Letters Sent
Currently showing results in the 114th Congress where the type is press_release
Rep. Mark Takano Statement Supreme Court Obergefell v. Hodges Ruling
Washington, DC - Rep. Mark Takano released the following statement after the United States Supreme Court issued its decision on Obergefell v. Hodges: "Today, the Supreme Court threw a giant wedding bouquet to gay couples everywhere by ruling that all Americans, no matter their sexual orientation, are able to receive the legal benefits that come with marriage. But more so than that, it tells LGBT Americans that they are the same as every other American and that the bliss that comes with … Continue Reading
June 25, 2015
Rep. Mark Takano Statement Supreme Court King v. Burwell Ruling
Washington, DC - Rep. Mark Takano released the following statement after the United States Supreme Court issued its decision on King v. Burwell: "I am pleased that the Supreme Court has once again upheld the Affordable Care Act. By my count, the ACA's legitimacy has now been affirmed by not only a presidential election, but by two Supreme Court cases. The ACA has always been Constitutional, and it is helping millions of Americans access quality, affordable health care. It is time for … Continue Reading
June 23, 2015
Rep. Mark Takano Statement on Gainful Employment Rule Being Upheld by District Court
Washington, DC - Rep. Mark Takano released the following statement after the United States District Court for the District of Columbia upheld the Department of Education's gainful employment rule: "I am pleased the District Court in Washington DC has upheld the Education Department's gainful employment rule and that another hurdle is cleared in the fight to protect students from bad actors in the for-profit college industry. The fact remains that too many for-profit colleges are taking … Continue Reading
June 22, 2015
Sen. Blumenthal, Reps. Brown, Takano And Colleagues Urge Va To Increase Protections For Veterans Against For-Profit College Predatory Practices
(Washington, DC) - Today, U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) ), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, joined Congresswoman Corinne Brown (D-Fla.), Ranking Member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee (HVAC), and Congressman Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of HVAC Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, in leading a letter to the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) in which they urged VA to include a "risk index" in the GI Bill Comparison Tool, an online … Continue Reading
June 12, 2015
Rep. Mark Takano Votes No on Trade Legislation
Washington, DC - Earlier today, Rep. Mark Takano voted against a series of trade bills, including Trade Adjustment Assistance and Trade Promotional Authority. After the votes, Rep. Takano released the following statement: "Earlier today, I voted against a series of bills that would pave the way for the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a free-trade agreement with 12 nations in the Asia Pacific region. While I do support Trade Adjustment Assistance in principle, I do not support paying for TAA by … Continue Reading
June 11, 2015
Rep. Mark Takano Unveils New Website Designed by CreativEngine
Washington, DC - This week, Rep. Mark Takano unveiled his new official website at www.takano.house.gov. Created by the Los Angeles based design firm CreativEngine, the website utilizes cutting edge technology and features a clean, modern design. Visitors to the website will be able to access Rep. Takano's recent press releases, view speeches given from the House floor, learn about upcoming events, access information in Spanish, and receive help with a Federal agency. Visitors will also be … Continue Reading
June 08, 2015
Rep. Mark Takano Statement on the Department of Education Expanding Debt Relief for Corinthian Students
Washington, DC - On Monday afternoon, the Department of Education announced that it would be expanding debt relief for students of Corinthian Colleges. After the announcement, Rep. Mark Takano released the following statement: "Today's announcement from the Department of Education is welcome news to those who were defrauded and mislead by Corinthian Colleges. By expanding the requirements needed to receive debt relief, and announcing that a 'Special Master' will oversee this borrower defense … Continue Reading
May 15, 2015
Rep. Mark Takano Votes No on National Defense Authorization Act
Washington DC - Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) released the following statement after voting against the National Defense Authorization Act: "Earlier today, I voted no on the National Defense Authorization Act, which would fund our Department of Defense and determine how money is spent within the DoD, despite supporting the NDAA in the past. I would have been happy to support the NDAA this year, especially since it contains a version of the Work for Warriors Act legislation that I introduced … Continue Reading
May 14, 2015
Rep. Mark Takano Statement on Attempting to Restore Education Benefits for Servicemembers Attending Colleges that Suddenly Close
Washington DC - Earlier today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) submitted an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which would restore eligibility for Department of Defense benefits, including tuition assistance, if an individual is unable to complete their education due to the closure of the school. Last month, Corinthian Colleges Inc. closed its remaining campuses, leaving more than 16,000 students in limbo and thousands of employees without a job. It is estimated that the … Continue Reading
April 30, 2015
Rep. Mark Takano Introduces Legislation Granting VA Health Providers Collective Bargaining Rights
Washington DC - Earlier today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) introduced the VA Employee Fairness Act of 2015, which would repeal the provision in existing law that prohibits Veterans Health Administration nurses and health care providers from being able to bargain collectively to improve staffing levels and compensation. Currently, the VA places limitation on the ability of nurses and other frontline health care providers to collectively bargain on issues related to compensation or staffing. Such … Continue Reading
April 30, 2015
Rep. Mark Takano Introduces Higher Education Regulation Legislation to Protect Students
Washington DC - Earlier today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA), Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA), and Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) introduced the Protections and Regulations for Our Students Act, also known as the PRO Students Act. Currently, 30 State Attorneys General, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Securities Exchange Commission, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and the Department of Justice are investigating for-profit colleges for fraudulent practices. Earlier this week, Corinthian … Continue Reading
April 29, 2015
Rep. Mark Takano Statement on Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s Speech to Congress
Washington DC - Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) released the following statement after Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe addressed a joint session of Congress: "I thank Prime Minister Abe for addressing Congress earlier today and reaffirming the bond between our nations, which has only grown stronger over time. I was especially moved when Prime Minister Abe offered his condolences to the Americans lost during World War II and when Lt. General Lawrence Snowden, who served in Iwo Jima, shook the … Continue Reading
April 28, 2015
Rep. Mark Takano Statement After Attending Oral Arguments for Obergefell v. Hodges
Washington, DC - Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA), one of the seven openly gay Members of Congress, released the following statement after attending oral arguments for the Supreme Court case Obergefell v. Hodges, which questions whether the Fourteenth Amendment requires states to grant and/or recognize same-sex marriages: "During oral arguments for Obergefell v. Hodges, the legal team for the plaintiffs made it clear, as it has always been, that the Constitution is intended to grant rights - not strip … Continue Reading
April 23, 2015
Rep. Mark Takano Introduces Legislation to Close Social Security and Medicare LGBT Loopholes
Washington DC - Earlier today, Rep. Mark Takano introduced the Social Security and Medicare Parity Act, which would close several loopholes in the Social Security Act and guarantee that all married couples, traditional and same-sex, receive the Social Security and Medicare spouse and survivor benefits that they have earned. After the Supreme Court issued its ruling for United States v. Windsor, the Department of Justice conducted a review to determine implementation of spouse and survivor … Continue Reading
April 15, 2015
Rep. Mark Takano Introduces Helping Schools Protect Our Children Act
Washington DC - Earlier today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) introduced the Helping Schools Protect Our Children Act, which will ensure that teachers receive the training they need to properly recognize signs of sexual abuse in children. According to the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System, which is a voluntary data collection system, an estimated 679,000 children were victims of abuse and neglect in 2013. Of those children, 9% were victims of sexual abuse. Currently, 48 states mandate … Continue Reading
April 15, 2015
Rep. Mark Takano Statement on the Air Force KC-46A Basing Decision Impact on March Air Reserve Base
Washington DC - Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) released the following statement after it was announced that March Air Reserve Base was not selected as a candidate to receive the KC-46A Pegasus aerial tanker: "I am extremely disappointed that March Air Reserve Base was not selected as a candidate for KC-46A MOB 3. I will be asking the Air Force for detailed information about the factors contributing to this decision, in particular, exactly how March ARB was evaluated. I would also like to know why, … Continue Reading
April 08, 2015
Rep. Mark Takano to Attend Summit of the Americas with Bipartisan Congressional Delegation
Washington DC - Tomorrow, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) will travel to Panama with a bipartisan group of members of Congress during the Summit of the Americas, a two day international summit with leaders from North America, Central America and South American, and the Caribbean. Rep. Takano will be joined by Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC), Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY), Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA), Rep. David Sckweikart (R-AZ), Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-TX), and Rep. Bradley Byrne … Continue Reading
April 07, 2015
Rep. Mark Takano Statement on March Air Reserve Base Receiving Department of Transportation Grant for Infrastructure Improvements
Washington DC -Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) released the following statement after the Department of Transportation announced that March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, CA has been awarded a $2.5 million grant for infrastructure improvements: "I'm incredibly pleased that the Department of Transportation has awarded March Air Reserve Base $2.5 million so that it can improve base infrastructure and maintain its status as an important component of our military. These improvements will help preserve … Continue Reading
March 27, 2015
Rep. Mark Takano Statement on the Retirement of Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid
Washington DC -Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) released the following statement after Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid announced that he would not seek re-election in 2016: "For his entire life, Senator Reid has been a fighter, first in the boxing ring and then in the Senate, where he fought for middle-class families, women's rights, health care reform, and equality for minorities. His legendary work ethic and tough as nails mentality combined with his calm demeanor is the embodiment of the saying, … Continue Reading
March 26, 2015
Rep. Mark Takano Introduces the Keith Nolan Air Force Deaf Demonstration Act
Washington DC - Earlier today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) introduced the Keith Nolan Air Force Deaf Demonstration Act, which would allow deaf and hard of hearing individuals to serve in the United States Air Force in a demonstration program. Original co-sponsors include Rep. Niki Tsongas, Rep. John Delaney, Rep. Ted Lieu, and Rep. Chris Van Hollen. Currently, the Department of Defense sets medical standards for enlistment. Within the "hearing" section, there are requirements for hearing levels … Continue Reading