Ranking Member Takano Blasts House Republican Budget Proposal as "detached from reality"

Washington, D.C.  - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) issued the statement below following the release of House Republicans' budget package which would have disastrous impacts on America’s veterans. 

"America isn’t a deadbeat nation – we live up to the promises we’ve made, and we pay our debts. This House Republican proposal is a 300-plus page distraction, detached from reality, that does neither. Despite their rhetoric that veterans would be protected, the budget caps proposed by this bill fail to ensure veterans and servicemembers won’t be harmed by across-the-board cuts. Instead, this non-serious proposal puts veterans' care and benefits at risk, pitting veterans programs against the rest of the American people. Like their fellow Americans, active-duty servicemembers, veterans, and their families may go hungry and lose access to healthcare if Republicans get their wish on this proposal. If we hope to honor the pact we made with our nation’s servicemembers, we must start by investing in and protecting the programs they rely on." 

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