Press Release

Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. met with Rob Lynch, CEO of VSP Vision Care (VSP) today to celebrate World Sight Day and to discuss The Small Business and Family Relief Act, a bill to delay a new tax VSP is facing. VSP offered free eye exams and new glasses throughout the week to Sacramento County residents who qualify, with a special focus today on veterans and their families for World Sight Day. Bera toured VSP and the mobile clinics set up to accommodate thousands of appointments throughout the day.

Bera and Lynch discussed the $25 million dollar tax VSP is facing under the new health care law and Bera's bipartisan bill that would roll that tax back. As the law stands now, even though vision insurers are not allowed to participate in most new health care exchanges, they are still required to pay the tax on health insurance providers.

"This is an example of where we can work together to fix the ACA and make it better, which is why I've been working to get The Small Business and Family Relief Act passed through Congress," said Bera. "It will provide immediate relief to our businesses, families, and job creators. If it passed, it would delay the collection of the tax for two years, providing the necessary time to address participation of vision plans in health care exchanges or to adjust the tax to make it more fair.

Bera's office has worked closely with VSP throughout the implementation and progress of the Affordable Care Act to clarify federal guidance to allow vision insurer participation in the exchange.

Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. represents Sacramento County. Born and raised in California, Bera is a physician and the only Indian American currently serving in Congress. He's fighting to rebuild an economy that works for middle class families and to reduce our country's debt in a responsible way. One of Bera's first acts in Congress was to help lead the effort to pass the No Budget No Pay Act, which says if members of Congress don't pass a budget, they don't get paid. As a leader of the No Labels' Problem Solvers, he's working with people from both parties to find bipartisan solutions to our nation's challenges. He and his wife Janine live in Elk Grove with their daughter Sydra. For more updates on Rep. Bera follow @RepBera on Twitter, like Congressman Bera on Facebook, or visit https://www.bera.house.gov.