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December 10, 2025
— Today, Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and Chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus, voted against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2026. He released the following statement explaining his position: “Congress has a vital role in securing America’s national security when writing the NDAA. There are key provisions in this year’s bill that are bipartisan, much-needed investments in furthering that goal, but t… Continue Reading
November 06, 2025— Today, Congressman Mark Takano (CA-39)—Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and Chair of Congressional Equality Caucus—released the following statement reflecting on the extraordinary career of Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi after she announced she would not run for re-election: Nancy Pelosi has been my colleague, my mentor, and my friend for more than three decades. I met her when I was still a bright-eyed teacher, and even then she was a force driven by her belief that p… Continue Reading
November 04, 2025RIVERSIDE, CA - Today, Members of the Inland Empire Congressional Delegation—Reps. Mark Takano (CA-39), Pete Aguilar (CA-33), Raul Ruiz (CA-25), and Norma Torres (CA-35)—gathered at a local food bank that distributes food across Riverside and San Bernardino Counties to spotlight the impact of the Trump Administration’s refusal to distribute November’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits for 42 million Americans. Earlier this year, Trump and Republicans cut $186 billion fro… Continue Reading
July 12, 2013
Over rancorous Democratic objections, the Republican-led U.S. House passed a farm bill Thursday that does not include reauthorization of the food stamp program. The vote was 216-208. No Democrats voted for the bill. During the nearly seven hours of debate on the legislation, Democrats repeatedly called their Republican counterparts heartless, callous and cruel for their efforts to pass a farm bill with nutrition programs stripped from it. Rep. Mark Takano, D-Calif., was one of many Democrats … Continue Reading
July 11, 2013Rep. Mark Takano, a former high school teacher, took a red pen to a letter about immigration reform some of his Republican colleagues were circulating. The California Democrat "graded" the two-page unsigned letter, giving it an F and asking the writers to "see me after votes," posting a copy on his Tumblr page. He was okay with the first sentence, "Our immigration system is broken and in need of serious reform," saying it was a "strong thesis." Even when the Republicans said they wanted a secure… Continue Reading
July 11, 2013You can take the teacher out of the classroom — even send him to Congress — but you can't take the classroom out of the teacher. Or take away his red pencil. Before coming to Washington, freshman Democrat Mark Takano taught English for 23 years — mostly at Rialto High School. He must have been a tough grader. In the midst of the heated Congressional debate over immigration, Takano tries humor — a bit of political fun at the expense of his GOP colleagues. Republican House members were circulat… Continue Reading
May 22, 2025