Newsletter - No Security, No Pay

Statement

Recently, I've been fighting to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security, and for local veterans who may have been impacted by mismanagement at the VA. Read below for more info on that and to see how you can get tax help from my local office.

Fighting for Homeland Security

As you may have heard, the Department of Homeland Security was recently in danger of shutting down. Funding for the department was held hostage because of a political dispute between the parties, putting America's security at risk.

Threatening to shut down the Department of Homeland Security is the height of irresponsibility. That's why I introduced the No Homeland Security, No Pay Act, so Members of Congress wouldn't get paid if the department shut down. If Congress can't do its job and put the security of the American people before politics, then they certainly shouldn't get paid during a crisis that they're causing.

Keeping Americans safe shouldn't be a political issue. We need Homeland Security on the job to help our local police, stop terrorists, and secure our borders.

I joined with responsible people in both parties to keep this agency open, and I'm pleased to report that we were successful because we stood firm and united. I was proud to vote for a bill to fully fund Homeland Security earlier this week, which ends the irresponsible threat of shutting down this agency that keeps our families safe.

Standing up for Sacramento County Veterans

A recent investigation of the Veterans' Affairs center in Oakland found that they may have mismanaged more than 13,000 veterans' benefit claims over several years. They serve veterans throughout Northern California, including the more than 95,000 veterans who live in our congressional district.

As a doctor who has helped care for Veterans in the VA system, I've seen first-hand how much our heroes have sacrificed for us. Our veterans deserve so much better than this. I'm extremely troubled by this mismanagement and we absolutely must make things right.

That's why I've urged the director of the Oakland Office to take immediate steps to address this issue, including contacting each individual veteran who may have been impacted. We must ensure that these mistakes do not happen again and that transparency and honesty remain core values at the VA.

My office is also here as a resource to assist area veterans who may need help. We frequently help local veterans who need help with backlogged benefits, VA health care issues, and other federal government problems. We'd be honored to help you too.

Invite: Tax Help Office Hours and Other Local Events

I know tax season is often a stressful time for many Sacramento County families. That's why my office is offering two free tax help office hours this month in partnership with the IRS Taxpayer Advocate Service.

These free tax help office hours are a way for you, your family, or your small business to get help with your tax questions, and for navigating the often confusing tax filing process.

Our first office hours will be next week on Wednesday, March 11th.

We're also hosting two more library office hours this month to help residents with backlogged veterans benefits, Social Security and Medicare issues, and other federal government problems.

Thank you as always for the incredible honor of serving you. Please feel free to call or write at any time to share your views.

Be well,

Ami Bera, M.D.
Member of Congress

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