02.05.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), who led the Women Veterans Task Force during the 116th Congress, released the following statements after the Washington, D.C. VA Medical Center (VAMC) Director Michael Heimall welcomed Committee staff this week to discuss ongoing efforts to address sexual harassment and assault at VA facilities.
"As we've known for some time, VA provides world class
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02.03.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) spoke on the House floor in favor of H.Con.Res. 11, FY 2021 Budget Resolution to ensure the federal government provides direct relief to the American people during the COVID-19 pandemic. See a video of Chairman Takano's floor speech here and his remarks as prepared below.
Video of Chairman Takano's remarks.
Chairman Takano's remarks as prepared:
As Chairman of the House Committee on
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02.02.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Acting Under Secretary for Health Dr. Richard Stone, and U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) Acting Chief Yogananda D. Pittman jointly announced the deployment of critical resources through the Department of Veterans Affairs' Veterans Health Administration to ensure those impacted by the events of January 6th can access support and mental health resources needed during this
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01.28.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C -Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Rep. Mike Levin (D-Calif.) issued the following statements regarding news that the National Guard servicemembers guarding the Capitol will qualify for critical GI Bill benefits.
"While I am pleased that the National Guard members protecting our Capitol will be able to earn GI Bill benefits for their service, this confusion was another poignant reminder that too often servicemembers taking on
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01.26.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C -Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) penned an op-ed in Military Times laying out his priorities for the 117th Congress and his hopes for a VA under Secretary-designate Denis McDonough.
The last four years have been tumultuous for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In that time, the department responsible for serving our veterans has confronted a global pandemic, provided its Fourth Mission support to serve as our country's
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01.20.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C -Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) issued the following statement regarding staff changes to the Committee and the appointment of Committee Staff Director Ray Kelley as Veteran Service Organization Liaison for the Department of Veterans Affairs.
"It is with great pleasure that I congratulate my advisor and friend, Ray Kelley, on his appointment as VSO Liaison for VA in the Biden Administration. Ray has been a tremendous support and
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01.08.21 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C -Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) issued the following statement due to Secretary Wilkie's silence on the insurrection at the Capitol on Wednesday-- he was the last Cabinet member to respond. Given the handling of a sexual assault allegation at a VA facility, Chairman Takano led the charge to call for Secretary Wilkie's resignation in December and was joined by the Big 6 Veteran Service Organizations and many lawmakers, including
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12.18.20 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C -Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) issued the statement below following last night's VA town hall on Military Sexual Trauma (MST) which reportedly patched countless veterans into the event with little or no warning, without informed consent, leaving many traumatized.
"Despite the superior ability of clinical professionals across the Department to provide specialty care for survivors of military sexual trauma, this incident is
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12.16.20 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C - Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.)and Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R-Tenn.) 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 Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, released the following statements after the House and Senate passed H.R 7105, As Amended, the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of
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12.16.20 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C —Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) issued the following statement showcasing the major provisions the Committee secured for our nation’s veterans in H.R. 7105, As Amended, the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe, M.D. Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020. This end of year legislative package is built around Rep. Levin’s Dependable Employment
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12.10.20 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C -Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement after President-elect Biden announced he would nominate Denis McDonough to serve as Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs:
"I want to congratulate Secretary-designate Denis McDonough-- President-elect Biden's nominee for Secretary of VA. He has a demonstrated record of solving problems. I am confident that he understands the importance of healthcare and
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12.10.20 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C -Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) issued the following statement after the VA Office of Inspector General (OIG) released their report entitled, "Senior VA Officials' Response to a Veteran's Sexual Assault Allegations."
"It should not need to be said, but due to Secretary Wilkie's baseless attacks on a fellow veteran and member of my staff, let me say clearly- Andrea Goldstein is a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Navy
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12.07.20 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C -Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) issued the following statement regarding the ongoing work of the Committee to secure key provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act on behalf of our nation's veterans.
"Even as the end of the 116th Congress approaches, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs continues to advocate for our nation's veterans and successfully secured major provisions in this year's National Defense
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12.07.20 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C -Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement after President Trump signed his landmark veteran suicide prevention legislation-the Veterans' COMPACT Act-- into law.
Watch full video statement from Chairman Takano here.
"This weekend, the President signed the Veterans' COMPACT Act into law, marking real progress in our work to reduce veteran suicide.
"This bill contains nine provisions -
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12.04.20 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C -House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement after the Democratic Caucus re-elected him as Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs for the 117th Congress:
"I am grateful to my Democratic colleagues for electing me to continue in my role as Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs for the 117th Congress. Being Chairman of this Committee has been enormously satisfying because of what we can -
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12.03.20 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement after Rep. Mike Bost's (R-Ill.) selection to serve as Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs in the 117th Congress:
"As we prepare for the 117th Congress, I want to congratulate Marine veteran, Rep. Bost-- our Committee's new Ranking Member, and I look forward to building on the legacy of Dr. Roe," said Chairman Takano."Throughout his time on
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12.02.20 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C — Today, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs approved “Hijacking our Heroes” as an official Committee report into the public record.
This report, detailing internet spoofing-- the act of disguising an electronic communication from an unknown source to make the communication look like it is from a known, trusted source-- is based off the Committee’s November
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11.17.20 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Last night, the House of Representatives unanimously passed all three bipartisan bills brought to the floor by the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Even as the 116th Congress comes to a close, the Committee has continued its critical oversight and legislative work-the bills passed today showcase that commitment to veterans and their families by increasing accessibility for disabled veterans across all of VA's websites, files, and apps, naming the VA Clinic in Bozeman,
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11.12.20 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement in response to VA's 2020 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Reportdetailing the first two years of the Trump Administration's efforts to reduce veteran suicide.
"While the Veterans' COMPACT Act and Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Improvement Act were major steps forward in the fight to reduce veteran suicide, there's still so much more
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11.11.20 • Press Release
RIVERSIDE, CA - 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.
"Our armed forces have long been a living example of our country's 'Melting Pot.' Throughout our history, men and women, LGBTQ individuals, Native Americans, and members of the Black, Hispanic, and Asian communities have proudly served our country to defend their freedoms,
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