News
May 20, 2026
— In celebration of the life, work, and memory of former Congressman Barney Frank, the first member of Congress to voluntarily come out as gay and co-founder of the Congressional Equality Caucus (CEC), CEC Chair Rep. Mark Takano released the following statement: “I first met the inimitable Barney Frank in the early 80’s when I was a student in Cambridge. I followed his journey for years, including the part he played in moving the bill providing redress to Japanese Americans interned during Worl… Continue Reading
May 18, 2026Today, Representative Mark Takano (CA-39), Representative Alma Adams (NC-12) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) reintroduced the Restoring Overtime Pay Act to expand and strengthen overtime protections for workers, legislation that is especially vital as President Donald Trump’s policies drive up costs for everyday Americans. Currently, just eight percent of full-time salaried workers are eligible for overtime pay based on their salaries alone. In 1975, nearly 63 percent of all full-time salarie… Continue Reading
May 06, 2026RIVERSIDE, CA — Today, Congressman Mark Takano (CA-39) announced $6,452,972 in federal funds have been awarded to Western Municipal Water District (Western Water) to support a project addressing Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) near March Air Reserve Base in Riverside County. The funding, secured through FY 2022 and FY 2023 appropriations, will be used to rehabilitate aging sewer infrastructure to help prevent PFAS from entering the region’s wastewater system. “I am proud to help b… 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, 2026