WASHINGTON, D.C— Today, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs held a Full Committee Markup and passed two bills for our nation’s veterans. This legislation will help the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) competitively recruit and retain high quality healthcare workers and provide VA with critical resources to support veterans’ mental health. “Today we passed two bills through the Committee to support our … Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Mark Takano (D-CA), Chair of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Congresswoman Jackie Speier (D-CA), Chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel; and Congressman Adam Smith (D-WA), Chair of the House Armed Services Committee sent letters to Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III and Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel & Readiness Gilbert R. Cisneros Jr. calling for historical and survey research … Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4673, as amended, the Ensuring Veterans’ Smooth Transition, or EVEST Act with bipartisan support. By automatically enrolling eligible servicemembers in VA healthcare during their transition out of the military, the EVEST Act will simplify the transition process and take critical steps toward preventing veteran suicide. The EVEST Act has the support of Paralyzed … Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C—Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif) delivered remarks on the House floor in support of his bill, H.R. 4673, as amended, the Ensuring Veterans’ Smooth Transition, or EVEST Act. This legislation will automatically enroll eligible servicemembers in VA healthcare during their transition out of the military. See a video of the Chairman’s … Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif) released the following statement after the Committee’s roundtable on “The True Cost of our Promise to Toxic-Exposed Veterans.” Eleven Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) and advocates Jon Stewart and John Feal joined the Committee for a productive discussion about the way forward on the bipartisan Honoring our PACT Act, which passed out of the … Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif) and Ranking Member Mike Bost (R-Ill.) introduced H.R. 6411, the Supporting the Resilience of Our Nation’s Great Veterans Act of 2022 or the STRONG Veterans Act. This legislation gives the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) important new authorities and resources to support veterans’ mental health and well-being through increased … Read More
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif) announced that the full Committee will host a roundtable on efforts to address toxic exposure next Wednesday, January 19 at 2:00 pm EST. “It’s a new year, but I have not relented one bit on my promise to pass legislation to finally recognize toxic exposure as a cost of war this Congress. That’s why I’m grateful for the opportunity … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
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 … Read More
