Ranking Member Takano Lauds VA and Biden-Harris Administration for Serving Record Number of Veterans

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 Biden-Harris Administration. It shows Democrats are committed to delivering for veterans and not just speaking in platitudes.  

More veterans than ever are receiving healthcare and benefits from VA, in part because of my law, the Honoring our PACT Act. It is important that we keep our commitment to veterans to pay for all costs of war. This includes benefits and healthcare, but also providing quality mental healthcare, including helping veterans in acute suicidal crises, permanently housing homeless veterans, and supporting survivors.  

While this is great news, there is more work to do. The Honoring our PACT Act was just the first step, and we must continue to build on its success in getting more healthcare and benefits to the veterans who need them. VA also announced that a record number of women veterans received benefits and signed up for healthcare last year. This shows that VA has made strides in becoming a more welcoming place for all veterans, but we know there is more to be done to ensure women and LGBTQ+ veterans feel safe at VA.” 

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