10.25.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C -Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Ranking Member Mike Bost (R-Ill.) introduced the VA Infrastructure Powers Exceptional Research Act of 2021 or the VIPER Act. This important legislation will give VA critical tools and resources to further improve its groundbreaking research program. This will not only help VA better serve our nation's veterans, but will benefit the global community at large as past VA-funded research has led to
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10.20.21 • Press Release
Washington, DC. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Rep. Karen Bass (D-Calif.), Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), and Subcommittee on Health Chairwoman Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) applauded Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough's announcement that the West LA VA Medical Center will provide permanent housing for all of the veterans currently living in the San Vicente encampment before the county clears the sidewalk on November 1st.
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10.14.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C-House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) led several Committee Members in a public comment on the new proposed Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) rule to Update and Clarify Regulatory Bars to Benefits Based on Character of Discharge. This proposed rule will take important steps to ensure veterans-including the thousands of LGBTQ+ veterans who were discharged during Don't Ask, Don't Tell-can finally access the care and benefits they've earned.
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10.13.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) delivered opening remarks at the full Committee hearing entitled, "Domestic Violent Extremist Groups and the Recruitment of Veterans." The hearing will explore the Committee's investigation into domestic violent extremist groups that was started last fall and will focus on who these groups are, what they believe, and why they specifically target veterans to recruit into their ranks.
Full Video
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10.08.21 • Press Release
RIVERSIDE, CA – This week, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) welcomed Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough to his district for the first time to tour VA facilities and meet with veterans across Riverside and the greater Los Angeles area. In the Inland Empire, the pair met with leadership, staff, and veterans at the Loma Linda Heath Care System and the San Bernardino Vet
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09.30.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) made the following statement after meeting with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough, Rep. Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-Calif.), Rep. Lou Correa (D-Calif.), and Rep. Teresa Fernandez (D-N.M.) to discuss the Biden-Harris Administration's efforts to support deported veterans. This summer, VA and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced an initiative to support noncitizen
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09.27.21 • Press Release
Washington, D.C. (September 27, 2021)— Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, Chairwoman of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Rep. Mark Takano, Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, released new documents showing that Ike Perlmutter, Marc Sherman, and Dr. Bruce Moskowitz, associates of former President Trump known as the Mar-a-Lago Trio, violated the Federal Advisory Committee Act and attempted to exert improper influence over government employees and policies involving
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09.23.21 • Press Release
Washington, DC. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Rep. Katie Porter (D-Calif.), and fellow Committee Member, Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) announced the introduction of H.R. 5317, the VA Governors Challenge Expansion Act of 2021 to help reduce veteran suicide. At yesterday's full Committee hearing examining VA's suicide research and prevention efforts, Chairman Takano spoke about the need for this legislation that will build on the incredibly
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09.22.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) gave opening remarks at the full Committee hearing entitled, "Veteran Suicide Prevention: Innovative Research and Expanded Public Health Efforts". Mental health resources are available for veterans who need them here.
Full video of the Chairman's remarks
Chairman Takano's remarks as prepared:
Today, we come together as we do every September to explicitly shine a spotlight on the
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09.20.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C- Today, the House of Representatives passed two bipartisan bills brought to the floor by the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs in line with Chairman Takano's priorities.
"Today, the House took strong bipartisan action to support our veterans by passing Rep. Mrvan's legislation to extend critical VA programs and Rep. Luria's bill to provide a vital cost of living adjustment for veterans living with service connected disabilities and their survivors," said Chairman
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09.20.21 • Press Release
Washington, DC. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Ranking Member Mike Bost (R-Ill.) along with Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-Kans.) released the following statements after the House passed S. 189, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2021, introduced by Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Chair Elaine Luria and Ranking Member Troy
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09.20.21 • Press Release
Washington, DC. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Chair Chris Pappas (D-N.H.) made the following statements to applaud VA's new directive that will ensure LGBTQ+ veterans-including the thousands of veterans who were discharged during Don't Ask, Don't Tell-can finally access the care and benefits they've earned. This announcement comes on the tenth anniversary of the repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell and
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09.15.21 • Press Release
Washington, DC. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) announced a full Committee oversight hearing entitled, "Veteran Suicide Prevention: Innovative Research and Expanded Public Health Efforts." This critical hearing comes as part of Chairman Takano's priority to reduce veteran suicide, especially in light of the withdrawal in Afghanistan that has deeply impacted our nation's veterans. This two panel oversight hearing will give the Committee an
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09.13.21 • Press Release
Washington, DC. - Today the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, under the leadership of Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.), successfully passed legislative proposals to comply with the reconciliation directive included in section 2002 of the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2022, S. Con. Res. 14 through the Committee. As part of President Biden's Build Back Better agenda, this measure includes $18 billion to invest in VA's aging infrastructure, its workforce, and the support
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09.13.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) delivered opening remarks at the Full Committee markup on legislative proposals to comply with the reconciliation directive included in section 2002 of the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2022, S. Con. Res. 14. as part of President Biden's Build Back Better agenda.
Full video of the Chairman's remarks
Chairman Takano's remarks as prepared:
Today's markup
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09.11.21 • Press Release
Washington, DC - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) made the following statement in recognition of the 20th anniversary of 9/11. Mental health resources are available for veterans who need them here.
Full video of the Chairman's remarks
Chairman Takano's remarks as prepared:
20 years ago, our country was forever changed when terrorists hijacked planes and crashed them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and a field
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09.08.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C -Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) made the following statement after the release of the Department of Veterans Affairs 2021 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report, which notably showed a decrease from 2018 to 2019 in veteran suicide deaths. Mental health resources are available for veterans who need them here.
"I'm so heartened by today's data signaling that Congress' and VA's efforts to meaningfully reduce veteran
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09.08.21 • Press Release
Washington, DC. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) announced a Full Committee Markup on legislative proposals to comply with the reconciliation directive included in section 2002 of the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2022, S. Con. Res. 14. This proposal includes $18 billion to invest in VA's aging infrastructure and the support structures that serve our nation's veterans as part of President Biden's Build Back Better agenda. The
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08.31.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C -Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) made the following statement after the United States completed its military withdrawal from Afghanistan. Mental health resources are available for veterans who need them here.
"After nearly 20 years of service and sacrifice in Afghanistan, our U.S. forces have officially withdrawn. I know that old wounds have reopened for many veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors, as the world
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08.26.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C -Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) made the following statement on the terrorist attacks in Kabul, Afghanistan today, which killed and wounded U.S. servicemembers. Mental health resources are available for veterans who need them here.
"I want to express my profound grief and sympathy for all those who lost their lives during the attacks in Kabul today. My thoughts are particularly with the family and loved ones of our fallen
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