Press Releases

02.04.19 • Press Release

Chairman Takano Joins Bicameral Letter to Secretary Wilkie Demanding Data on MISSION Act

WASHINGTON - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) joined bipartisan leadership from the House and Senate authorizing and appropriating committees in sending a letter to VA Secretary Robert Wilkie demanding additional data used to develop the Department’s proposed access standards. “As the 116th Congress convenes, we write to encourage you and your senior leadership team to work collaboratively with Congress as you implement major, simultaneous changes to … Read More

01.31.19 • Press Release

Chairman Takano Announces Vice Chair, Subcommittee Assignments for 116th Congress

WASHINGTON - Today, Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) announced the Vice Chair and Subcommittee assignments for the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs during the 116th Congress. "I look forward to working with newly selected Vice Chair Conor Lamb (PA-17) and Subcommittee Chairs, Representatives Julia Brownley (CA-26), Mike Levin (CA-49), Chris Pappas (NH-01), Elaine Luria (VA-02), and Susie Lee (NV-03), and I welcome their leadership and enthusiasm. "In this Congress our committee will … Read More

01.30.19 • Press Release

Chairman Takano Statement on VA Access Standards

WASHINGTON - Today, Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) issued the statement below following VA’s announcement of its proposed access standards for community care under the MISSION Act: “There is no doubt veterans deserve the highest quality of care and have earned the freedom to choose how they manage their health. “But today’s announcement hastily rolling out new access standards places core VA services and vital research programs at risk by shifting money towards care outside VA without … Read More

01.17.19 • Press Release

Chairman Takano Announces Committee Members for 116th Congress

WASHINGTON - Today, Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) released the following statement announcing the Democratic Members who will serve on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Committee during the 116th Congress. “I am pleased to welcome the new Members who will make up the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and look forward to continuing our work to improve access to care, expand earned benefits, and protect whistleblowers and student veterans. Our Committee’s membership will … Read More

01.11.19 • Press Release

Chairman Takano To Secretary Wilkie – Protect VA Whistleblowers During Shutdown

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) released the following statement after sending a letter to Robert Wilkie, Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs, urging him to protect VA whistleblowers during the government shutdown: Chairman Mark Takano wrote, “It has come to my attention that whistleblowers at the Department of Veterans Affairs are unable to receive determinations from the Office of Special Counsel due to the partial … Read More

01.08.19 • Press Release

Chairman Takano Introduces Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) released the following statement after introducing H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019: “The 116th Congress has officially been sworn-in, and thousands of veterans are still waiting for their government to deliver on its promise and grant them the benefits they have earned. The fact that politics got in the way of our duty to care for veterans affected by toxic exposure is a … Read More

01.07.19 • Press Release

Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Mark Takano Tours Orlando’s VA Medical Center With Rep. Soto

Orlando, FL - Congressman Darren Soto (FL-09) welcomed U.S. House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano to Orlando’s VA Medical Center facilities in Lake Nona. Following a tour of the VAMC campus, Chairman Takano and Rep. Soto received special program briefings from the various departments in the medical Center and met with the center’s administrators and medical professionals. Stated Chairman Takano: “It was wonderful to visit the Orlando VA Medical Center in Lake Nona and I … Read More

01.04.19 • Press Release

Representative Mark Takano Elected Chairman Of House Committee On Veterans’ Affairs

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Representative Mark Takano (D-CA) released the following statement after he was elected by his Democratic colleagues to serve as Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs: “This Congress, we have an incredible opportunity to build on this Committee’s work to guarantee veterans access to high-quality, timely care and the benefits they deserve. Today’s veterans population is more diverse than ever before, a testament to the shifting demographic strength of … Read More

12.19.18 • Press Release

Takano Statement Following Joint Hearing On VA MISSION Act Implementation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Vice Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) released the following statement after the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees met in open session to assess the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) implementation of the VA MISSION Act of 2018: “I applaud Chairmen Roe and Isakson and Ranking Member Tester for holding this bicameral oversight hearing today,” said Vice Ranking Member Mark Takano. “As the first oversight hearing … Read More

12.12.18 • Press Release

House Committee On Veterans’ Affairs Examines VA Implementation Of Veterans Appeals Improvement And Modernization Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Ranking Member Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) released the following statement after she joined Chairman Phil Roe, M.D. (R-TN) in hosting a full Committee hearing examining the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) implementation of the Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017: “When the bipartisan Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017 … Read More

12.10.18 • Press Release

Ranking Member Walz Applauds House Passage Of Veterans Benefit and Transition Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed S. 2248, the Veterans Benefit and Transition Act of 2018: “Today’s legislation includes over 20 provisions that will make meaningful improvements to the lives of veterans across the country, including my bill the Veterans’ Electronic Health Record Modernization Oversight Act of 2017, which will ensure Congress has the … Read More

12.10.18 • Press Release

Ranking Member Walz Renews Call For Transparency After VA Confirms Influence Of Mar-a-Lago Shadow Rulers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) renewed his call for transparency in a letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie, calling on the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to immediately provide to the Committee unredacted communications between VA officials and Mar-a-Lago members Ike Perlmutter, Bruce Moskowitz, and Marc Sherman, as well as all travel records to and from Mar-a-Lago. Today’s letter comes in response to … Read More

11.30.18 • Press Release

Vice Ranking Member Takano Leads Democratic Members of Veterans Affairs Committee and Democratic Colleagues in Demanding Answers from VA Secretary Wilkie Regarding GI Bill Benefits Payments

Washington, D.C. - Today, after numerous reports highlighted continued delays in GI Bill benefits payments and failures in the implementation of certain housing provisions of the Forever GI Bill, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Vice Ranking Member Mark Takano led Democratic Members in demanding answers from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Robert Wilkie. The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Education Assistance Act of 2017 (Forever GI Bill) made significant improvements to … Read More

11.28.18 • Press Release

Ranking Member Walz Statement After VA Announces Changes To Post-9/11 GI Bill Housing Payments

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) released the following statement after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced sweeping changes in the processing of GI Bill benefits payments under the Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 (Forever GI Bill). VA’s announcement comes after IT issues have caused thousands of student veterans to go months without receiving the GI Bill housing benefits they were … Read More

10.23.18 • Press Release

Democrats Call On VA To Assist Student Veterans Facing Financial Hardships As A Result Of GI Bill Processing Delays

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) sent the following letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie expressing concern about the Department of Veterans Affairs’ (VA) processing delays for GI Bill tuition, fees, and housing allowances and to urge the Department to communicate immediately and accurately to beneficiaries facing financial hardship as a result of the delays about the assistance available to them. Ranking Member Walz … Read More

10.16.18 • Press Release

Ranking Member Walz Leads Bipartisan Letter Urging Senate Veterans Affairs Chairman To Advance Bipartisan Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) led 45 Members of Congress in sending a letter to Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Johnny Isakson (R-GA) urging him to bring H.R. 299, the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2018, to a vote in committee so that the legislation can be brought to the Senate floor as soon as possible. The Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act would finally grant presumptive Agent Orange exposure … Read More

10.09.18 • Press Release

Ranking Member Walz: Unacceptable for VA to Stonewall Congressional Inquiry into Mar-a-Lago Shadow Rulers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN), released the following statement after he sent a letter to Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie urging the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to comply with an August 8 request to provide the Committee any and all communications between VA officials and Ike Perlmutter, Bruce Moskowitz, and Marc Sherman as well as travel records to and from Mar-a-Lago. The August 8 request followed news … Read More

09.27.18 • Press Release

Ranking Member Walz Hosts Hearing On Veteran Suicide Prevention

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) released the following statement after the full committee met in open session to discuss veteran suicide prevention, hear from experts in the veteran community, and question current Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) officials over the progress of core VA initiatives aimed at eliminating suicide among veterans. The hearing comes one day after the VA Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention … Read More

09.26.18 • Press Release

Ranking Member Walz Statement Following Release Of VA National Veteran Suicide Data Report

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) released the following statement after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention released its report, “National Suicide Data Report 2005-2016.” “As a veteran as well as the original author of the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, I believe that the VA report released today simply reiterates what many of us have known for a long … Read More

09.25.18 • Press Release

Ranking Member Walz Statement Following Release Of Inspector General Report On Veteran’s Suicide At Minneapolis VA Healthcare System

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Tim Walz (D-MN) released the following statement after the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Office of Inspector General (OIG) released its report, “Review of Mental Health Care Provided Prior to a Veteran’s Suicide Minneapolis VA Health Care System Minnesota.” “This is profoundly unacceptable,” said Ranking Member Walz. “The findings outlined in the Inspector General’s report are deeply disturbing. The finding … Read More

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