07.28.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Today House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) and House Committee on Agriculture Ranking Member David Scott (GA-13) sent a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack in support of veterans experiencing food insecurity and their eligibility for food programs.
In the letter the members said, “We thank you for releasing guidance that defines ‘veteran’ for purposes of the SNAP exemption
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07.27.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement after voting against the Military Construction/Veterans Affairs government funding bill:
“I fought to ensure the Toxic Exposure Fund (TEF), created by my law, the Honoring our PACT Act, would be fully funded through this year’s appropriations process to ensure toxic-exposed veterans can get the care and benefits they have earned. It is also
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07.26.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC — Today House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) delivered the following opening remarks, as prepared, at the start of the Full Committee Markup of 11 bills, including the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act and the Student Veterans Benefits Restoration Act:
“Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Several items on today’s markup agenda represent the results of bipartisan compromise and hours of staff negotiation.
I
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07.18.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC — Today House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) delivered the following opening remarks, as prepared, at the start of the Full Committee Legislative Hearing to discuss concerns about the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act (H.R. 705) and how it could affect veterans suicide:
Thank you, Chairman Bost. And thank you to all our witnesses for being here today.
Speaking to H.R. 705, this bill is
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06.16.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano issued the below statement in recognition of the 75th anniversary of the Specially Adapted Housing (SAH) grant program. The grant program was established in 1948 by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide support to paraplegic veterans returning home from war, in adapting their homes to meet their unique needs.
The Ranking Member said, “As we mark the 75th
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06.15.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - In case you missed it: Yesterday, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) delivered the following remarks, as prepared, during the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity legislative hearing:
"Today, this subcommittee is considering two bills: Congresswoman Nikema William’s H.R. 491, the Return Home to Housing Act, and Congresswoman Chavez-DeRemer's H.R. 3848, the HOME Act of 2023. I’m bothered by the delay in getting here
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06.12.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) and Congressman Eric Sorensen (IL-17) introduced the Autonomy for All Disabled Veterans Act, which will help disabled veterans make accessibility improvements to their homes.
"Making sure our veterans can live comfortably after serving is one of the ways we can show our gratitude for their sacrifices," said Sorensen. "This bill helps veterans who need this critical support transition
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05.31.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement after voting to pass the Bipartisan Budget Agreement:
“This evening I voted for the Bipartisan Budget Agreement. During the lead up to this bill’s negotiation, as Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I drew a firm red line around the funding needed to give veterans the care and benefits they have earned. When
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05.25.23 • Press Release
Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, released the following statement after joining Democratic Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in defense of veterans from a Republican-manufactured default during Leader Jeffries’s Weekly Press Conference.
“House Republicans are attempting to cover up their inability to govern and obfuscate the real task at hand: paying the bills we already
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05.23.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) delivered the following opening remarks, as prepared, at the beginning of the oversight hearing on how the Department of Veterans Affairs used funding provided by Congress during the COVID public health emergency:
Thank you, Chairman Bost.
During the Great Influenza epidemic, more than 100 years ago, it is estimated 50 million people died worldwide due to the lack of pharmaceutical
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05.16.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano released the following statement after Republicans on the House Appropriations Committee unveiled their Military Construction/VA appropriations bill today:
“After many months of evasion, House Republicans have finally unveiled their plan for our nation’s veterans – and it isn’t nearly good enough. House Republicans have shortchanged the Toxic Exposure Fund. Republicans have
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05.12.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Today House Veterans’ Affairs Committee (HVAC) Ranking Member Mark Takano spoke at a press conference with U.S. VETS about the expiration of authorities that the Department of Veterans Affairs has been using to support and house homeless veterans. Earlier this week, Ranking Member Takano sounded the alarm about these authorities expiring yesterday.Ranking Member Takano's remarks as prepared:
Thank you Mr. Lewis and to U.S. Vets for hosting us
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05.09.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, DC – Today House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Ranking Member Mark Takano (CA-39) is sounding the alarm that authorities that have been helping homeless veterans for the last two years will expire on Thursday, May 11th. These authorities, created during the Covid-19 Public Health Emergency, have helped thousands of veterans get housed and access services.
“Ending homelessness and food insecurity have been top priorities for the House Veterans’
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04.28.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs held a Full Committee Markup, advancing seven bills that would increase transparency at VA Medical Centers, extend VA healthcare services to veterans who served in the armed forces of Korea during the Vietnam War, increase leadership stability at VHA, and increase the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities, and other issues essential to ensuring VA can deliver healthcare and
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04.28.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) delivered remarks on his amendment highlighting that without Committee action, homeless veterans will lose access to life-saving services when the public health emergency expires in 13 days. The text of the amendment is from Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick's bill, HR 645, the Healthy Foundations for Homeless Veterans Act.Ranking Member Takano's remarks as prepared:
Thank you, Mr.
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04.26.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) delivered remarks at a press conference organized by VoteVets to highlight the GOP’s disastrous cuts to veterans' healthcare and benefits. Ranking Member Takano's remarks as prepared: Good afternoon!It pains me to say, but I’m feeling a bit of DeJa’Vu.While I’m glad to see so many advocates and veterans supporters here, I’m frustrated
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04.21.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) and Subcommittee on Health Ranking Member Julia Brownley (D-CA) issued the following joint statement about the Senate's vote earlier this week on S. J. Res. 10, a measure that would overturn the Department of Veterans Affairs' (VA) new policy on abortion care.
"We are pleased a bipartisan group of Senators acted to stop efforts to deny veterans access to reproductive
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04.21.23 • Press Release
Washington, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) issued the statement below following the announcement that the Department of Veterans Affiars (VA) will pause its Electronic Health Record Modernization. "For the past two years I have been vocal about the need to ensure patient safety as our number one priority in EHRM. I'm pleased that the Secretary is ensuring that no future "go lives" will occur at any new facilities until
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04.20.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Committee on Veterans Affairs’ Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) and Chairman Mike Bost (R-IL) introduced a House companion to Senator Tester’s EHR Program RESET Act of 2023 to begin negotiations between the House and Senate to address longstanding issues with the management and delivery of VA’s ongoing Electronic Health Record Modernization. Ranking Member Mark Takano stated, “This bill will provide a framework for
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04.20.23 • Press Release
Washington, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) issued the statement below following the release of House Republicans' budget package which would have disastrous impacts on America’s veterans. "America isn’t a deadbeat nation – we live up to the promises we’ve made, and we pay our debts. This House Republican proposal is a 300-plus page distraction, detached from reality, that does neither. Despite their
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