09.14.16 • Press Release
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Acting Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, applauded the House for passing two key pieces of legislation this week that will provide care and support to the veterans' community.
The West Los Angeles Leasing Act of 2016, H.R. 5936, will resolve the long struggle over the West Los Angeles VA campus to ensure it meaningfully supports the veterans' community in Southern California for years to come. In doing so, it will
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09.08.16 • Press Release
Washington D.C. - Yesterday, Acting Ranking Member Mark Takano and the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Democrats received testimony from the leadership of the Commission on Care, a panel created by Congress to study VA Health Care and provide long-term policy recommendations to ensure it serves veterans effectively.
The Committee heard from Nancy Schlichting, Chair of the Commission on Care, and Dr. Toby Cosgrove, the Vice-Chair of the Commission, about how to support and improve VA
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09.06.16 • Press Release
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Acting Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, called on Congress to immediately advance legislation to aid student veterans enrolled at ITT Technical Institute after the for-profit school abruptly closed today. ITT Tech's closure leaves roughly 12,500 veterans and their dependents without the job prospects they were promised or the benefits they need to continue their education.
"The sudden shuttering of ITT Tech will hurt
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08.03.16 • Press Release
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Acting Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, released the following statement on the service and sacrifice of America's veterans and their families.
"The truest test of our patriotism is the support and respect we show for America's veterans and their families, regardless of faith, ethnicity, or gender. The men and women who have fought for our freedom - and the families that have watched loved ones put on the uniform -
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08.01.16 • Press Release
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Acting Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, released the following statement after the Obama Administration announced that homelessness among veterans dropped nearly 50 percent since 2010.
"Ensuring that America's veterans have a roof over their heads is the most basic and essential way to honor their service and sacrifice. I am extremely proud of the steps we've taken to address the complex challenge of veteran
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07.12.16 • Press Release
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement on becoming the Acting Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
"I am humbled to assume the role of Acting Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, in accordance with the rules of Democratic Caucus. I am committed to working with my colleagues to provide our nation's veterans the care and support they
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05.26.16 • Press Release
Washington, D.C. - Ranking Member Corrine Brown releases a statement honoring our troops this Memorial Day.
As we are about to honor the men and women this Memorial Day who served our country and paid the ultimate sacrifice, it is a perfect time to reflect on the sacrifices our young men and women made to protect the freedoms we hold so dear.
There are 21.6 million brave men and women who are veterans of our nation's military service. This includes more than 2 million women, 2.7 million
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05.18.16 • Press Release
Washington, D.C. - Today, Ranking Member Corrine Brown issued this statement during an oversight hearing of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
Opening Statement:
Thank you, Mr. Chairman for calling this hearing today.
Strong oversight of the Department's Suicide Prevention Programs remains a priority of this Committee. We are all aware of the often cited statistic of 22 veterans a day committing suicide.
We also know that VA reported in 2014 that there is decreased rates
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02.11.16 • Press Release
Washington, D.C. - On the first anniversary of the Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans (SAV) Act, House Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Corrine Brown made the following statement:
"The exorbitantly high number of veteran suicides is, and must remain, a top priority. Beyond a doubt, this plague affecting our nation's veterans is entirely unacceptable. Last week I attended the 'Preventing Veteran Suicide: Call to Action,' a national summit sponsored by the Department of
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10.07.15 • Press Release
Washington, D.C. - During today's hearing, Ranking Member Corrine Brown (D-FL) acknowledged the ongoing efforts of Secretary McDonald and the Department of Veterans Affairs, while pointing out that the time to discuss comprehensive and systemic reform has arrived.
"What is clear is that if we are to meet our promises to our veterans, we must begin to look at reform, and this reform must enable VA to focus on health care and operate, like the Secretary previously stated, as a business. And
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07.19.15 • Press Release
Washington D.C.- House Committee on Veteran's Affairs Ranking Member Corrine Brown made the following opening statement:
"Thank you, Mr. Chairman
We are here today to discuss some of our most disabled veterans who are receiving individual unemployability.
I think it is important that during this hearing we not lose sight of what are talking about here. We are not talking about costs or numbers, we are talking about people. Men and women who put everything on the line, were injured
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06.11.15 • Press Release
Washignton D.C.- House Veterans Affairs Ranking Member Corrine Brown made the following statement:
"Although Congress continues to provide short term solutions, we need to find a permanent, long term solution as soon as possible to complete the Denver VA Hospital. When the health and well-being of our veterans is at stake, we must put politics aside and unite to get the job done. It is not fair to veterans who have served our country valiantly and need access to a health care facility
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05.28.15 • Press Release
Washington D.C.- Ranking Member Corrine Brown made the following statement:
"Good morning! I am Congresswoman Corrine Brown, the representative of Florida's 5th congressional district and the Ranking Member on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Like everyone in attendance today - I am just thrilled that this day has arrived, and we finally have a top notch VA hospital right here in Orlando! After over two decades of working strenuously on this project, today is a day to celebrate
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04.28.15 • Press Release
Washington D.C.- House Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Corrine Brown introduced legislation today requiring that gender-specific services be continuously available at every VA medical center and community based outpatient clinic in the country. It also mandates that the necessary personnel be hired and contracts signed to provide gender specific services based on Departmental standards, demand, and the projected growth of that demand. With regard to the legislation, Rep. Corrine Brown made
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04.23.15 • Press Release
Washington D.C.- At the House Veterans' Affairs full Committee this morning, Ranking Member Corrine Brown (FL-5), made the following opening statement:
"Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this hearing today. I look forward to working with you and all the other members to help our nation's veterans.
I'd like to recognize and thank Representative Barbara Lee and Representative Mike Thompson and Representative Jackie Speier for all the work they've done in keeping tabs on the Oakland
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04.09.15 • Press Release
Washington D.C.- House Veterans Affairs Committee Ranking Democrat Corrine Brown hired Ms. Erin Snow to become the new Staff Director for the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, and Ms. Grace Rodden for the position of Minority Investigative Counsel. With regard to the new hires, Congresswoman Brown made the following statement:
"I am pleased to announce that Ms. Erin Snow will become the new Subcommittee Staff Director for Economic Opportunity, and I welcome Ms. Grace Rodden to our
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04.09.15 • Press Release
Washington D.C.- Congresswoman Corrine Brown made the following statement:
"Just last November I met with the leadership of the Jacksonville Outpatient Clinic to learn about the details behind the recent reports regarding the wait times for new patients. Presently, I am pleased to report that the Jacksonville clinic has responded to the tremendous increase in VA patients by hiring more doctors, authorizing leases for additional space for the Jacksonville clinic, and expanding its hours of
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03.26.15 • Press Release
Washington D.C.- Congresswoman Corrine Brown, the Ranking Member on the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, introduced H.R. 1575, a bill to make permanent a successful psychiatric and psychological counseling pilot program run by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for newly returned women veterans.
The bill's introduction follows the release of a report by the Veterans' Health Administration (VHA) showing that this limited 2-year pilot program, run by the Readjustment Counseling
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03.24.15 • Press Release
Washington D.C.- Today on the House Floor, H.R. 216, introduced by House Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member, Corrine Brown, a bill to Improve the Department of Veterans Affairs Budget Planning, passed the House of Representatives. Upon passage, Congresswoman Brown made the following statement:
"I am extremely pleased that my bill, H.R. 216, passed the House of Representatives, and I urge its swift passage in the Senate. Indeed, The Department of Veterans Affairs Budget Planning
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02.24.15 • Press Release
Washington D.C. - Following the apology of the Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs, Robert McDonald, for erroneously claiming service in The United States' Special Operations Forces, Ranking Member Corrine Brown of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee released the following statement:
"The Secretary gave an appropriate apology following his misstatement, which demonstrates his commitment to accountability. I am confident that his statement was not intended to mislead and that
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