Latest news with #AmiBera
Korea Herald
23-07-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
House committee passes bill to establish interparliamentary dialogue among S. Korea, US, Japan
A US House committee passed a bill Tuesday to establish an interparliamentary trilateral dialogue among South Korea, the United States and Japan as part of efforts to deepen cooperation in tackling shared challenges in the Indo-Pacific. The House Foreign Affairs Committee endorsed the US-Japan-ROK Trilateral Cooperation Act aimed at creating permanent channels of communication and coordination among the three countries' legislative bodies, according to the office of Rep. Ami Bera, ranking member of the subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific. "As we face growing threats in the Indo-Pacific, now is the time to invest in our closest alliances rooted in democratic principles," Bera said in a statement. "This bill creates a permanent forum for lawmakers from the United States, Japan, and South Korea to meet regularly, exchange ideas, and coordinate on challenges ranging from maritime security and economic growth to safeguarding democratic institutions," he added. The lawmaker said the legislative effort builds on the momentum from the first standalone trilateral summit that the leaders of the three countries held at Camp David in Maryland in August 2023 to strengthen three-way cooperation. Bera introduced the bill, while Reps. Joe Wilson, Mike Kelly, Joaquin Castro, Adrian Smith and the late Gerry Connolly co-led the legislation.
Business Journals
02-07-2025
- Business
- Business Journals
Beyond the headlines: How the Big Beautiful Bill threatens Sacramento's workforce and economy
In every corner of Sacramento, from bustling downtown offices to family-run shops in Oak Park, the heartbeat of our economy is the same: working people striving to build a better life. They are parents juggling jobs and childcare, students working their way through school and caregivers holding families together. They are the backbone of our businesses—and when they thrive, we all do. That's why we must speak plainly and urgently about H.R.-1, known in Congress as the 'Big Beautiful Bill.' Behind its polished name lies a set of policies that would do real harm to the people who make Sacramento work. This bill doesn't just threaten social programs—it threatens the very foundation of our local economy. Let's be clear. This isn't about partisanship. It's about people. It's about practical economics. And it's about the kind of leadership our business community is called to show in moments like this. H.R.-1 proposes deep cuts to Medicaid (Medi-Cal in California) and SNAP (CalFresh). It will sharply limit access to the Earned Income Tax Credit, the Child Tax Credit and student loan forgiveness. These aren't handouts. They are investments—investments in health, in education and in stability. They are the scaffolding that allows working families to show up, stay healthy and contribute fully to our economy. In the districts of Congresswoman Doris Matsui and Congressman Ami Bera—covering Sacramento County and part of Yolo County—654,344 residents rely on Medi-Cal. And that's just a fraction of the many across the capital region who depend on it for healthcare. That includes many of the workers who keep our restaurants running, care for our children and elders and staff our hospitals and schools. When they lose access to healthcare, it doesn't just hurt them—it hurts the businesses that depend on them. Missed shifts, higher turnover, rising costs: These are not abstract consequences but are the daily realities employers will face if this bill becomes law. It doesn't stop there. By slashing tax credits that help families afford childcare, transportation and school supplies, H.R.-1 makes it harder for parents to stay in the workforce. By capping student loan forgiveness, it narrows the pipeline into critical professions like teaching, nursing and skilled trades—fields already stretched thin. We've seen this story before. When the safety net is pulled away, the burden doesn't disappear. It shifts—to employers, to local governments, to communities already doing more with less. Businesses are left to absorb the costs of instability: more sick days, more training, more churn. And over time, that instability becomes a drag on growth, innovation and competitiveness. But here's the good news: We don't have to accept this. Sacramento's business community has a proud tradition of stepping up—not just for profit, but for people. We've seen what's possible when business leaders use their voices to advocate for opportunity and shared prosperity so our entire community thrives. Now is one of those moments. We urge every employer, every entrepreneur, every chamber of commerce and boardroom in this region to take a stand. Call your representatives. Make it clear that gutting the programs that support our workforce is not just bad policy—it's bad business. Because the truth is, when we invest in people, we all rise. When we protect the health and dignity of workers, we build stronger companies. When we ensure that every child has a shot at success, we secure the future of our economy. This is about who we are—and who we want to be. Let's choose a Sacramento where businesses thrive because families are strong. Let's choose a future where prosperity lifts everyone—not just a few. Let's reject H.R.-1 and stand up for the values that make our community resilient, compassionate, and bold.
The Hill
01-07-2025
- Business
- The Hill
Rep. Ami Bera (D-CA) discuss Elon Musk and the 'Big, Beautiful Bill'
Is the political evolution surrounding Elon Musk about to continue? The world's wealthiest man threatened to primary those who campaigned on reducing government spending but vote for the One, Big Beautiful Bill. I spoke with two lawmakers on different sides of the aisle shortly after the post. 'I don't always agree with Elon Musk. I do agree with him on this,' Rep Ami Bera (D-CA) told me. 'Elon Musk should do what Elon Musk wants to do,' Bera continued. 'It's certainly interesting him making those type of claims when he's made a significant amount of money off subsidies from the federal government in the form of electric vehicle subsidies, and those are the type of things that need to be cut in this bill,' Rep Greg Steube (R-FL) told me. A much different tone from just a month ago when Musk was in the White House— revered by the right and a foe to the left.
Bloomberg
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Bloomberg
US Lawmakers' Talks With Top Taiwan Official Risk Irking China
A group of US lawmakers held a rare publicly disclosed meeting with Taiwan's top defense official, a discussion that risks spurring China to step up its military intimidation of the democracy. The delegation led by Ami Bera, a Democratic representative from California, met with Defense Minister Wellington Koo on Tuesday in Taipei, Taiwan's Military News Agency reported.
Mint
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Mint
US Lawmakers' Talks With Top Taiwan Official Risks Irking China
A group of US lawmakers held a rare publicly disclosed meeting with Taiwan's top defense official, a discussion that risks spurring China to step up its military intimidation of the democracy. The delegation led by Ami Bera, a Democratic representative from California, met with Defense Minister Wellington Koo on Tuesday in Taipei, Taiwan's Military News Agency reported. Koo said Taiwan was a reliable partner for the US and was committed to strengthening its defensive capabilities, the report on Wednesday added. US President Donald Trump suggested while campaigning that Taipei increase its military spending. The meeting adds to events lately that Beijing is likely to perceive as provocative. On Tuesday, Beijing hit back at Taiwan for joining a yearslong US campaign to curtail China's technological ascent when it recently blacklisted the country's AI and chipmaking champions. And Bera and the other lawmakers met President Lai Ching-te on Monday. While such meetings are fairly common for US lawmakers, they still annoy Beijing because it opposes nations it has ties with from having official contact with Taiwan. China will also note that military officials from Taiwan attended exercises at a key US military base in Alaska last week. Also last week, retired military officials from Taiwan, Japan and the US reportedly attended a simulated 'tabletop exercise' in Taipei. A new round of Chinese exercises around Taiwan soon cannot be ruled out, said Lin Po-chou, assistant research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research, a government-affiliated think tank based in Taipei. 'China might also escalate the scale of the existing provocation of Taiwan, or express dissatisfaction through propaganda warfare or commentary in official media outlets,' he added. China views the archipelago of 23 million people as territory that must come under its control eventually, hopefully by peaceful means but by force if necessary. The People's Liberation Army has held an unprecedented amount of exercises around Taiwan since Lai took office a little more than a year ago. It has also flexed its naval might around Japan and also Australia. The latest developments come as China-US tensions cooled following trade talks in London last week. Taipei is also holding discussions with Washington to avoid getting hit with duties. While previous American delegations are likely to have had meetings with Taiwanese defense ministers, they usually aren't publicly disclosed. In 2021, a group visited the Defense Ministry in Taipei and was briefed on China's military threats. Reports at the time didn't say what Taiwanese military officials the lawmakers met. Taiwan's Defense Ministry didn't immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday. Jack Chen, director of Formosa Defense Vision, an advocacy group, said the announcement of the meeting between Koo and the US visitors 'showed that the military exchanges and cooperation between the US and Taiwan are becoming increasingly high profile and transparent, aligning with a long-term trend that began under the Biden administration and has continued into the Trump administration.' This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
