Press Releases

12.17.19 • Press Release

House Passes Three Bipartisan Bills for Veterans

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 … Read More

12.13.19 • Press Release

Chairman Takano: “VA is a leading provider of evidence-based treatment to survivors of MST”

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," … Read More

12.11.19 • Press Release

Following Thanksgiving Trip to Afghanistan, Chairman Takano, Freshman Members Seek Solution for Veteran Contractors Serving Abroad

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 … Read More

12.03.19 • Press Release

Chairman Takano Announces New Compromise on Legislation to Address Veteran Suicide

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 … Read More

11.29.19 • Press Release

Chairman Takano, Delegation Celebrate Thanksgiving with Servicemembers Abroad

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 … Read More

11.20.19 • Press Release

Chairman Takano: “In order to mitigate veteran suicide, we need new solutions.”

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 … Read More

11.13.19 • Press Release

Chairman Takano: “Social media platforms need to do more to eliminate internet spoofing”

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 … Read More

11.12.19 • Press Release

House Passes Nine Bipartisan Bills for Veterans

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 … Read More

11.11.19 • Press Release

Chairman Takano on Veterans Day: “We are doing more than saying ‘Thank you for your service’”

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 … Read More

11.05.19 • Press Release

Chairman Takano Announces Roundtable to Discuss H.R. 3495, the Improve Well-Being for Veterans Act

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. … Read More

10.30.19 • Press Release

Chairman Takano: “Native veterans must be a priority VA-wide”

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 … Read More

10.29.19 • Press Release

Chairman Takano: “House Republicans just walked out on women veterans”

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 … Read More

10.24.19 • Press Release

Takano, Pappas: “VA’s whistleblower office has failed to do its most important job”

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 … Read More

10.16.19 • Press Release

House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Passes Six Bipartisan Bills Out of Committee

Washington, D.C. - Today, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a full Committee markup passing all six bills on the agenda and showing full commitment to improving veterans' lives by ensuring GI Bill benefits are protected from predatory for-profit schools, providing legal services for homeless veterans, addressing key high risk areas within VA, improving transparency, and protecting business opportunities for veterans. A full list of bills passed can be found below: A.N.S. to … Read More

10.15.19 • Press Release

House Passes Four Bipartisan Bills for Veterans

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the House of Representatives passed all four bills on the floor from the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs getting results for veterans by giving homeless veterans and their families the financial assistance they need, making VA's websites more accessible, and ensuring our veterans are remembered and memorialized with honor. A full list of the four bills passed can be found below: H.R. 95, (Rep. Brownley) To amend title 38, United States Code, to ensure that … Read More

10.11.19 • Press Release

Chairman Takano: “Our veterans are our country’s greatest ambassadors”

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) released the following statement after leading the Committee's Congressional Delegation to Hawaii, Guam, the Philippines, and the Northern Mariana Islands: "For too long, veterans throughout US territories and the Pacific have been overlooked. Not only are these islands strategically important for our defense capabilities, but they have some of the highest rates of military participation in our … Read More

10.01.19 • Press Release

Takano, Roe Challenge Congress to Collect, Preserve Veterans’ Stories

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Ranking Member Dr. Phil Roe (R-Tenn.) challenged all Members of Congress to participate in the Library of Congress' Veterans History Project (VHP) before this year's Veterans Day (November 11, 2019). By asking Members to submit at least one of their veteran constituents' stories, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs hopes to build up VHP's records and ensure these stories are heard. "We can think of no better way to honor the … Read More

09.30.19 • Press Release

Chairman Takano Leads Bipartisan Congressional Delegation to South Pacific to Meet with Veterans, Tour VA Facilities

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Cali.) is announcing a bipartisan congressional delegation, beginning October 1st through the 11th, to the Philippines, Guam, Northern Marianas Islands, American Samoa, and Hawaii. On this trip, Members will have an opportunity to meet with VA and military leadership, VSO leaders, servicemembers, and veterans themselves to gain first-hand insight into how veterans and servicemembers who live outside of the … Read More

09.26.19 • Press Release

Chairman Takano Addresses Sexual Assault at DC VAMC, Calls for Department-Wide Policy

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) toured the Washington D.C. VA Medical Center, met with VA leadership, and spoke with women veterans in an effort to address sexual assault and harassment on VA campuses. Chairman Takano is continuing his call for action after Committee staffer and Senior Policy Advisor for the Women Veterans Task Force, Andrea Goldstein, experienced a sexual assault at the Washington D.C. VA last Friday. Disabled … Read More

09.24.19 • Press Release

Chairman Takano Calls on Administration to Start Processing Claims for Eligible Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) joined Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs Jon Tester (D-Mont.) in calling for the administration to start processing claims for eligible Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans. Video of the event can be found here. Below are remarks as prepared: "In June, we celebrated a landmark achievement and passed the Blue Water Navy Act of 2019 to finally grant benefits to the tens of … Read More

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