Letters Sent

December 16, 2016

Acting Ranking Member Takano: VA Secretary Must Use Authority to Protect Student Veterans from ACICS Fallout

Washington, D.C. - Today, Acting Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-Calif.) was joined by six Democrats in calling on Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald to protect student veterans affected by a decision to revoke recognition from the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS), a popular accreditor of for-profit schools. The Department of Education finalized on Monday its decision to strip ACICS's authority as a school accreditor based on the organization's … Continue Reading


October 27, 2016

Acting Ranking Member Mark Takano Leads Bipartisan Call for Permanent Fix for Members of the California National Guard

Washington, D.C. - Today, Acting Ranking Member Mark Takano was joined by Democrats and Republicans in sending letters to the Department of Defense and House Leadership calling for a permanent resolution to the financial burden facing thousands of servicemembers and veterans of the California Nation Guard. In the letters, the bipartisan coalition commends the Defense Department for suspending efforts to claw back enlistment bonuses from members of the California National Guard but encourages … Continue Reading


February 11, 2016

81 House Democrats Offer Support, Guidance to FCC on its Plan to Expand Broadband Access through Lifeline Program

Washington DC - Today, Reps. Mark Takano (D-CA), Keith Ellison (D-MN), and Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) were joined by 78 Democrats in expressing support and providing recommendations for the Federal Communications Commission's proposal to increase access to high-speed Internet for low-income families through its Lifeline program. In a letter to FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler, the group praised the agency's proposal to modernize the program by adding broadband to the list of services eligible for … Continue Reading


November 19, 2015

Rep. Mark Takano Sends Letter to ESEA Conference Committee Stating Principles for Progressive Education Reform

Washington DC -Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) sent a letter this morning to the conference committee negotiating the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). The letter stated a list of progressive principles that should serve as the framework for the next chapter of K-12 public education reform. "As conferees, your task is critical to the future of education in our nation," wrote Rep. Takano. "No Child Left Behind and the current waiver system are unsustainable and … Continue Reading


November 04, 2015

Rep. Mark Takano and Six Colleagues Send Letter to Department of Defense Urging Continued Protection of Servicemembers Using Military Education Benefits

Washington DC - Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) and six colleagues sent a letter to the Department of Defense yesterday urging it to continue protecting servicemembers and taxpayers by enforcing its memorandum of understanding with the University of Phoenix. On October 7th, the Department of Defense placed the University of Phoenix on probationary status, barring the for-profit school from recruiting on military bases and from enrolling new servicemembers using Military Tuition Assistance and MyCAA … Continue Reading


September 10, 2015

Representative Takano Submits Public Comments Calling for Debt Relief for Corinthian College Students

Washington, DC - Earlier today, Representative Mark Takano submitted public comments encouraging the Department of Education to allow greater access to debt relief for former students at for-profit institutions run by Corinthian Colleges, Inc. The collapse of Corinthian has highlighted concerns that the Congressman has long held about the for-profit higher education system. In his comments, Takano encourages the Department of Education "to issue regulations that include a class-wide automatic … Continue Reading


January 19, 2015

Rep. Mark Takano and 31 House Democrats Call for Expanded Overtime Pay

Washington DC - Earlier today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) and 31 additional House Democrats sent a letter to President Obama and Labor Secretary Tom Perez calling for the Administration to take bold action in raising the income threshold for overtime pay. In the letter, the House Democrats state the urgency in updating the income threshold saying, "The current salary threshold of $23,660 applies to only 11 percent of the nation's salaried workers and is below the federal poverty level for a … Continue Reading


November 26, 2014

Eleven House Democrats Call for Voluntary Shifts and Mandatory Overtime Pay on Thanksgiving

Washington DC - Earlier today, Rep. Steve Israel (D-NY), Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA), and nine additional House Democrats sent a letter to Secretary of Labor Thomas Perez asking the Department of Labor to encourage companies to end mandatory shifts on Thanksgiving and to provide overtime or holiday pay to those who choose to work. The letter states, "We understand that people choose to shop on Thanksgiving and that stores would not open if it was not profitable to them. That is why we believe … Continue Reading


June 09, 2014

Representative Takano Addresses Retaliation Against VA Whistleblowers

Washington, DC - Earlier today, Representative Mark Takano sent a letter to Loma Linda VA Medical Center Director Barbara Fallen stressing for the Inland Empire's local VA administrator to take notice of information related to systemic wait time issues provided by employees and to protect VA whistleblowers. In the letter the Congressman asks for allegations by VA employees to be taken seriously and highlights how important understanding the facts are for restoring faith in the VA saying, … Continue Reading


March 06, 2014

Rep. Mark Takano Sends Letter to Various Federal Agencies Requesting Information on Rental Backed Securities

Washington DC - Earlier today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) sent a letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Securities Exchange Commission, and the Department of Treasury's Office of Financial Research requesting information about single family rental backed securities. In the letters, Rep. Takano says, "I am writing to bring to your attention the recent increase in investor owned rental properties and the development of single … Continue Reading


January 09, 2014

Rep. Mark Takano Signs Letter Calling for Extension of Unemployment Benefits

Washington DC - Earlier today, Rep. Mark Takano signed a letter, led by Rep. Dan Kildee (D-MI), urging Speaker John Boehner to schedule an immediate, up-or-down vote to extend emergency unemployment insurance for 1.3 million Americans who lost their benefits due to congressional inaction at the end of the year. "As members of the freshman class, we are writing to request an immediate, up-or-down vote to extend long-term unemployment insurance for 1.3 million Americans," the letter reads. … Continue Reading


December 13, 2013

31 House Democrats Send Letter to Secretary of Education Calling for Regulations to Protect Students from Unmanageable Debt and Worthless Degrees

Washington DC - Earlier today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA), Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-AZ), and Rep. Mike Honda (D-CA), joined by 27 additional House Democrats, sent a letter to United States Secretary of Education Arne Duncan supporting the Department's efforts to finalize gainful employment regulations. In the letter, the signee's state, "More than ever, we need a rule that ends federal financial aid for programs that consistently leave students - our veterans, working … Continue Reading


December 03, 2013

Rep. Mark Takano Calls for Fraudulent Health Care Website Being Promoted by Republican Lawmakers to be Taken Down

Washington DC - Earlier today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside) sent a letter to California Attorney General Kamala Harris about CoveringHealthCareCA.com, a website being promoted by California Republican officials, which features fraudulent, inaccurate and misleading information about the Affordable Care Act. In the letter, Rep. Takano asks Attorney General Harris to issue a cease and desist letter to the operators of the website as it violates state law which prohibits domain names that … Continue Reading


November 08, 2013

Rep. Takano and Eight Additional Members of Congress Denounce Attempt to Repeal School Success and Opportunity Act

Washington DC - Earlier this week, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside) was joined by eight other Members of Congress in sending a letter to California Governor Jerry Brown to express support for AB1266, the School Success and Opportunity Act, and to formally oppose the attempt to repeal the protections it provides. Rep. Takano was joined by Rep. Mike Honda, Rep. Susan Davis, Rep. Sam Farr, Rep. Eric Swalwell, Rep. Henry Waxman, Rep. Barbara Lee, Rep. Jackie Speier, and Rep. Alan Lowenthal. … Continue Reading


October 24, 2013

Rep. Takano Sends Letter to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti Asking for Continued Negotiations for Local Control of Ontario Airport

Washington DC - Earlier today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside) sent a letter to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti requesting negotiations continue regarding local control of Ontario International Airport (ONT). In the letter, Rep. Takano expresses the importance of Ontario International Airport to the Inland Empire saying, "As the Inland Empire continues to grow in population, the region needs the Ontario International Airport to be under local control. It is a vital economic resource to my … Continue Reading


October 08, 2013

Rep. Takano and Rep. Ros-Lehtinen Join Thirty-Seven Members of Congress Asking U.S. Olympic Committee to Ensure Safety of Americans During Winter Olympics

Washington DC - Yesterday, Representative Mark Takano (D-CA), Representative Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), and thirty-seven additional Members of Congress sent a letter to United States Olympic Committee Chief Executive Officer Scott Blackmun raising concerns about the treatment and safety of American athletes and spectators during the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. In the letter, the Members of Congress stated, "We are very concerned with Russia's anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and … Continue Reading


June 17, 2013

Rep. Takano Joins Five Members of Congress Requesting the VA Reduce Veterans’ Claims Backlog

Washington, DC- Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside) and five other Members of Congress from California sent a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Under Secretary for Benefits General Alison Hickey requesting the VA provide matching funds to the State of California for its Joint Claims Initiative. Joined by Rep. Julia Brownley, Rep. Raul Ruiz, Rep. Paul Cook, Rep. Jeff Denham, and Rep. Gloria Negrete-McLeod, the letter detailed recent difficulties in California saying, "There are … Continue Reading


June 11, 2013

Rep. Takano Sends Letter to Federal Transit Administration Requesting Perris Valley Line Funding Remain Intact

Washington DC - Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Riverside) sent a letter to Administrator Peter Rogoff of the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) requesting the $75 million appropriated under the Small Starts program for the Perris Valley Line remain available for the Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC). In the letter, Rep. Takano reassured the FTA the commitment of the project's sponsor saying, "The Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) has assured me that they are … Continue Reading


May 28, 2013

Riverside County Congressional Delegation Sends Letter to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Seeking Improved Efficiency and Communication

Washington DC - Yesterday, members of the Riverside County Congressional Delegation (Rep. Mark Takano [D-Riverside], Rep. Ken Calvert [R-Corona], Rep. Raul Ruiz [D-Palm Desert], and Rep. Duncan Hunter [R-Temecula]) sent a letter to the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Alejandro Mayorkas regarding recent difficulties EB-5 regional centers in the Riverside area have been having with the USCIS. In the letter, the Members of Congress detail the recent difficulties … Continue Reading


May 14, 2013

Rep. Takano and 18 Additional Freshman Democrats Send Letter to Chairman Paul Ryan Requesting Budget Specifics

Washington DC - Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) and 18 additional Freshman Democrats sent a letter to House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan requesting specifics for his 2014 Budget. Rep. Takano was joined in the letter by Rep. Joyce Beatty (OH), Rep. Tony Cardenas (CA), Rep. Matt Cartwright (PA), Rep. Steven Horsford (NV), Rep. Jared Huffman (CA), Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (NY), Rep. Joe Kennedy (MA), Rep. Dan Kildee (MI), Rep. Derek Kilmer (WA), Rep. Ann McLane Kuster (NH), Rep. Alan Lowenthal (CA), … Continue Reading

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