01.29.25 • Press Release
WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Mark Takano made the following statement regarding the White House Office of Personnel Management’s email offering “buyouts” to Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) employees.
“Elon Musk thinks you are stupid and won’t see through his deceptive and fraudulent “buyout” offer. VA employees should ignore his email and send it to the trash bin. VA employees, thousands of whom are veterans themselves, keep the largest integrated healthcare system in the country
… Read More
01.28.25 • Press Release
WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Mark Takano wrote Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs Todd Hunter, urgently seeking information about how new guidance from the White House’s Office of Management and Budget, requiring agencies suspend payments to federal funding recipients by today, January 28, 2025, at 5 P.M., will affect veterans.
“The breadth of this hasty, ruthless, and irresponsible mandate will directly impact every community in America and will immediately jeopardize public health
… Read More
01.28.25 • Press Release
WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Mark Takano is demanding answers from UnitedHealth Group (UHG) after its admission that a data breach impacted 190 million people, including at least 1.2 million veterans. Ranking Member Takano criticized the company’s delayed and incomplete reporting, urging stronger oversight to protect veterans from private sector cybersecurity failures.
Despite the breach impacting the personal data of at least 1.2 million veterans, the Committee has not received updated data
… Read More
01.25.25 • Press Release
WASHINGTON - Today, Ranking Member Takano joins Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, with House Committee Ranking Members in a letter to President Donald Trump condemning his attempted late-night purge of at least 12 independent inspectors general, which appears to have violated federal law designed to protect their work from political interference and intimidation.
The Ranking Members wrote: “We write to express our grave concern
… Read More
01.25.25 • Press Release
WASHINGTON - Last night, President Trump fired 12 inspectors general of major federal agencies, including Inspector General Michael Missal of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), who has served in this Senate-confirmed position since 2016.
Ranking Member Takano said, “This late-night purge of the Inspectors General that Congress and the American people depend on for transparency and accountability in our government is not only reprehensible, it is illegal. These firings are a blatant
… Read More
01.23.25 • Press Release
WASHINGTON - Ranking Member Mark Takano was joined by House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Democrats in a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Acting Secretary Todd Hunter about how VA is implementing President Trump’s Inaugural Executive Order to freeze hiring across the executive branch.
Despite VA reporting more than 40,000 vacancies at the end of 2024, President Trump’s Executive Order was issued without any regard for the impact it would have on veterans’ access to healthcare
… Read More
01.22.25 • Press Release
WASHINGTON - The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee held a hearing today entitled "Restoring Focus: Putting Veterans First in Community Care.” Despite being the first hearing about community care since Republicans took control of Congress over two years ago, no government officials or contractors were present to answer questions about problems veterans have experienced when accessing care.
Ranking Member Takano said, “I want to say to our witnesses that I am truly anguished by the unacceptable
… Read More
01.21.25 • Press Release
WASHINGTON - On Inauguration Day, President Trump issued a series of Executive Orders (EOs) impacting veterans and civil servants who are employed by and seek care at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These EOs would:
Implement a hiring freeze across the federal government;
Reclassify many federal employees with fewer job protections;
Remove VA employees’ flexibility in remote working by mandating a return to office; and
Eliminate key diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)
… Read More
01.16.25 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - Today during the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 119th Congress Organizing Meeting, Republicans rejected an amendment to the Committee Rules offered by Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) to increase transparency into potential financial conflicts of interests a witness testifying before the Committee may have. This amendment would complement other changes the Republicans made to the Committee Rules for the 119th Congress that require disclosure of payments or
… Read More
01.15.25 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) and Committee Democrats elected the Vice Ranking Member and Subcommittee Ranking Members, and selected Subcommittee membership during the Democratic Organizing Meeting.
“I am excited about our Subcommittee Ranking Member leadership, which includes several new Subcommittee Ranking Members who bring enthusiasm and a new perspective to the issues facing veterans and the Department of Veterans
… Read More
01.14.25 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC -- House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement welcoming the Committee’s newest Democratic members:
“As we begin the 119th Congress, I am thrilled to welcome our committee members, both new and returning. We have a diverse group of members who are ready to roll up their sleeves and get to work on behalf of our nation’s veterans. Our members bring a wealth of experiences to the table that will help us build upon
… Read More
01.13.25 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - Today House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement praising the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Greater Los Angeles (GLA) Healthcare System for its ongoing response to the wildfires in Los Angeles County and communication to Congress:
“As a member from Southern California, I have seen the devastation and destruction these wildfires continue to cause in and around LA. Tens of thousands have lost their homes,
… Read More
01.08.25 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - As the 118th Congress ends and the Biden-Harris Administration winds down, Committee Democrats are taking the time to reflect on our achievements supporting veterans over the last four years. Despite Republican dysfunction, Committee Democrats have worked with the Administration to improve benefits and services for veterans across America. Democrats have remained steadfast in our commitment to veterans' welfare, focusing on properly funding the Department of Veterans Affairs
… Read More
12.18.24 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) delivered the following opening statement, as prepared, during this morning’s Full Committee Oversight Hearing about the Supreme Court’s Loper Bright decision:
“Thank you, Mr. Chairman. In its decision in Loper Bright Enterprises versus Raimondo, the Supreme Court overturned forty years of precedent and radically transferred power from the legislative and executive branches to the judiciary. And contrary
… Read More
12.12.24 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) and Representative Neal Dunn, M.D. (FL-02), introduced the Supporting Medical Students and VA Workforce Act. This bill will help the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) address physician recruitment and retention challenges by funding the education of veteran-oriented, mission-focused physicians.
“I am glad to work with Dr. Dunn on this bill to provide assistance to students who are pursuing a
… Read More
12.05.24 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) delivered the following opening statement, as prepared, at the beginning of this morning’s Full Committee Oversight Hearing on Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) funding and a projected Veterans Health Administration (VHA) shortfall:
“Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
There is currently rhetoric coming from the Right about veterans being on a ‘payroll’ and living on some kind of taxpayer-funded largess because
… Read More
11.18.24 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - Today House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) applauded House passage of H.R. 8371, the Senator Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act. This package includes many provisions that are priorities for veterans and veterans service organizations (VSOs).
“This omnibus package of veterans’ legislation achieves progress on many of the goals we set out to accomplish at the beginning of the 118th Congress,” said Ranking
… Read More
11.15.24 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC— House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement after an agreement was reached on the Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act:
“For more than a year, House Democrats have engaged in good faith negotiations in a bipartisan, bicameral manner to ensure this package best serves veterans and the future of healthcare at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Today, I am pleased to
… Read More
11.15.24 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement after President-elect Donald Trump announced former U.S. Representative Doug Collins as his Secretary for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA):
"I worked with Doug Collins when he was in Congress. And I look forward to continuing to work with him as VA Secretary. We have made tremendous gains in the last four years expanding healthcare and benefits thanks to my
… Read More
11.13.24 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement after it was announced that veteran homelessness has reached an all-time low under the Biden-Harris Administration:
"I applaud the Biden-Harris Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) on this accomplishment towards the goal of ending veteran homelessness. With 32,000 veterans still unhoused, we have
… Read More
