News from Congressman Bera

Dear John,

I returned home to Sacramento County on Friday after our final votes of the year in Washington.

Despite there being enough Members of Congress who signed a discharge petition to force a vote on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies, Speaker Johnson refused to bring the bill to the floor.

Because of that inaction, these subsidies will expire at the end of the year. More than 20 million Americans — including 28,000 people in our district — will now face steep increases in their monthly health care premiums starting January 1. In some cases, premiums could rise by more than 600 percent.

I’ve always believed that you should be able to see a doctor when you get sick. And if you get really sick, you shouldn’t have to go bankrupt to get the care you need.

I’ve been proud of the progress we’ve made during my time in office to get closer to universal health care coverage. But now, we are heading in the wrong direction.

Many of you have reached out to my office to share what these premium hikes will mean for you and your family. I hear you — and I share your concern. I will continue to fight to extend these subsidies and work with anyone willing to advance durable solutions that lower health care costs and ensure every American has access to affordable, quality health care.

This time of year can be especially challenging for those facing hardship. It’s also a moment to come together as a community and give back. I find purpose in volunteering with local organizations that work to ensure no one feels forgotten or left behind during the holidays. You can find some of these opportunities through California Volunteers, Sacramento Ready, Volunteer Central (City of Rancho Cordova), and Volunteer Hub (City of Citrus Heights).

Let’s practice kindness and extend a helping hand to those in need this holiday season.

Be Well,

Ami Bera, M.D.
Member of Congress

Casework Milestone: 35,000 Cases Closed and Counting

I’m proud to share that my office has now assisted more than 35,000 Sacramento County residents with issues involving federal agencies and recovered over $22.7 million for local taxpayers.

This year alone, we’ve closed over 4,000 cases and returned more than $3 million in owed benefits.

Whether it’s resolving delayed tax refunds, helping seniors with Social Security or Medicare, or ensuring veterans receive the benefits they’ve earned, my office is here to help.

If you or someone you know needs assistance, call (916) 635-0505 or visit bera.house.gov/get-help to learn more.

Sacramento Steps Up to Address National Air Traffic Controller Shortage

I joined leaders from the Los Rios Community College District, Sacramento County, and the aviation industry at Mather Airport to celebrate Sacramento City College’s (SCC) progress toward becoming one of only two programs in the country with a dual-certified Enhanced Air Traffic-Collegiate Training Initiative (AT-CTI) program.

Upon final FAA approval, this dual-certification would make a good-paying, high-skill career path more accessible for local students while helping address the nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers.

I had the pleasure of meeting one of those students, Karyme, and her parents. Karyme has lived in the Sacramento area her whole life and relies on her local support system to pursue her education at SCC.

She shared how relocating to finish her training would create a major financial and emotional burden on top of already demanding coursework. This program would allow her to stay in Sacramento County to complete her coursework and proceed directly to on-the-job training at a local facility like Sacramento International Airport.

Giving Back to Our Veterans

My district team recently joined the Volunteers Of America (VOA) Veterans Service Center in Mather to serve a holiday lunch to veterans in their program. Many of these veterans are homeless and working to get back on their feet.

The luncheon included live music from a fellow Army veteran and a visit from Santa. It was a meaningful opportunity for my team to give back and thank those who’ve served our nation.

I’m grateful to the VOA team for their continued dedication to Sacramento County’s veterans.

Supporting a Congressional Stock Trading Ban

I believe that public service is a public trust. Members of Congress should not profit from their positions or trade on information we may receive as part of our official duties.

That's why I signed Representative Anna Paulina Luna’s discharge petition to force an up-or-down vote on the Restore Trust in Congress Act. This bipartisan legislation would ban Members from owning and trading individual stocks and help restore confidence in our government.

READ MY PRESS RELEASE

Sacramento Regional Transit District Awarded $39.67 Million Federal Grant

The Sacramento Regional Transit District was recently awarded a $39.67 million federal grant to replace 49 aging buses with modern, low-emission vehicles and upgrade maintenance infrastructure. These improvements will reduce pollution, enhance service reliability, and expand transit access in underserved communities.

Clean and reliable public transportation is essential to the health and economic vitality of our region, and I was proud to help secure federal funding for this critical project.

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