Press Releases
Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. and the 46-member New Democrat Coalition today unveiled the American Prosperity Agenda, a comprehensive policy document aimed at fostering a new era of middle-class prosperity in the United States. The document, which is the first in the nearly 18-year history of the Coalition, seeks to "seize the opportunities of a new economy" with the best policies drawn from the left, right, and center.
Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. received Planned Parenthood's Champions for Women's Health Award last night during the 2015 Planned Parenthood National Conference. The award is given to one member of the U.S. House of Representatives and one U.S. Senator annually who exhibit the vision, leadership, and integrity it takes to protect and advance access to reproductive health care.
The Senate last night overwhelmingly passed legislation to restore certainty to our seniors and to Medicare physicians, and to end the more than decade-long cycle of "doc fix" patches, by repealing and reforming the flawed Medicare payment system known as the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR). The bill passed by a vote of 92 to 8.
Congressman Ami Bera, M.D., one of a handful of doctors in Congress who fought for this legislation, made the following statement:
CMS announced yesterday that Medicare Advantage rates for 2016 will increase by an average of 1.25 percent, a reversal from the 0.95 percent cut CMS proposed in February. Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. fought against the proposed cuts that would have increased costs for seniors and blocked their access to care. He offered the following comment:
Today, while in Elk Grove to celebrate March for Meals month with local seniors, Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. announced that he's returning his 2014 pension to the U.S. Treasury to pay down the U.S. debt, keeping the oath he made to the people of Sacramento County to decline his Congressional pension until Medicare and Social Security are secure.
On Saturday, Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. hosted his first Community Forum in Rancho Cordova. The forum featured remarks from Bera, California Assemblyman Ken Cooley, and Mayor of Rancho Cordova Robert McGarvey and a question and answer period that was moderated by Rancho Cordova City Councilman Donald Terry. Staff was also available to help constituents with any issues they may be having with the federal, state, or local government.
Last Friday, Congressman Ami Bera, M.D., presented Mr. Paul Williams with three service medals earned during the Vietnam War. Williams, a longtime Fair Oaks resident, had never received nor pursued his medals after separating from the Air Force due to the public sentiment about the Vietnam War at the time.
"It was an honor to help recognize Mr. Williams' service to our country. Too many of our veterans go without thanks, especially our Vietnam War veterans who faced a difficult homecoming," said Bera.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted on several budget proposals today and passed a Republican budget proposal with extra spending on defense 219 to 208. Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. made the following comment:
Following the introduction of bipartisan legislation to permanently fix the SGR formula for Medicare provider payments, Congressman Ami Bera, M.D. released the following statement:
"As a doctor who's cared for many seniors who rely on Medicare, I know how much of a lifeline it is to our parents and grandparents. That's why we need to fix the flawed formula for reimbursing Medicare health care providers that has threatened seniors' access to health care for more than a decade.