Email Update: Recently Around Sacramento County

Statement

I sent an email update on Saturday on what I've been doing to make government work for Sacramento County.

I've been hard at work these past several weeks to make government work for Sacramento County. Here's a quick update:

Refusing my congressional pension until Medicare & Social Security are secure

Recently, I was honored to help celebrate March for Meals month with local seniors in Elk Grove. This is a nationwide celebration of Meals on Wheels programs to help seniors live independently.

While there, I announced that I had given back my 2014 pension to the U.S. treasury to help pay down our debt.

I will not take a congressional pension until Social Security and Medicare are secure. Taxpayers shouldn't be forced to pay for my retirement when so many of your own retirements are still vulnerable.

Recently, the House took a major step to protect and strengthen Medicare, passing a bill to fix its payment system.

I voted for this bipartisan bill, which passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. But we still have work to do to make sure Medicare and Social Security are secure for this and future generations.

Supporting local Small Businesses

Making government work for Sacramento County businesses is critical for growing our local economy. That's why my office and I have been meeting with local businesses and connecting them with resources they can use to grow and hire.

For instance, we recently held a workshop to connect small businesses with help from the Small Business Administration and other agencies.

I also recently hosted a roundtable with women small business owners in Rancho Cordova. We discussed their concerns, federal resources, and working together to strengthen our local economy.

Ensuring government is a strategic partner, not an obstacle, is critical for growing our local economy.

You only need to look at Rancho Cordova's NCIM El Dorado Molds, which I recently visited, for a great example of how we can do this.

They make molds for everything from auto parts to sunglasses. They're a successful local company that is now growing in part because of help they got from the Small Business Administration.

My office is here to connect local businesses with what they need to grow and hire. If you're a business owner and need help with the federal government, or if you're interested in other helpful resources, we will do all we can to help you.

Helping local Veterans

In March, I was also honored to present Fair Oaks resident Paul Williams with the service medals he had earned during the Vietnam war.

Mr. Williams had never received nor pursued his medals, due to the public sentiment about the Vietnam War at the time.

It was an honor to help recognize his service to our country. Too many of our veterans go without thanks, especially our Vietnam War veterans who faced a difficult homecoming.

As a doctor who's helped care for veterans, I've seen their sacrifices first-hand. Our heroes deserve nothing less than our unwavering support. That's why my office is doing all we can to help local veterans with any issues they may be having with the federal government.

I'm proud to report that we've now helped local veterans recover more than $1 million in backlogged benefits and services. We'd be honored to help you too.

As always, please feel free to contact me to share your thoughts. Congress should be a place for service, not career politicians who are in it for themselves.

Be well,

Ami Bera, M.D.

Member of Congress

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