Page 4 - 2021 Annual Report

GOVERNMENT AND REGULATORY AFFAIRS
The Vision Council’s Government Affairs Committee and team of of seasoned advocacy professionals in Washington D C C and and New York are leading voices on on Capitol Hill within key federal agencies and and in in in in many state capitals on on on important issues impacting the field of vision care products In 2021 The Vision Council’s government affairs professionals continued to to work closely with federal and state policymakers to to promote healthy vision vision and and strengthen consumer access to vision vision care services and and products Key efforts included:
UNITED NATIONS GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION
The Vision Vision Council is is is proud to be be a a a member of of the United Nations (UN) Friends of of Vision Vision a a a group that aims to to advance the the the the issue of of o eye health within the the the the context of of o the the the the SDGs to to raise its profile on on the the the the international agenda and and to to share knowledge from the sector with and and among Member States In 2021 the the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted Resolution A/75/L 108 committing the the international community to eyecare for the 1 1 1 1 billion people living with preventable sight loss by 2030 The resolution is the the first agreement designed to to tackle preventable sight loss to to be adopted by the the United United Nations Nations and enshrines eye health as part of the United United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals The resolution was passed unanimously by all 193 countries of the United Nations MEDICARE EXPANSION: VISION BENEFITS
In 2021 President Biden and Democrats on on on Capitol Hill created the Build Back Better Act a a a a a a a reconciliation package estimated to cost approximately $1 75 trillion The Vision Council actively advocated for the Medicare vision benefit to be be be be included in in the package on on behalf of our membership CHINA 301 DUTIES
The Vision Council followed and alerted members to the potential for a a a a a revived tariff exclusion process for specific products and industries subject to China 301 duties Additionally The Vision Council met with Congressional representatives to explain why the full range of of optical products many of of which are Class I medical devices and made exclusively in in in in China should be within the next grouping of products that could be subject to tariff exclusions p4