01.12.22 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1836, as amended, the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act of 2021 introduced by Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Chair Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.) with 287 bipartisan votes. The National Guard and Reserve has been utilized at unprecedented levels over the past two years to respond to crises around the country. However, these servicemembers do not accrue the same GI Bill benefits as their
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01.12.22 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C—Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif) delivered remarks on the House floor in support of Rep. Levin’s bill, H.R. 1836, as amended, the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act of 2021. This legislation rectifies a disparity by ensuring that every day National Guard and Reserve members spend in uniform—including training days—counts toward vital GI Bill benefits.
See
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12.14.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif) met with Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough, and Reps. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fl.) and Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-Calif.) to discuss the urgent need to fulfill our promises to our nation’s veterans, talk about the path forward on recognizing toxic exposure as a cost of war, and pass the bipartisan Honoring our PACT
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12.09.21 • Press Release
Washington, D.C. – House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee leaders Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Ranking Member Mike Bost (R-Ill.), Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) are pushing to increase the resiliency of Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) medical supply chain and make responsible use of taxpayer dollars. “We write to urge you to initiate an updated needs analysis and revised plan to properly align the
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12.08.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5545, as amended, the Responsible Education Mitigating Options and Technical Extensions Act or REMOTE Act introduced by Rep. David Trone (D-Mary.), Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.), and Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.). This legislation extends vital protections for student veterans secured by Chairman Takano's Student Veteran Coronavirus Response Act last year by extending remote learning waivers and ensuring that full housing
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11.25.21 • Press Release
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC), Representative Colin Allred (D-Tex.), Representative Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and Representative Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) will visit Taiwan from November 25-26, 2021, as part of a larger visit to the Indo-Pacific region. The congressional delegation will meet with senior Taiwan leaders to discuss U.S.-Taiwan relations, regional security, and other significant
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11.25.21 • Press Release
Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and the bipartisan congressional delegation shared Thanksgiving meals with servicemembers and veterans currently living in South Korea. Chairman Takano was joined by Reps. Nancy Mace (R-SC), Colin Allred (D-Tex.), Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), and Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) as part of the Committee's delegation to Japan and South Korea.
"As Americans celebrate Thanksgiving this year, it is an important gesture for Members
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11.19.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) announced he will lead a bipartisan congressional delegation over the Thanksgiving holiday to visit servicemembers and veterans in Japan and South Korea beginning on Friday, November 19.
“As we celebrate Thanksgiving this year and give thanks to all who have served our nation, it is my honor to lead a bipartisan congressional delegation to visit our American
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11.19.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act of 2021, which includes vital investments to update VA’s aging infrastructure, its workforce, and the support structures that serve our veterans. “Many VA hospitals are over 50 years old, and it’s clear there are places where the infrastructure of these
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11.18.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C—Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif) delivered remarks on the House floor in support of the Build Back Better Act of 2021.
Full video of Chairman Takano’s remarks
Chairman Takano’s remarks as prepared:
I rise today in support of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs' contribution to the Build Back Better Act of
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11.18.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – To better protect student veterans nationwide, House Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) are urging Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough to review and clarify recent changes to the 85/15 Rule as well as work with schools to ensure VA’s new guidelines are implemented correctly, without interruption to
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11.16.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C— Today, the House of Representatives passed eight bipartisan bills brought to the floor by the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. This legislation will support student veterans, improve maternal healthcare for veterans, require additional transparency of VA’s Electronic Health Record Modernization project, and more in line with Chairman Takano’s priorities. This builds on the passage of five
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11.15.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C— Today, the House of Representatives passed five bipartisan bills brought to the floor by the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs in line with Chairman Takano’s priorities.
“Last week, we celebrated Veterans Day, and I’m so glad my colleagues joined me today to back up our ‘thank you’s’ with the passage of five bipartisan bills to serve our nation’s
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11.12.21 • Press Release
Washington, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement in response to the new report from the Department of Defense (DoD) Office of Inspector General entitled, “Evaluation of the Department of Defense’s Implementation of Suicide Prevention Resources for Transitioning Uniformed Service Members.”
“I am disappointed to learn that pursuant to an Executive Order issued in 2018, DoD did
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11.11.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) applauded Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough's announcement that VA will begin a pilot of a new "comprehensive military exposure model" to consider possible relationships of in-service environmental hazards to medical conditions as it decides new presumptions. This new model will leverage scientific data from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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11.11.21 • Press Release
Washington, D.C.— Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif) released the following statement in recognition of Veterans Day:
Watch Chairman Takano’s full video statement here.
“Today is much more than a federal holiday. Today is a day of celebration – a day to properly honor the service of veterans from all walks of
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11.04.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C- Today, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a Full Committee Markup and passed 18 bills, many with bipartisan support. This legislation will provide parity for Guard and Reserve members, bolster VA's research capabilities, support student veterans, promote justice for women veterans, and study the inequities LGBTQ+ veterans face in line with Chairman Takano's priorities.
"With Veterans Day just around the corner, we advanced 18 bills today to support our nation's
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11.04.21 • Press Release
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
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11.04.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Last night, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) delivered remarks in support of the Build Back Better Act of 2021 before the House Rules Committee. Learn more about the veterans provisions included here.
Full Video of the Chairman's remarks
Chairman Takano's remarks as prepared:
Good Afternoon, Chairman McGovern and Ranking Member Cole. I am here today in support of The Build Back Better Act of 2021.
As Chairman of the
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11.02.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) released the following statement after President Joe Biden released a new White House framework to address veteran suicide entitled, "Reducing Military and Veteran Suicide: Advancing a Comprehensive, Cross-Sector, Evidence-Informed Approach."
"Today the Biden-Harris Administration further proved its commitment to supporting our nation's veterans with a new White House strategy to combat military and
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