02.06.20 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) announced a key new staff hire to aid the Committee's comprehensive, evidence based approach to reducing veteran suicide adopted last week.
"As we continue to address the public health crisis of veteran suicide, I am proud to announce that I've hired a clinical psychologist, Heather O'Beirne Kelly, to help guide the Committee's efforts," said Chairman Mark Takano. "With more than 20 years of experience
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02.03.20 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) issued the following statement after VA Secretary Wilkie announced the dismissal of Deputy Secretary James Byrne.
"Despite speaking with Secretary Wilkie this morning about changes to VA's staff structure, I have many questions about what Deputy Secretary Byrne's firing means for our veterans and VA as a whole. Deputy Secretary Byrne was confirmed by the Senate-the American people deserve to know why
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01.29.20 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) delivered opening remarks before the full committee oversight hearing entitled "Caring for Veterans in Crisis: Ensuring a Comprehensive Health System Approach." Today's hearing examined Veterans Health Administration (VHA) policies in light of the Committee's comprehensive 7 pillar strategy to address veteran suicide. A link to the video Chairman Takano's opening statement and remarks as prepared can be
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01.28.20 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) introduced the Veterans' Acute Crisis Care for Emergent Suicide Symptoms Act or Veterans' ACCESS Act to ensure all veterans-- regardless of discharge status or whether they receive care at VA hospitals -- have access to emergent mental health care. Under this simple, meaningful legislation, no veteran will receive a bill for the care they need during a mental health crisis.
"No veteran should be
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01.27.20 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) announced the Committee's new strategy to address veteran suicide, which is inspired by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) seven core strategies for suicide prevention. Together with VA and VSOs, the Committee will create a comprehensive public health approach to address veteran suicide.
"We need a holistic approach to the public health crisis of veteran suicide," said
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01.23.20 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) announced the first full committee hearing this year to address veteran suicide. On Wednesday, January 29, the Committee will hold a full committee oversight hearing, entitled "Caring for Veterans in Crisis: Ensuring a Comprehensive Health System Approach," to examine the extent to which Veterans Health Administration (VHA) has adopted a comprehensive approach to suicide prevention. This hearing will
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01.15.20 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) and Subcommittee on Health Chairwoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) issued the following statements after VA released a letter calling into question a Committee staffer's allegations of sexual assault at a VA facility this September. In the letter, Secretary Wilkie claimed, "We believe that VA is a safe place for all Veterans to enter and receive care and services, but the unsubstantiated claims raised by you
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12.17.19 • Press Release
Washington, D.C. —This week, the House of Representatives passed all three bipartisan bills brought to the floor by the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. These bills showcase our commitment to our veterans by identifying barriers to accessing disability and pension benefits for reservists and members of the National Guard, as well as ensuring VA conducts key oversight of its hospitals’ policies regarding patient safety and quality of care. With these three additions, the Committee has
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12.13.19 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. -Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) and Subcommittee on Health Chairwoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) released the following statements on the new Department of Veterans Affairs Annual Report for Fiscal Year 2019 on Counseling, Care, and Services Provided to Veterans and Active Duty Servicemembers who Experienced Military Sexual Trauma (MST).
"When women veterans can access VA healthcare, they benefit from some of the best care in the world,"
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12.11.19 • Press Release
Following Thanksgiving Trip to Afghanistan, Chairman Takano, Freshman Members Seek Solution for Veteran Contractors Serving Abroad
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano along with Representatives Conor Lamb (D-PA), Lauren Underwood, (D-IL), Colin Allred (D-TX), and Haley Stevens (D-MI) released a letter sent to Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Secretary of Department of State, and Secretary of Department of Defense following
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12.03.19 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) announced a new compromise that will amend legislation to address veteran suicide. Chairman Takano's compromise amendment to H.R. 3495, the IMPROVE Well-Being for Veterans Act, introduced by Representative Bergman and Representative Houlahan, will utilize a public health approach that helps connect veterans with existing community resources in an effort to provide key services before a veteran reaches a
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11.29.19 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) led an overseas Congressional Delegation with Congressman Connor Lamb (D-PA), Congressman Colin Allred (D-TX), Congresswoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL), and Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) over the Thanksgiving break. The delegation spent their Thanksgiving in Kuwait and Afghanistan meeting with servicemembers currently serving overseas.
"As Americans give thanks this year, we are
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11.20.19 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) delivered opening remarks before the full committee legislative hearing assessing two measures to address veteran suicide: HR 3495 and Chairman Takano's draft bill that would utilize VA grants to create a community hub model. A diagram of the community hub model and Chairman Takano's opening remarks as prepared can be found below.
Community hubs can help connect veterans to resources already present
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11.13.19 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) addressed the issue of internet spoofing at the full committee investigative hearing entitled "Hijacking Our Heroes: Exploiting Veterans Through Disinformation on Social Media." Here is a video of Chairman Takano's opening statement, and his remarks as prepared are below.
Chairman Takano's remarks as prepared:
Today's investigative hearing is entitled "Hijacking Our Heroes: Exploiting Veterans
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11.12.19 • Press Release
Washington, D.C. - Just one day after Veterans Day, the House of Representatives passed nine bipartisan bills brought to the floor continuing our commitment to improving veterans' lives by ensuring GI benefits are protected, implementing GAO recommendations to improve management and care, and expanding accessibility to appeals hearings. The House also passed the Deborah Sampson Act - an historic package of bills to improve the lives of more than 2 million women veterans. This Congress, the
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11.11.19 • Press Release
Washington, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) released the following statement in recognition of Veterans Day:
"This Veterans Day, we are doing more for our veterans than simply saying 'Thank you for your service.' When I became Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I vowed to match that thank you with action.
"100 years since Veterans Day first began, House Democrats have kept their promise to our veterans by holding more than
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11.05.19 • Press Release
Washington, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) released the following statement to announce a roundtable on the Improve Well-Being for Veterans Act next week:
"One week ago, I promised that our Committee would host a roundtable followed by a legislative hearing to allow sufficient time to fully consider the provisions and impact of the Improve Well-Being for Veterans Act. Next week, I will deliver on this promise by scheduling our roundtable.
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10.30.19 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) delivered remarks before the Subcommittee on Health's oversight hearing entitled "Native Veterans' Access to Healthcare. Here is a video of Chairman Takano's opening statement and his remarks as prepared below:
Subcommittee on Health Congresswoman Brownley meets with tribal leaders and their representatives.
Good Morning. I want to thank Chairwoman Brownley for holding this important hearing.
And
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10.29.19 • Press Release
Washington, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano released the following statement after the full Committee markup where the Committee passed all 10 bills despite Republicans walking out and refusing to vote on the Deborah Sampson Act:
"House Republicans just walked out on women veterans by refusing to vote on an historic and monumental bill to extend care and benefits included in the Deborah Sampson Act.
"My Republican colleagues had a seat at the table
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10.24.19 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano and Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations Chairman Chris Pappas released the following statement after the Inspector General (IG) released their report on their investigation into VA's Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Protection (OAWP) titled "Failures Implementing Aspects of the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017":
"The Inspector General report leaves little doubt
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