Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) joined colleagues on both sides of the aisle to cut taxes for North Jersey families, seniors, and businesses. Gottheimer voted to pass H.R.184, the Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2018, bipartisan legislation he co-sponsored to repeal the devastating Medical Device Tax, a 2.3 percent tax on life-saving products like pacemakers, artificial joints, and innovative equipment that helps keep people alive. Gottheimer also voted to pass legislation that will delay the Health Insurance Tax (HIT), a tax that threatens North Jersey seniors, businesses, and everyone that purchases insurance.

Back in January, Gottheimer helped stop the Health Insurance Tax (HIT) and Medical Device Tax from going into effect. In June, Gottheimer received the “Champion of Health Care” award from the American Life Sciences Innovation Council (ALSIC) for his work to cut costs that hinder innovation and make health care more expensive, including the Medical Device Tax and Health Insurance Tax.

Medical device and medical technology companies are among New Jersey’s and the Fifth District’s largest job creators. Across New Jersey, more than 78,000 residents work in life sciences, supporting 900,000 other jobs throughout the economy. The Fifth District alone hosts Becton Dickinson, Stryker, Teva Zimmer Pharmaceuticals, and others. BD employs more than 1,800 New Jerseyans, while Stryker Orthopedics in Mahwah adds another 1,400 jobs.

“When it comes to taxes, the people of New Jersey have had more than enough. Particularly when it comes to the health care that is critical to keeping us healthy and safe, we simply cannot afford another tax. That’s why I was proud to vote for legislation that halts the devastating Health Insurance Tax (HIT) in its tracks, and help introduce and pass bipartisan legislation that fully repeals the Medical Device Tax, a tax that would cost patients thousands of dollars, deter life-saving medical innovation, and harm job creation,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “From day one, I committed to fight for bipartisan solutions that work for the people I represent. And that’s what I will keep doing, working across the aisle to protect our health care and deliver commonsense tax cuts for Fifth District families.”