Chairman Takano Delivers Opening Remarks Before Markup on 18 Bills

Washington, DC- Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) delivered opening remarks at the Full Committee markup on 18 bills that will ensure parity for Guard and Reserve members, support student veterans, bolster VA’s research efforts, and study the iniquities LGBTQ+ veterans face. 

Full Video of the Chairman’s Remarks. 

Chairman Takano’s Remarks as prepared:  

With Veterans Day just around the corner, we meet today to advance legislation that will become part of our annual Veterans Day legislative package. The best way we can honor our veterans’ service to our nation is through action—and this Committee has been working hard to do that. 

Today we meet to markup 18 bills and back up our thank you’s with concrete action. 

Our country’s strength has always been in our diversity, and our veteran population is no exception. Our veterans – each with unique backgrounds and upbringings are all unified by the same sense of duty and patriotism to serve the country they and their families call home.  

We owe it to them to make sure that all veterans—regardless of gender, sexuality, race, citizenship, or gender identity-- have equitable access to the care and benefits they’ve earned. That’s why today we’ll look at bills that will promote justice for women veterans, create a Commission to study the inequities LGBTQ+ veterans face and help them heal, and ensure these veterans have a voice at VA.

We know that VA has world class research that benefits not only veterans, but the world at large. We’ll look at legislation to bolster VA’s research capabilities and create a clinical trial to see how cannabis may help veterans. 

We’ll also discuss legislation to achieve benefits parity for our Guard and Reserve members, support student veterans, and hold VA accountable for its electronic health record modernization project. 

Our veterans continue to serve our country long after they hang up the uniform—and that has been made even more clear by the COVID-19 pandemic. Passing these 18 bills today will help us mark this Veterans Day with action and truly honor their service, and I hope all my colleagues will join me. 

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