01.22.25 • Press Release
WASHINGTON - The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee held a hearing today entitled "Restoring Focus: Putting Veterans First in Community Care.” Despite being the first hearing about community care since Republicans took control of Congress over two years ago, no government officials or contractors were present to answer questions about problems veterans have experienced when accessing care.
Ranking Member Takano said, “I want to say to our witnesses that I am truly anguished by the unacceptable
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01.21.25 • Press Release
WASHINGTON - On Inauguration Day, President Trump issued a series of Executive Orders (EOs) impacting veterans and civil servants who are employed by and seek care at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These EOs would:
Implement a hiring freeze across the federal government;
Reclassify many federal employees with fewer job protections;
Remove VA employees’ flexibility in remote working by mandating a return to office; and
Eliminate key diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
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01.16.25 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - Today during the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 119th Congress Organizing Meeting, Republicans rejected an amendment to the Committee Rules offered by Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) to increase transparency into potential financial conflicts of interests a witness testifying before the Committee may have. This amendment would complement other changes the Republicans made to the Committee Rules for the 119th Congress that require disclosure of payments or
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01.15.25 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) and Committee Democrats elected the Vice Ranking Member and Subcommittee Ranking Members, and selected Subcommittee membership during the Democratic Organizing Meeting.
“I am excited about our Subcommittee Ranking Member leadership, which includes several new Subcommittee Ranking Members who bring enthusiasm and a new perspective to the issues facing veterans and the Department of Veterans
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01.14.25 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC -- House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement welcoming the Committee’s newest Democratic members:
“As we begin the 119th Congress, I am thrilled to welcome our committee members, both new and returning. We have a diverse group of members who are ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work on behalf of our nation’s veterans. Our members bring a wealth of experiences to the table that will help us build upon
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01.13.25 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - Today House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement praising the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Greater Los Angeles (GLA) Healthcare System for its ongoing response to the wildfires in Los Angeles County and communication to Congress:
“As a member from Southern California, I have seen the devastation and destruction these wildfires continue to cause in and around LA. Tens of thousands have lost their homes,
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01.08.25 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - As the 118th Congress ends and the Biden-Harris Administration winds down, Committee Democrats are taking the time to reflect on our achievements supporting veterans over the last four years. Despite Republican dysfunction, Committee Democrats have worked with the Administration to improve benefits and services for veterans across America. Democrats have remained steadfast in our commitment to veterans' welfare, focusing on properly funding the Department of Veterans Affairs
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12.18.24 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) delivered the following opening statement, as prepared, during this morning’s Full Committee Oversight Hearing about the Supreme Court’s Loper Bright decision:
“Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In its decision in Loper Bright Enterprises versus Raimondo, the Supreme Court overturned forty years of precedent and radically transferred power from the legislative and executive branches to the judiciary. And contrary
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12.12.24 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) and Representative Neal Dunn, M.D. (FL-02), introduced the Supporting Medical Students and VA Workforce Act. This bill will help the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) address physician recruitment and retention challenges by funding the education of veteran-oriented, mission-focused physicians.
“I am glad to work with Dr. Dunn on this bill to provide assistance to students who are pursuing a
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12.05.24 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) delivered the following opening statement, as prepared, at the beginning of this morning’s Full Committee Oversight Hearing on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) funding and a projected Veterans Health Administration (VHA) shortfall:
“Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
There is currently rhetoric coming from the Right about veterans being on a ‘payroll’ and living on some kind of taxpayer-funded largess because
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11.18.24 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - Today House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) applauded House passage of H.R. 8371, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. This package includes many provisions that are priorities for veterans and veterans service organizations (VSOs).
“This omnibus package of veterans’ legislation achieves progress on many of the goals we set out to accomplish at the beginning of the 118th Congress,” said Ranking
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11.15.24 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC— House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement after an agreement was reached on the Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act:
“For more than a year, House Democrats have engaged in good faith negotiations in a bipartisan, bicameral manner to ensure this package best serves veterans and the future of healthcare at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Today, I am pleased to
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11.15.24 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement after President-elect Donald Trump announced former U.S. Representative Doug Collins as his Secretary for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA):
"I worked with Doug Collins when he was in Congress. And I look forward to continuing to work with him as VA Secretary. We have made tremendous gains in the last four years expanding healthcare and benefits thanks to my
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11.13.24 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement after it was announced that veteran homelessness has reached an all-time low under the Biden-Harris Administration:
"I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on this accomplishment towards the goal of ending veteran homelessness. With 32,000 veterans still unhoused, we have
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10.29.24 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39), released the below statement after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it had served a record number of veterans in the last fiscal year. VA announced it had delivered more than 127 million healthcare appointments, provided $173 billion in compensation and pension benefits, and housed almost 48,000 homeless veterans.
The Ranking Member said, “This is tremendous news from VA and the
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10.10.24 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39), joined by 21 House Democrats urged Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough to use existing legal authority under the Honoring Our PACT Act and other laws to help veterans who have Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) from blast overpressure. Recent research and reporting point to occupational blast exposure is causing severe and long-term damage to the health of servicemembers and
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09.25.24 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39), reintroduced the VA Employees Fairness Act with 103 original co-sponsors. This bill brings parity to the federal workforce by ensuring full collective bargaining rights for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Title 38 healthcare professionals, including registered nurses, physicians, dentists, and physician assistants.
“VA healthcare workers work tirelessly to provide high-quality care to our
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09.25.24 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) delivered the following opening remarks, as prepared, at the beginning of the Committee’s oversight hearing entitled, “Everyday Heroes: Supporting the Veteran Caregiver Community:”
“Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Caregivers are an indispensable component of the complex network of healthcare delivery for our most vulnerable veterans. As we can all see from RAND’s new report, caregivers are not only
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09.24.24 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it surpassed its fiscal year 2024 goal of housing 41,000 veterans, with over 43,000 veterans housed in the last 12 months:
“This is good news and gets us closer to our goal of ending veteran homelessness. I applaud VA and the Biden-Harris Administration for their continued commitment to preventing veterans from
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09.20.24 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) applauded President Joe Biden for quickly signing a bill that will provide the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) with the necessary funding to continue administering veteran disability and education benefits in October.
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) told the Committee that due to the successful accelerated implementation of the Honoring our PACT Act, more veterans than ever are
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