Elk Grove Citizen - Bera Sponsors "Make Government Work' Bills

News Article

By Bryan M. Gold

U.S. Rep. Dr. Ami Bera (D-Elk Grove) and 80 Congressional members of the No Labels Problem Solvers coalition that he co-chairs earlier this month introduced nine pieces of legislation known as the "Make Government Work!" package.

The nine bills include the 21st Century Healthcare for Heroes Act for which Bera was a lead sponsor along with Rep. Chris Gibson (R-New York). The bill calls for merging the electronic health records of the U.S. Department of Defense with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Bera said the legislation would save taxpayers money, address a backlog at the VA, and help veterans make an easier transition to civilian life.

"Essentially, this bill will help make government work for our veterans," Bera wrote in a July 23 email to people on his distribution list. "As a doctor who has worked in the VA system and worked with World War II, Korean, and Vietnam veterans, I am proud to support this bill."

Bera recently wrote on the No Labels website that the idea for the bill was born when he attended a dinner in late April with other Problem Solvers and met Gibson, a retired U.S. Army colonel.

"We got to talking about what issues a doctor and a veteran might find to work on together," wrote Bera, a physician. "Out of our conversation came the 21st Century Healthcare for Heroes Act."

The freshman legislator added that a health care program for service members and veterans isn't a priority of just the Democratic or Republican parties.

"Providing our heroes with the quality health care they deserve should not be a political issue," Bera wrote in the email. "Congress needs to be a place for service, where we focus on fixing problems, not fighting."

He added, "That means putting an end to the finger pointing and name-calling, and making Congress start working for America again."

Bera was among the sponsors for all nine bills in the "Make Government Work!" package. Other bills include creating a two-year budget process along with cutting 50 percent of agency travel and replacing it with video conferencing.

One of the bills is the "No Budget, No Pay" legislation that Bera pushed for during his campaign last year when he defeated incumbent Rep. Dan Lungren. That bill says that members of Congress will not be paid if they can't approve a budget and all annual spending bills on time.

Bera worked with another House Republican on a separate bill to address a potential shortage of doctors in the United States.

In late June, Bera and Rep. Mark Meadows (R-North Carolina) introduced legislation that would allow international doctors in the United States on a visa to remain in this country if they agree to practice in underserved areas that need more doctors.

A press release indicated the Association of American Medical Colleges projected a shortage of 63,000 doctors by 2015 and more than 130,000 by 2025.

"As a doctor myself, I know this legislation is going to help deal with an immense need for more doctors in this country," Bera said in the release. "America's strength has always been built on our ability to attract the best and the brightest people from around the world to innovate and help us here in the U.S."

Meadows agreed, and added the bill is a positive step in reforming the visa process.

"I am pleased to join my colleague, Rep. Bera, in this bipartisan effort to ensure talented doctors have the opportunity to serve in areas of our nation where they are needed most," Meadows said.

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