Chalk up one more congressional caucus for Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Erik Paulsen.
The pair announced Monday they are creating the Congressional Wellness Caucus, which will focus on better wellness in the workplace. They are announcing the caucus at Apogee Enterprises in Minneapolis today.
The Wellness Caucus is the second health-care related caucus the pair are chairing: Paulsen is co-chair of the House Med-Tech caucus and Klobuchar is co-chair of the Senate counterpart.
"The idea is to help reduce illnesses by putting incentives in the health care plans that employers offer so that people can get healthier," Klobuchar said.
Klobuchar said the Minnesota Department of Health found that wellness programs can lead to a 25 percent reduction in sick leave, disability and health costs.
Republican Sen. John Thune of South Dakota will co-chair the Wellness Caucus in the Senate, and Wisconsin Democrat Rep. Ron Kind will do so in the House.
No word yet on how the caucus might apply to congressional staff, as well as senators and House members themselves. Congress is notorious for having staffers work long into the night.
