05.18.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C- The House of Representatives passed 10 bipartisan bills brought to the floor by the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. The legislation helps build equity for all veterans regardless of race, gender, sexuality, or housing status, strengthens oversight of VA and COVID-19 relief dollars, and expands mental healthcare resources for veterans, especially in rural areas. All of these bills align with Chairman Takano's commitment to build a more welcoming and equitable VA, improve
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05.12.21 • 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. These bills showcase the Committee's commitment to supporting women veterans and increasing access to mental healthcare resources.
"I'm so glad we could come together today to pass two bipartisan bills that will help ensure our veterans can access the care and benefits they've earned," said Chairman Takano. "I applaud Representative Underwood's
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05.07.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) interviewed Jennifer Dane, an Air Force veteran and Executive Director of the Modern Military Association of America. Ms. Dane offered important policy recommendations to provide more inclusive care and remedy past discrimination against LGBTQ veterans. As part of Chairman Takano’s commitment to build a VA that is more welcoming and inclusive for all of our veterans, he will continue to hear from VSOs that
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05.07.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Ranking Member Mike Bost (R-Ill.) urged veterans to get the COVID-19 vaccine in a new video. For veterans seeking the vaccine from VA, please visit www.va.gov to sign up to be contacted when a vaccine is available for you.
Watch the full video
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05.05.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C — Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) announced progress on the Committee’s comprehensive legislative package to address toxic exposure at the full Committee legislative hearing. The Committee heard from Members, VSO leaders, and VA officials about 15 bills that align with the Committee’s efforts to comprehensively grant benefits and presumptions for all veterans exposed to toxic
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05.04.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C- Today, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a Full Committee Markup passing all 25 bills on the agenda, including legislation to build equity for all veterans, improve mental healthcare access, provide COVID-19 relief, strengthen oversight of VA, and expand economic opportunities for veterans. By passing these bills, the Committee can advance Chairman Takano's priorities to build a more welcoming VA, combat veteran suicide, improve educational opportunities, and
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05.04.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) highlighted legislation that aligns with the Committee's efforts to comprehensively grant benefits and presumptions for all veterans exposed to toxic substances-regardless of where or when they served. At Wednesday's full Committee Legislative Hearing, the Committee will discuss 15 bills and hear from Members, VSO leaders, and VA officials as it works to comprehensively address toxic exposure. Hear
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04.30.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Rep. Mike Bost (R-Ill.), the Chairman and Ranking member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, and Senator Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kans.), the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, released the following statements after they introduced the VA Transparency & Trust Act of 2021. This vital bill would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to report to Congress
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04.30.21 • Press Release
House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) interviewed Paige Jenkins, Steering Committee Chair of the Military Women's Coalition (MWC), founder of the Red Feather Ranch, and a Navy veteran. Chair Jenkins discussed the need for expanded transition programs that target women veterans and how VA can be more welcoming for all veterans-regardless of gender, sexuality, race, or gender identity. This interview is part of Chairman Takano's commitment to hear from VSOs that
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04.27.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C -Today, House and Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairmen Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) are announcing coordinated, bicameral legislative hearings to consider more than 24 bills related to toxic exposure. These hearings follow the leaders' commitment to address toxic exposure in the 117thCongress and build on previous legislative accomplishments such as the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act and Fair Care for Vietnam Veterans Act.
In recent
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04.23.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) applauded the introduction of two new bills that align with the Committee's efforts to comprehensively grant benefits and presumptions for all veterans exposed to toxic substances-regardless of where or when they served. Rep. Chris Pappas' (D-NH) introduced the bipartisan PFAS Registry Act, which would direct VA to create a national database for servicemembers and veterans with health concerns due to
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04.22.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Yesterday, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) spoke at a closed-door full Committee roundtable about the role of Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs) in eliminating sexual harassment at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Ten veterans groups that represent a cross-section of the veteran community, including both Congressionally-chartered VSOs and grassroots organizations representing women and minority veterans, participated in the
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04.21.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) introduced H.Res. 337, a resolution to celebrate the 75th anniversary of VA training psychologists and designate this week-- April 19 through April 23, 2021-- as ''VA Psychology Recognition Week.'' Following the introduction, Chairman Takano, Association of VA Psychology Leaders (AVAPL) President Kenneth R. Jones, PhD, and American Psychological Association (APA) President Jennifer F. Kelly, PhD, ABPP
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04.20.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) interviewed Liza Narciso, an Army veteran and President of the National Association of State Women Veteran Coordinators(NASWVC). President Narciso provided insights into the challenges facing women veterans and ways to improve care and create a more inclusive VA in addition to NASWVC's work to improve VA healthcare for women veterans, address veteran homelessness, and combat veteran suicide. As part of
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04.16.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) applauded the introduction of three new bills that align with the Committee's efforts to comprehensively grant benefits and presumptions for all veterans exposed to toxic substances-regardless of where or when they served. This week, Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-Penn.) introduced the bipartisan Veterans Agent Orange Exposure Equity Act with Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Penn.), which would provide long-due
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04.15.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C —Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough, and Vice Chair and Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Chair Mike Levin (D-Calif.) released the following statements given news that VA has found a solution to continue “rounding out”-- a key practice that allows student veterans to round out a college schedule with non-required classes to bring their course load to a full term and ensure they can receive
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04.09.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) praised the introduction of two new bills that align with the Committee's efforts to comprehensively grant benefits and presumptions for all veterans exposed to toxic substances-regardless of where or when they served. Yesterday, Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) introduced the bipartisan Veterans Burn Pits Exposure Recognition Act with Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Mich.), which will formally recognize that
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04.07.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D- Calif.) released the following statement after President Biden announced that he will nominate Patricia Ross-long time Senior Policy Advisor to Speaker Pelosi-- to serve as Assistant Secretary of Congressional and Legislative Affairs at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
"I'm elated that President Biden has nominated Patricia Ross to serve as Assistant Secretary of Congressional and Legislative Affairs
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04.02.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) praised the introduction of the Conceding Our Veterans' Exposure Now and Necessitating Training or COVENANT Act by Subcommittee on Disability Assistance & Memorial Affairs Chair Elaine Luria (D-Vir.) as part of the Committee's continued effort to prioritize the issue of toxic exposures. The COVENANT Act would ensures veterans who were exposed to toxic substances during their service in the Middle
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03.24.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C -Today, President Joe Biden signed bipartisan legislation into law expanding COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to veterans and their families under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), following efforts from House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs leaders Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Ranking Member Mike Bost (R-Ill.), Chairman Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and Ranking Member Jerry Moran (R-Kan.).
The Strengthening and Amplifying Vaccination Efforts to Locally Immunize
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