed several pieces of the law; and just as he begins to see how ill- conceived and unworkable his plan is, it's time for us to stop it dead in its tracks. So much for the hundreds of waivers that he has issued; so much for him delaying for his friends in business; so much for him delaying the pieces that he wants to, knowing that the harm will be on individuals all across America. It makes sense to delay the entire law for a year in an effort to protect American families from paying higher health care premiums and having fewer options.

This is important, and the Republican Party is on the floor of the House of Representatives today on behalf of taxpayers and what we believe is about 60 percent of Americans who are opposed to this bill starting to work October 1. So that's why we are here.

Finally, this rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3210, the Pay Our Military Act. This important piece of legislation is designed to ensure that our Nation's men and women in the military continue to receive their paychecks in the event that the Senate does not adopt a responsible CR and forces our government into a shutdown.

Our Nation's military puts their lives on the line, and they have throughout the history of our country. They remain engaged in combat operations as we go to sleep tonight. They are protecting this great Nation, and the services that the men and women of the military provide to the United States of America should be aided and helped, and we should make sure that we do not stop the pay to the men and women

of the United States military. In the event of a government shutdown, this body should take the necessary measures to ensure that our servicemen and -women continue to be compensated for their services.

So, Mr. Speaker, we have finished a Rules Committee meeting upstairs. We spoke about this, the impacts, at the committee hearing that allowed Mrs. Lowey, on behalf of the minority, and Mr. Hal Rogers, our Appropriations Committee chairman, to talk about the important part of what we're trying to do today.

So I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the rule and ``yes'' on the underlying legislation.

I reserve the balance of my time.

OsteoMed,

June 5, 2012.

Hon. Pete Sessions,

House of Representatives,

Washington, DC.

Dear Representative Sessions: Thank you for taking time to

visit with me last week regarding OsteoMed and my concerns

about the significant ``headwinds'' we face, especially

related to the 2.3% medical device tax that is scheduled for

implementation in 2013. On behalf of OsteoMed's 400

employees, I thank you for your support of H.R. 436, which

would repeal this onerous provision that otherwise will

negatively impact innovation and job creation at a time when

we can least afford it.

As president & CEO of OsteoMed, a dynamic, 20 year old

surgical device manufacturing company based in your district,

I confront the challenges that America's innovators face

every day. In addition to challenges with the FDA and

reimbursement, this 2.3% excise tax--which is on gross sales,

whether or not a business has any profits--will directly

impact our ability to create new jobs, invest in research and

development and effectively compete in the global market.

OsteoMed formed a new subsidiary company a couple of years

ago to develop an innovative spine product that greatly

simplifies spine fusion surgery and improves patient

outcomes. OsteoMed launched this product last year which

quickly grew to almost $5MM in sales in 2011 and currently

employs a number of highly skilled, high paid individuals.

Due to the significant upfront investment and on-going

development costs, this new company is not projected to make

a profit in the near future but is nevertheless subject to

the device tax which will further delay this subsidiary's

success. As a result, OsteoMed has now delayed additional new

product developments and personnel in order to make ``ends

meet'' and achieve the returns initially envisioned when this

company was created.

OsteoMed's core business manufactures surgical implant

systems for use in craniofacial, neurosurgical and small bone

orthopedic (upper and lower extremities) surgeries. These

systems require extensive, specialized instruments that are

typically not sold, but are used to implant the devices that

drive OsteoMed's revenue stream. The device tax will not only

tax gross product revenues, but my understanding is it will

also tax the instruments OsteoMed must invest in and place

into hospitals at no charge thereby further reducing my

company's profit opportunities and forcing expense reductions

in other areas in order to achieve our profit goals.

OsteoMed's products are sold through a variety of sales

channels and will require a new level of administrative

burden in order to track the ``gross'' revenues defined by

this tax. This requirement, along with the recent challenges

imposed by the Physician Payment Sunshine Act, force

additional levels of administration and non value added

expenses that male OsteoMed less competitive and viable.

The market in which OsteoMed competes is in turmoil and has

become increasingly competitive with many new offshore

competitors. As economics and recent government restrictions

have largely removed surgeons from the surgical device

purchase decision process, hospitals are now forcing

increasingly price concessions. Despite increased raw

material and labor costs, OsteoMed has been unable to raise

product prices over the past several years and is now equally

unlikely to simply pass along the device tax to our

customers.

Like any other responsible business, OsteoMed must

carefully manage expenses in order to make profit and

continue to grow and succeed. In order to cover the shortfall

the new device tax will create, OsteoMed has already started

to implement cut backs in its operations including the delay/

cancellation of new product development projects and the

hiring of additional personnel, including biomedical

engineering positions. It should be noted that OsteoMed is

also aggressively re-directing its business focus to

international markets that provide a less cumbersome and

lengthy regulatory pathway with revenue streams that are not

subject to the medical device tax . . . immediately

``saving'' 2.3% in the process. In the past month, OsteoMed

initiated the search for sales managers in China and the

Middle East to supplement recent managers hired in Korea and

Italy. Unfortunately, OsteoMed has already started to

effectively trade U.S. jobs for overseas positions as a

direct result of the medical device tax and other

governmental involvement.

The medical device industry not only provides numerous

highly skilled and attractive jobs across the U.S., but it

also pays its workers on average 40% more than the typical

job. We are a vibrant sector of the economy and one of the

few remaining industries that produces a healthy export of

products. Tragically, this industry has now become the focus

of misguided and short-term government intervention and the

growth and continued prosperity of this proud American

industry now faces great hurdles.

Again, I thank you for your service to our country and

specifically for your support of H.R. 436 to repeal this tax

and to help America's innovators continue to improve patient

care and drive job creation. I look forward to your ability

to visit OsteoMed when you are back in Dallas so you can see

firsthand our great employees and the innovative products

they produce to help people around the world. Please do not

hesitate to contact me to discuss this issue or any other

issues impacting the medical device industry.

Sincerely,

Walter J. Humann,

President & CEO, OsteoMed.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I am intrigued by the notion today that Republicans were meeting secretively. In fact, we have had several meetings over the past few days, and probably two or three today, and the nature of that is to make sure that our Members, some 233 Republican Members across this country, that Republican leadership like myself is hearing from them, that we are moving together and talking about the terrible and disastrous effects of ObamaCare and how we're going to work together.

Some of the common things that have been talked about in those meetings, as if we need to remind ourselves--but I will again--in that ObamaCare bill, $716 billion was cut and taken away from senior health care to go directly to ObamaCare. But we've also seen the real effects of ObamaCare, as we know that since ObamaCare has been passed, there have been 7 part-time jobs created for every one new full-time job.

Mr. Speaker, we're here on the floor of the House of Representatives because our country is in trouble. This is a continually difficult time for Americans back home not just to find work, but to keep work.

We find that large companies, these large corporations that are talked about from time to time on this floor, especially by our friends, are moving people off the health care that they're on because it makes sense to do it, but also because of the expense.

We saw just in the last few weeks large companies like UPS and Walgreens move their employees and make very, very difficult decisions. Just like Delta Air Lines had to make a decision. They announced that ObamaCare alone would cost Delta Air Lines over $100 million next year alone.

These are destructive and devastating consequences of ObamaCare. The Republican Party is on the floor because this law is going to start very quickly: October 1 and January 1. People begin signing up October 1.

Of course, what we've seen is the President very clearly over the last few years has given waivers to the people that he chose to give waivers to. He turned around and let business off the hook. But he keeps the law on individuals. He keeps this onerous law on individuals--and it's causing chaos and panic.

It's causing chaos for people like my family and others who have children that they have to take care of that are sometimes disabled. And we are seeing problems because now we're not sure in this mix who will be the doctor. Will that be a doctor we've gone to in the past? Will that be a doctor that one time we may see and another time we may not see?

There is uncertainty. And this uncertainty has been driven to what I believe has become reality. And the reality is, if you look, there is a CBS and New York Times poll showing that a majority of Americans disapprove of ObamaCare. And when a majority of Americans say this to CBS News and The New York Times, I think even our colleagues, the Democrats, should listen.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, for every opportunity that Republicans have to talk about how bad this bill is, there is an equal opportunity for our colleagues to talk about how great it is. But the facts of the case are the American people don't see it yet. The reason why we don't see it is because this President and this administration have given out over 1,200 waivers to people, saying, It's okay for you to not have to come under this law; what you do is okay. But it's not okay for the American people, individuals of this Nation, the men and women who get up and go to work every day.

And let's note, too, that we have a section of this bill that's about paying the military in case we do shut down. I would think that our colleagues on the other side of this building would want to make sure that we pay members of our military. They're important to this country. This body is going to do it.

Mr. Speaker, at this time I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Woodall), a distinguished young gentleman of the Rules Committee.

Mr. Speaker, you know, one of the most commonsense classes that we've ever had of new Members of Congress has arrived in Washington. They're in their first year, and they're seeing some amazing things that are happening.

I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Pittenger), one of these new freshman gentlemen.

Mr. Speaker, you know, I would have to beg to differ with the gentlewoman. That's not what this bill is about. Evidently, the gentlewoman has not had time to read the bill. We are not debating shutting down the House. We are debating what is called a continuing resolution, Mr. Speaker. So I would encourage her to please go, and we will help her at the Rules Committee and make sure she understands what the bill is about.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows), a distinguished young man.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Congressman Fitzpatrick.

Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I will remind my friends that we hear stories after stories about companies dropping their employees from their employee-sponsored health care plans because of the costs and the way the health care bill is written.

I think it is very interesting how--I have great sympathy for individuals who are having problems. They are in the district that I represent from Dallas also--the vast majority of people who are going to be just like them, huge amounts of people, are now being impacted by ObamaCare.

It goes back to an argument that we made years and years ago moving forward: don't impact the people that have health care and insurance; help the people that don't have that. This is a case that is happening all across this country.

The problem is the President played a Robin Hood plan. He went after everybody that has got insurance, he went after everybody that had a job, he went after employers. Rather than us taking care of those that did not--and let's say there were going to be 23 million people that were going to be covered, and I believe that that was the number years ago--23 million people times about $5,000 a contribution so that they could get an insurance plan would be far less destructive on our economy than going after 230 million people and destroying their health care plans.

This comes back to a simple ideology, Mr. Speaker. They want a government-run health care system. That is what they are after--a government-

run health care system, just like they want in other areas of the free economy. That's why they've done so many outward things with not only student loans to the banking industry, health care industry, the energy industry; they have an attack and an assault on employers and the American people.

I have great respect for these individuals that we're talking about. I share their concern and I guarantee you I and my office will help these people and have been helping these people, and we care about them.

But that's not what we fixed. We did a Robin Hood plan to take from everybody else and put everybody in trouble then, including the economy, including jobs, and we are now a part-time American economy.

By the way they wrote the bill, it is not only expensive but it kills jobs. It is just as effective as what their EPA war on coal is. It is an attack and assault on the free enterprise system and free people.

To say that the Republican Party doesn't care about these individuals is simply not true. We would offer a plan, a different way to look at it, and take the 230 million Americans that had something and worry about the others. That is what we have been trying to do all 17 years I've been in Congress.

The biggest divide in this country is on taxes, and it's on health care. Republicans want normal, regular people to be able to have health care. That is what we believe in. That's the difference and the real story behind tonight.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, it is not I. It will not be I. I am here to help, and the legislation that's on the floor is about a continuing resolution.

At this time, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Houston, Texas, Congressman Culberson.

Mr. Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

To advise the gentlewoman, I am through with my speakers, and I will then, as she finishes, offer a close.

I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to just go through the things that we've talked about that are the attributes of why we are here tonight.

The cost to taxpayers: $716 billion was cut from senior care, Medicare, to fund ObamaCare. That harms our seniors.

Just one example of the cost to employers: Delta Air Lines announced that ObamaCare will cost its company $100 million in increased health care costs over the next year.

Americans are losing their current health care coverage. We read about it, and we know that UPS, Walgreens, and many other employers are losing their health care coverage that they have today.

Fewer hours and fewer full-time jobs. Since ObamaCare was passed, there have been seven part-time jobs for every one full-time job that was added.

Mr. Speaker, this is not a way to move our country forward. The Republican Party is prepared. We believe and can substantiate that a ``yes'' vote is for making sure that we keep this government open-- something that the American people want and need. That's why the Republican Party--233 strong--is here tonight. I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the rule and ``yes'' on the underlying legislation.

I yield back the balance of my time, and I move the previous question on the resolution.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume to address this bill in general.

This bill is an act of political theater. It attempts to cover up the underlying problem of a government shutdown with what in essence is a rhetorical gimmick. The bill claims to support our troops, which the majority knows that the minority party wants to do at least as much as they do. There's no disagreement in terms of the desire to make sure that all of our noble men and women in uniform and the civilians who work for the Defense Department and the contractors that contribute to our national security are all paid. We all want to do that. So why do we have this bill?

Well, this bill attempts to reassure the public, who might be confused, as to what the adverse impacts of a government shutdown might be.

Mr. Speaker, it's important that the public understand that even with this bill, what we will do tonight, what the majority will do tonight will, nevertheless, fail to provide the materials essential to support and maintain the readiness of our U.S. forces.

I'll list any number of activities that will, notwithstanding this bill, go unfunded if the government is shut down. And because of the action that really the majority will take tonight, it looks increasingly likely that will happen at the beginning of next week.

Mr. Speaker, when we finish tonight, we will set in motion a situation where military medical treatment facilities will have to scale back operations. They will try not to impact inpatient care or acute and emergency outpatient care; but routine medical and dental procedures, elective surgery is likely to be stopped. Most maintenance activities would stop. Military members would continue to receive private sector care under TRICARE, but medical provider bills are going to go unpaid until appropriations are enacted.

New contracts, including contract renewals and extensions and the issuance of task orders, those are not likely to be executed. Any new contract will not be paid until appropriations are enacted. Death benefits to the family members of military personnel killed in the line of duty are not likely to be paid until appropriations are enacted; in other words, they won't be if the government is shut down.

Almost all travel for temporary duty and some permanent change of station moves would be delayed, canceled, or cut short. Many professional training and educational activities would be stopped.

The bill fails to fund the materiel support needed to conduct training and ensure the readiness of our forces at home. Regular training exercises, including large-scale training rotations that are absolutely essential, depend on equipment that is in proper working order, facilities that have been properly maintained, and the supplies needed to support soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines.

The bill fails to fund the procurement and research accounts that maintain the technological advantage of U.S. forces. It fails to fund the ships, the aircraft, ground equipment, sensors, and ammunition that our troops rely upon in combat. My friend from Georgia knows that about 40 percent of the DOD appropriations bill goes to acquire and enhance this equipment. Failure to fund these accounts hurts the readiness of U.S. forces and degrades our defense industrial base.

Now let me mention some of the other activities that will not be exempted, notwithstanding the fact that this bill will be passed virtually overwhelmingly. The Department of Veterans Affairs personnel charged with claims processing for veterans, including those returning from the last 12 years of combat, will not be paid. This legislation will nullify the progress that has been made by the VA on reducing the unacceptably high claims backlog.

A shutdown cuts foreign military financing to Israel, a vital partner and ally that depends upon $3.1 billion being provided at the beginning of the fiscal year; and, thus, it undermines our national security in an ever-changing and unstable region by degrading Israel's ability to maintain a qualitative military advantage.

These cuts will also have a direct impact on the industrial base throughout the United States, costing countless jobs that are funded through Israel's purchase of goods and services. Additionally, a shutdown will have a direct impact on our counterterrorism efforts, will halt programs that combat transnational crime, terrorism, and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. This could severely impact activities supporting our homeland security. It will stop counterdrug, anticrime, and border security efforts in Mexico and Central America that secure our own borders, as well as programs that advance democracy, including civil society and the rule of law.

When the government shuts down, overseas operations are heavily affected. It would put at risk the physical protection for diplomatic personnel and facilities overseas and severely limit the ability of the State Department to provide for and maintain missions in increasingly dangerous locations. With all the rhetoric about Benghazi--and we share the concern about what happened--this, again, puts people at risk overseas.

It would stop commercial export sales. A shutdown would force the State Department to impose indiscriminate cuts to embassy security and protection of personnel, thereby eroding the security of the United States Government diplomatic facilities and making it all but impossible to meet the requirements to provide safe and secure embassies overseas.

All national parks would be closed, memorials and museums. There are 401 of these locations throughout the country. Cumberland Island National Seashore would be closed. The Martin Luther King National Historic Site would be closed. The Chattahoochee River National Recreational Area would be closed. Fort Frederica National Monument on St. Simmons Island would be closed. And that's just to mention a few Federal facilities that I suspect the gentleman who is managing this bill is fully familiar with.

We'll let go of 4,000 weather forecasters. We could go on and on. The Smithsonian will be closed. The Lincoln Memorial will be shut down. The National Zoo, Yellowstone.

What are we doing this for? This doesn't make sense. All the wildlife refuges will be closed for hunting. This is hunting season.

You know, this may not seem like a big deal; but I think the American people, when this is done, are going to realize the same thing they did back in 1995: wait a minute, we want these Federal activities. We need these Federal facilities. We need these jobs. Open up our government. And any Congress that acts to close it down is disserving the American public.

We are not fulfilling our responsibilities if we allow this government to

shut down, but that's exactly what we are doing with the action that the majority will be taking tonight.

I reserve the balance of my time, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, I want to associate myself with the comments of my good friend from Virginia (Mr. Wolf). I completely agree with him that we want both DOD personnel and the personnel of our other Federal agencies to be able to continue to come to work. I appreciate his comments.

Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer), the very distinguished minority whip of the Congress who not only has substantial military activity within his district but very ably represents tens of thousands of Federal employees.

I yield the gentleman an additional 2 minutes.

Does my friend from Georgia have many other speakers?

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentleman from California (Mr. Garamendi), who has real-life practical experience in knowing what it's like to administer an agency--in this case, the Interior Department--during a shutdown.

I yield an additional 1 minute to the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the very distinguished gentlelady from New York (Mrs. Lowey), the ranking member of the full Appropriations Committee.

Mr. Speaker, since I have only 1\1/2\ minutes, I think I'll let the gentleman from Georgia yield to further speakers, but I do want to ask if the gentleman would yield some time, though, if he has time available, to engage in a colloquy. But on his time.

Let me ask my very good friend from Georgia if he knows why over in the Senate the minority has insisted upon the cloture rule; in other words, filibustering the appropriation rules, and why they have not appointed conferees to the budget conference?

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to my good friend from North Carolina (Mr. Price), the ranking member of the Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee.

I yield myself the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, the problem with this bill is that it assumes a government shutdown. If it didn't assume a government shutdown, then it wouldn't separate Department of Defense personnel from non-Department of Defense personnel. Why would you need it if we were assuming that we're going to be able to fund the government? That's the underlying problem with this bill.

We're going to vote for it because we feel that Department of Defense personnel ought to be paid. Of course, we do. Of course, we're going to vote for this. But why are you doing it? You're only doing it because you assume that you're going to shut the government down. That's the problem with this bill. There's no other purpose for this bill.

I yield back the balance of my time.

I thank the gentlelady from New York.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to announce breaking news. Texas happens to be a very diverse State, and my good friend from Texas just stood up and made an absurd proclamation--absolutely absurd.

In coming from a State where there are 6 million-plus uninsured individuals, he knows full well that tonight, when we vote to shut down the government, he will, in fact, also eliminate the Affordable Care Act, not delay it. What he will do is he will then tell those who have a preexisting disease that the law is delayed. He will tell children who need preventative care that the law is delayed. Further, he will tell our creditors that we are irresponsible as a country, and he will tell the American people, whose jobs depend upon the government operating, that you don't count.

I don't want to live in a Nation where someone can say to the Nation and say to the people that you don't count.

I have said it before, and I am saying it again: When we vote tonight, we will be voting to shut down the government. You will be voting to ignore the States and the responsibilities of this country in paying its debt.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the amendment, which is another attempt to veer away from the responsibilities of running the country and into the ditch of selfishness and bitterness which is truly the realm of the un-Patriotic!

I oppose this amendment because it puts an anchor on a clean continuing resolution which unnecessarily and perniciously weighs down the hopes and dreams of my constituents in Houston and the American people. It conditions the funding needed to avoid a government shutdown on a repeal of the excise tax on certain medical devices that helps defray the cost of the affordable, quality healthcare made available for the first time to millions of Americans by the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

I oppose this rule because the amendment it makes ``in order'' to the ``clean'' continuing resolution passed yesterday by the Senate will, if approved, result in a shutdown of the government. Both President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Reid have it crystal clear that they will not accept any continuing resolution containing any provision to delay, defund, or weaken the Affordable Care Act.

The ACA was carefully crafted so that it will not add to the budget deficit. To help pay for the expansion of health coverage to 27 million uninsured Americans, the ACA either reduces Medicare payments or increases taxes for a wide range of industries that will benefit from health reform, including hospitals, home health agencies, clinical laboratories, health insurance providers, drug companies, and manufacturers of medical devices.

The concept of ``shared sacrifice'' is something that every American should embrace; and the medical device tax is part of that sacrifice in which we all share--a true embodiment of this sacred notion.

A 2.3-percent excise tax is imposed on the sale of any taxable medical device by the

manufacturer or importer of the device starting in 2013. Eyeglasses, contact lenses, hearing aids, or any other medical device that the public generally buys at retail for individual use are exempted. Sales for further manufacture or for export are also tax-exempt.

Last year the House passed H.R. 436, which would have repealed the tax, and bills to repeal the tax have been introduced in both the House and Senate this year. Nobody likes higher taxes but--this tax was thoroughly debated--and let us be clear--it is not as if the medical device industry did not have its voice heard--and it is clear that they still have some influence since bills have been introduced to repeal.

As the end of the fiscal year quickly approaches, the sad truth remains unchanged: the Speaker has surrendered the gavel to the tea party's desperate attempts to force a Republican government shutdown to put insurance companies back in charge of Americans' health care.

Democrats have an alternative, introduced by my colleague, Mr. Van Hollen, to fund the government and end the devastating, across-the- board cuts of the sequester with a mix of spending cuts and revenue increases in order to reduce the deficit in a responsible way.

I agree with President Obama that the full faith and credit of the United States is non-negotiable. The United States has been the worldwide standard bearer for many years and many other nations have been comfortable holding our paper, but now our preeminent financial status is in jeopardy.

Mr. Speaker, you may recall that two years ago the Nation's credit rating was downgraded for the first time ever because of politicized negotiations and the initial failure to reach an agreement--and now we risk that and more because an odd lot of Members in this body and one, perhaps two in our bicameral twin, wish ill on the American people out of some misguided principle.

Refusing to raise the debt ceiling poses a cataclysmic danger to the stability of our markets and the economic security of our middle class and complete devastation for the poor.

As Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke stated last week: ``A government shutdown, and perhaps even more so a failure to raise the debt limit, could have very serious consequences for the financial markets and for the economy . . .''

Here are some of those consequences:

Higher interest rates for mortgages, auto loans, student loans, and credit cards. Higher interest rates and less access to business loans needed to finance payrolls, build inventories, or invest in equipment & construction.

Families' retirement savings in 401(k)s dropping as the stock market plummets.

3.4 million veterans not receiving disability benefits.

10 million Americans not receiving their Social Security check on time in just the first week.

Drug reimbursements under Medicare stopping, and doctors and hospitals not getting paid.

Mr. Speaker, let's get to work on behalf of the American people and pass a clean CR and raise the debt limit--now! The people expect nothing less, and time is of the essence.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to the Blackburn Amendment, which delays for one year any provision of the ACA that takes effect between October 1, 2013 and December 31, 2014.

I oppose this amendment for several reasons. First, the amendment will lead to a government shutdown because it imposes a condition that House Republicans know the Senate and the President will not accept.

Second, I oppose the amendment because it is bad for America and Americans. The proponents of the Blackburn Amendment claim the amendment only delays the imposition of the Affordable Care Act's individual mandate for one year. They are wrong.

In fact, the amendment delays the effectiveness of any provision that takes effect between October 1, 2013 and December 31, 2014. Thus, the amendment operates directly on the following benefits of the Affordable Care Act:

1. The ban on pre-existing condition discrimination for adults;

2. The ban on gender rating (charging women more than men for the same policy);

3. The 3:1 age rating, which limits the amount charged to older people for insurance;

4. The elimination of annual limits on healthcare costs; and

5. The availability of health insurance premium tax credits and other provisions that would save millions of middle class families hundreds of billions of dollars.

Mr. Speaker, this marks the the 43rd time House Republicans have tried to repeal, defund, or delay the Affordable Care Act. To date the record is: ObamaCare--42, House Republicans--zero.

Mr. Speaker, the Blackburn Amendment is misguided, ill-considered, and harmful to America, and especially my constituents in the 18th Congressional District of Texas. Specifically, the Blackburn Amendment would allow insurers to continue denying coverage to those with pre- existing conditions. Were this amendment to become law, up to 17 million children nationally, and 46,000 in my congressional district, could again be denied coverage by insurers due to a pre-existing conditions and it would allow insurers to continue discriminating against women and those with medical conditions in setting premiums.

Were the Blackburn Amendment to become law, employers would be permitted to refuse to offer insurance that covers preventive services, including contraception for 50,000 women in my district, that they object to on any religious or moral grounds.

Were the Blackburn Amendment to become law, it would take away tax credits and subsidies to help Americans purchase insurance which would adversely affect 446,800 persons in Harris County and more than 2.5 million persons in my home State of Texas.

Were the Blackburn Amendment to become law, it would take away tax credits and subsidies to help Americans purchase insurance. This would adversely affect 153,000 persons in my district and 105 million Americans nationally.

Were the Blackburn Amendment to become law, it would delay an increase in tax credits to help small businesses buy insurance for their employees. This provision has already helped 360,000 small businesses provide insurance to more than 2 million persons.

Mr. Speaker, instead of debating amendments that have no chance of becoming law and will hurt Americans and our economy, let us work together on behalf of the American people and pass a clean CR and keep the government open to do the people's business.

I urge all my colleagues to join me in voting against the Blackburn Amendment.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 366, I call up the joint resolution (H.J. Res. 59) making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes, with a Senate amendment thereto, and ask for its immediate consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I have a motion at the desk.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the further consideration of H.J. Res. 59.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise to move forward with H.J. Res. 59, the continuing resolution that will keep the doors of the government open after the end of the fiscal year on Monday.

It's unfortunate that yet again we are in this situation facing yet another shutdown showdown with no solution to our many fiscal problems in sight. Funding the government with a continuing resolution should not be plan A, plan B, or even plan Z. But our challenges are many, our timeline is short, so passing this CR today is absolutely essential.

The House passed a version of this bill last Friday. The Senate amended it and sent it back to us to consider once again. The motion before us agrees to the Senate amendments with two further amendments: one delaying ObamaCare for a year, and one repealing the medical device tax.

Included in each amendment are three changes that I've requested. The first changes the date back to the House-passed end date of the CR of December 15 to give us more time to pass the fiscal year 2014 appropriations bills. I've been flexible on this issue from the very beginning, but this longer timeframe will help us avoid the potential need for another CR in the interim.

The second change would make a technical change to an anomaly for the Eisenhower Commission added by the Senate. This change will simply continue the status quo of a hold on that project.

Finally, the third will add a new anomaly to extend the authority for the United States to issue special immigrant visas for the length of this CR. This authority is necessary to ensure that the visas continue for Iraqis who assisted the U.S. during the war, many of whom put their lives on the line to do so. It's become clear that since this CR was first introduced that this new provision has wide bipartisan support.

Mr. Speaker, one of our primary jobs as Members of Congress is to provide our people with important programs and services only the Federal Government can provide and to ensure that these services are available. This bill does that. However, it's also our responsibility to address the Nation's fiscal challenges head-on with a realistic and pragmatic approach that will allow for attainable solutions.

With the debt ceiling looming, a fragile economy in recovery, and the threat of additional, draconian sequestration cuts that will gut our national defense, it's essential that we come together to find common ground. One side cannot do it alone, and inaction or failure on these crucial issues could lead to disastrous results for our people and our Nation for years to come.

Let me take a moment now to remind us all of just a few of the consequences if the government were to shut down: our troops will not be paid and national security will be put at risk; our borders will weaken; our most vulnerable citizens, the elderly and our veterans, may not get the assistance they rely upon; our businesses, facing great uncertainty, will take a hit; our economy will suffer.

We must act responsibly to keep our government open and our country on stable economic footing. Now and in the near future, we must also act as productive partners to keep the Nation safe, provide our people with essential services, rein in unsustainable entitlement programs, and secure a responsible and realistic Federal budget.

And we must remember that we do this not just for ourselves and our districts, but we do it for the Nation as a whole. I hope that today-- with the countdown to shutdown clocks ticking away--my colleagues will understand that funding the government is one of those essential duties, and I ask you to vote ``yes'' on this continuing resolution.

I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn), vice chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Stutzman).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Kingston), the distinguished chairman of the Labor-HHS Subcommittee on Appropriations.

I yield 1 minute to the gentleman.

Mr. Speaker, may I inquire of the time remaining.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Paulsen), a very important member of the Ways and Means Committee of the House.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Dent), who is the vice chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on State and Foreign Operations.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlelady from Indiana (Mrs. Brooks).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Meadows).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Coffman).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Rothfus).

Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Culberson), who is the chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on the MilCon and VA.

Might I inquire of the time remaining, Mr. Speaker.

I continue to reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Pittenger).

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

We've heard time and again tonight from the other side that this debate and vote is about shutting down the government. Pardon me. I thought we were voting on a continuing resolution. What do you think a continuing resolution is? It's to continue the government.

Those on the other side also want to say that we're defunding ObamaCare. We're not. We did that in the first bill we sent over to the Senate. The Senate rejected that and sent it back. Now this side of the aisle is offering a peaceable offer.

People all over this country are telling all of us how much they are worried about this ObamaCare that they're having to contend with starting this Monday. They're saying, Please, give us a break. Give us some time to adjust to this. Even the President admitted that the law was not for prime time for the business community, and he gave businesses an extra year. He's excused so many other people that we don't even know about, and yet the individual mandate, the requirement of the law that individuals must comply with, he will not yield on.

That's what this bill does. It says let's take a year off and let's work this thing, let's get the computers which are not working to work. Let's get the computers working right. Let's get the staff in the field. Let's get people out there who can sign people up. That takes time, Mr. Speaker. That's what this bill is all about. It says delay for just 1 year the individual mandate, which is really all that's left that's still in force. Let's take a year and perfect, if you can, this bill for the individual.

To say that what we're after tonight is to shut down the government is just not so. This is a continuing resolution. This continues the government. Like it or not, that's what it does. So I urge a ``yes'' vote.

I yield back the balance of my time.