Press Releases

12.18.20 • Press Release

Chairman Takano Responds to Troubling Reports about VA Town Hall on Military Sexual Trauma

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 … Read More

12.16.20 • Press Release

Congressional Leaders Praise Passage of Bipartisan Veterans Omnibus

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 … Read More

12.16.20 • Press Release

Chairman Takano, VA Committee Secure Major Provisions for Veterans in End of Year Package

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 … Read More

12.10.20 • Press Release

Chairman Takano Congratulates VA Secretary-Designate McDonough

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 … Read More

12.10.20 • Press Release

Chairman Takano: “Secretary Wilkie has lost the trust of all those he is charged to serve & must resign.”

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 … Read More

12.07.20 • Press Release

Chairman Takano, VA Committee Secure Major Provisions for Veterans in NDAA

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 … Read More

12.07.20 • Press Release

Chairman Takano’s Landmark Veterans’ COMPACT Act Signed into Law

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 - … Read More

12.04.20 • Press Release

Takano Re-Elected as Chairman of House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

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 - … Read More

12.03.20 • Press Release

Chairman Takano Congratulates Incoming Ranking Member Rep. Bost

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 … Read More

12.02.20 • Press Release

House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Approves Official Report on Spoofing & the Exploitation of Veterans Online

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 … Read More

11.17.20 • Press Release

House Unanimously Passes Three Bipartisan Bills for Veterans

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, … Read More

11.12.20 • Press Release

Chairman Takano Statement on VA’s 2020 Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report

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 … Read More

11.11.20 • Press Release

Chairman Takano on Veterans Day: “Our veterans have always believed in the promise of a more perfect union”

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, … Read More

11.10.20 • Press Release

BREAKING: Takano, Roe, Tester, Moran Statement on Senate Passage of Takano’s Veterans’ COMPACT Act—Critical Legislation to Prevent Veteran Suicide

WASHINGTON, D.C - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Ranking Member Phil Roe (R-Tenn.) along with Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kans.) released the following statements after the U.S. Senate unanimously passed Chairman Takano's H.R. 8247, the Veterans' Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care, and Treatment Act of 2020, or Veterans' COMPACT Act, featuring 9 provisions to help … Read More

10.02.20 • Press Release

Takano, Tester Raise Concerns Over Last Minute Dash to Roll Out VA Caregivers Program

WASHINGTON, D.C-House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-Mont.) are expressing serious concerns to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) over whether the Department is fully prepared to launch the significant expansion of the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers Program (PCAFC) that was announced yesterday-a move that will allow Pre-9/11 veterans to apply for the program … Read More

09.23.20 • Press Release

House Unanimously Passes 5 Bills for Veterans including Chairman Takano’s Veterans’ COMPACT Act

WASHINGTON, D.C- Today, the House of Representatives unanimously passed all five bills brought to the floor by the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. This legislation will reform VA's debt collection process and support homeless veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as help reduce veteran suicide through Chairman Takano's Veterans' COMPACT Act and the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019. A full list of bills passed can be found … Read More

09.23.20 • Press Release

BREAKING: Takano, Roe, Tester, Moran Statement on House Passage of Groundbreaking Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Bill

WASHINGTON, D.C - House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Ranking Member Phil Roe (R-Tenn.) along with Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Chairman Jerry Moran (R-Kans.), today released the following statements after the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed S.785, the Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act-groundbreaking legislation to connect more veterans with critical … Read More

09.22.20 • Press Release

House Unanimously Passes Six Bipartisan Bills for Veterans

WASHINGTON, D.C- Today, the House of Representatives unanimously passed all six bipartisan bills brought to the floor by the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. This legislation will update VA's exclusionary motto, eliminate VA copayments for native veterans that never should have been charged, and hold VA leadership accountable for the needed fixes to VA's financial systems. A full list of bills passed can be found below: H.R. 3010- Honoring All Veterans Act (Rice, Mast): … Read More

09.17.20 • Press Release

House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Passes 5 Bipartisan Bills

WASHINGTON, D.C- Today, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a Full Committee Markup passing all 5 bills on the agenda including legislation that will help reduce veteran suicide, increase transparency and oversight of VA, and extend employment protections for members of the National Guard. A full list of bills passed can be found below: A.N.S to H.R. 8247 Offered by Chairman Takano- Veterans Comprehensive, Prevention, Access to Care, and Treatment Act of 2020 (Chairman … Read More

09.14.20 • Press Release

Chairman Takano Announces Bicameral Agreement on House-led Veteran Suicide Prevention Legislation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the Veterans' Comprehensive Prevention, Access to Care, and Treatment Act of 2020, or Veterans' COMPACT Act, featuring 9 provisions that complement the Senate's Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act to reduce veteran suicide. This package, which includes Chairman Takano's Veterans Acute Crisis Care for Emergent Suicide Symptoms (ACCESS) Act to ensure … Read More

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