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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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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