Newsletter - Partnership to Build America Act, Women's Health, and Helping You

Statement

I've been busy these last several days working for you and your family in Sacramento and Washington. Here's a quick update.

Partnership to Build America

I recently had the chance to celebrate the completion of the Watt/50 Interchange Improvement Project in Sacramento. These improvements will help cut down on traffic jams, and also make the area safer for bicyclists and pedestrians.

This project is a great example of collaboration and shows how rebuilding our infrastructure can create new, good-paying jobs. We need to invest in rebuilding our roads, bridges, and levees to make our economy more competitive.

That's why I became a sponsor of the bipartisan Partnership to Build America Act this week.

The Partnership to Build America Act is fiscally-responsible and common-sense. It helps solve our infrastructure problems WITHOUT raising gas taxes or increasing our debt.

Instead, the bill creates a $50 billion dollar reserve to rebuild infrastructure that is funded by selling bonds to private companies. U.S. corporations would be incentivized to bring home billions of dollars of money earned abroad if they invest in these infrastructure bonds. The bill would create significant American jobs in the short-term and help U.S. competitiveness in the long-term.

Protecting Women's Health Care

As a doctor, husband, and father of a daughter, I strongly believe that women should be free to make the health choices that work best for them. Washington politicians shouldn't dictate what women can and cannot do with their own bodies.

That's why this week I voted against a radical assault on women's health that would deny millions of women the comprehensive health care they need and deserve. It would also RAISE taxes on small businesses and families.

The bill would have the government dictate how women with private insurance can spend their own money. It also denies small businesses tax credits to help pay for worker's health care if they offer insurance plans that include coverage for safe and legal abortion care. Almost 90 percent of private insurance plans cover these services, and the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office found that this change would force these businesses to stop offering these plans.

Instead of this divisive assault on women, both parties need to focus on what really matters to Americans: creating jobs, building an economy that works for the middle class, and reducing our debt.

How to Get Help

Earlier this month, my office held its two first Library Office Hours for 2015. Under this program, my staff is available at local libraries throughout Sacramento County to better serve you.

My office is here to make government work for you. We may be able to help you with backlogged veterans' benefits, Social Security and Medicare issues, and even stalled passports. I'm proud to report that we've now helped local families recover nearly $1.5 million in backlogged services and benefits.

If you weren't able to make to our first two office hours, don't worry. Our next Library office hours will be on Tuesday, February 3rd at the Sylvan Oaks Branch Library on 6700 Auburn Boulevard in Citrus Heights, from 10:00 AM to noon.

We've also scheduled dozens of more office hours throughout the rest of 2015.

I am honored and humbled to serve you and your family. Please never hesitate to contact me.

Be well,

Ami Bera, M.D.
Member of Congress

Source