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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04.06.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-Calif.) issued the statement below following the announcement by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) that it had reached a tentative contract agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
"I'm very happy to hear that VA and AFGE have reached a tentative agreement on their contract. This is long-awaited good news for more than 291,000
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03.31.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-Calif.), and Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Ranking Member Mike Levin (D-Calif.), issued the joint statement below following the news of payment processing delays for GI bill beneficiaries.
"Any delay in GI Bill benefit distribution for our veterans is disappointing and incredibly concerning. However, we are confident VA has taken steps to quickly address the issue for those veterans who will
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03.23.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-Calif.) delivered opening remarks at the Full Committee Business Meeting to Authorize the Women Veterans Task Force.
Click here to watch Ranking Member Takano’s Remarks
Ranking Member Takano’s Remarks as prepared:Today, I am incredibly pleased that we are once again recognizing the important role women veterans have played in service to our country by taking up a resolution to authorize the Women
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03.23.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-Calif.) delivered opening remarks at the Full Committee Oversight Hearing examining the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Budget Request for Fiscal Years 2024 and 2025.
Click here to watch Ranking Member Takano’s Remarks
Ranking Member Takano’s Remarks as prepared:Mr. Secretary, welcome. Thank you for appearing before us today. I believe that budgets reflect our priorities and values, and I am
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03.22.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Subcommittee on Technology Modernization Ranking Member Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (D-FL) issued a statement about the recent introduction of two bills, H.R. 1659, the Department of Veterans Affairs IT Modernization Improvement Act of 2023, and H.R. 1658, the Manage VA Act, to improve management and acquisitions practices at VA.
"While I am encouraged by President Biden's and Secretary
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03.16.23 • Press Release
Ranking Member Takano Applauds Updated VA Mission Statement to Honor All Who Served and Their Families, Caregivers, and Survivors
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Veterans Affairs announced an updated version of its 1959 mission statement today. The new mission statement is: "To fulfill President Lincoln's promise to care for those who have served in our nation's military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors." This announcement follows a years-long effort championed by
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03.09.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-Calif.) issued the following statement after President Biden’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 budget request was released. This year’s request provides for $137.9 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) —a $3 billion increase over the enacted 2023 funding. “With today’s release of the Fiscal Year 2024 budget request,
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03.08.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, the House of Representatives passed four bills to support veterans, including bills to ensure veterans using the Montgomery GI bill are repaid unused contributions, improve veterans’ eligibility to receive reimbursement for emergency treatment, direct VA to initiate a pilot to identify potential cost savings from on-site medical waste treatment, and require VA to create an online portal to make it easier for veterans to request records
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03.01.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-Calif.) delivered opening remarks at the Joint House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs hearing featuring the legislative presentations of The American Legion, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Student Veterans of America, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs, Black Veterans Empowerment Council, Vietnam Veterans of
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02.28.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-Calif.) delivered opening remarks at the Full Committee Hearing entitled, "Building an Accountable VA: Applying Lessons Learned to Drive Future Success."
Click here to watch Ranking Member Takano’s Remarks
Ranking Member Takano’s Remarks as prepared:
Thank you, Chairman Bost.
You and I have served together on this Committee for more than 8 years now. While we may
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02.28.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-Calif.) delivered opening remarks at the Disabled American Veterans' legislative presentation before the House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs.
Click here to watch Ranking Member Takano’s Remarks
Ranking Member Takano’s Remarks as prepared:Thank you Chairman Tester. It’s great being back in an open format. Are there any Californians
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02.28.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Mark Takano, Ranking Member of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, and Congressman Jerrold Nadler, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, together introduced the Protect Access to Justice for Veterans Act (H.R. 1204). The bill would cap attorney fees for settlements and claims made by individuals who were exposed to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. Additionally, the bill would explicitly require an
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02.08.23 • Press Release
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Republican-led House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs voted against an amendment requiring the Chairman to recognize that veterans and advocates face barriers to accessing Congress and that the Committee should embrace technology to allow virtual testimony. The move followed the introduction of an amendment offered by House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Democratic Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-Calif.), which would prioritize veterans and
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