U.S. Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Al Franken reacted to the recent news of the U.S. Commerce Department designating the state's medical technology industry as one of 12 “Manufacturing Communities” across the country.

The designated communities will receive coordinated support from 11 different federal agencies to develop their economic development strategies to obtain a portion of the more than $1 billion available in federal assistance.

“Minnesota has a long history of leadership in medical manufacturing—we are the state that invented the pacemaker,” Klobuchar said. “This designation will help Minnesota stay at the forefront of medical innovation by creating jobs, boosting manufacturing, and moving our state’s economy forward.”

“The federal designation sets our state and region apart,” said Michael Langley, CEO of GREATER MSP, an organizational member of the Minnesota Medical Manufacturing Partnership. “It confirms and will strengthen our global leadership in medical technology.”