Sen. Amy Klobuchar, the Minnesota Democrat who chairs a subcommittee on competitiveness and innovation, and Sen. Scott Brown, the photogenic Republican from Massachusetts are working together as co-chairs of a new bipartisan Senate Medical Technology Caucus.
Although they might seem an unlikely pair, medical technology is a big industry in both of their states.
In a joint press release today, the two senators note that the new “caucus aims to increase awareness about issues facing the medical technology sector, an industry that creates life-saving and life-enhancing innovations that improve patient care.”
“These businesses not only spark medical breakthroughs, they save lives,” Klobuchar said. “Every day in every state small medical technology companies are driving the innovation agenda we need to compete in a global economy. I will continue to work to make sure that Minnesota remains a leader in health care innovation by developing innovative products while maintaining patient safety.”
Brown said:
“In Massachusetts, we have more than 200 medical device companies and hundreds of bio and pharma companies, all of which provide good-paying jobs to thousands of citizens. It is critical that we provide a business environment for them to innovate, grow and thrive. I’m pleased to be the Republican chair of this bipartisan caucus, and look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to give our medical device and technology companies the tools and resources they need to continue their important work.”
That’s funny. I thought when you worked together to promote a private sector industry, that was called a trade association, not the US Senate. And to think Billy Tauzin got criticized for speaking for Pharma weeks after leaving the House. At least he left first.