Press Releases
Rep. Takano Condemns DOD Nominee Pete Hegseth’s Attacks on LGBTQ+ Servicemembers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Mark Takano, the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and the first openly LGBTQ+ person of color elected to Congress, released the following statement following a CNN report on comments from President-elect Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, regarding LGBTQ+ servicemembers and Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT): “Attacking policies that allow LGBTQ+ servicemembers to serve in uniform openly is a disgrace,” said Rep. … Continue Reading
December 11, 2024
Rep. Takano Opposes FY25 NDAA
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Congressman Mark Takano (CA-39) voted against the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2025. “The NDAA should be a bipartisan bill that bolsters our national security and takes care of our servicemembers,” said Congressman Mark Takano. “This year’s NDAA is not that. Instead, MAGA Republicans are using the FY25 NDAA as a vehicle to inflict their radical, anti-LGBTQ+ views on servicemembers and their families. “There are good parts to this … Continue Reading
December 10, 2024
House Passes $100 Million in Water Infrastructure Upgrades for Riverside County
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, the House of Representatives passedthe Thomas R. Carper Water Resource Development Act of 2024 (WRDA), which includes $100 million in total funding for Eastern Municipal Water District’s (EWMD) South Perris Desalination Program. This bicameral and bipartisanpackage will help support the proposed Stage II desalination program, which is expected to add up to 5.4 million gallons of potable water daily for EWMD customers. Earlier this year, Reps. Takano and Ruiz secured … Continue Reading
December 04, 2024
Rep. Takano Elected First Vice-Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) elected Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39) to serve as its First Vice-Chair for the 119th Congress. “It is an honor to serve as the next First Vice-Chair of CAPAC, and I thank my CAPAC colleagues for their trust in me for this position,” said Rep. Takano. “We face tremendous challenges in the years ahead. Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders must stand together against the tide of hateful policies that … Continue Reading
November 25, 2024
Rep. Takano Congratulates DOL Sec. Nominee Lori Chavez-DeRemer and Calls for Overtime Protections
RIVERSIDE, CA - Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39), who has led a number of Congressional efforts to make sure workers are paid their fair share for the overtime they work, released the following statement congratulating Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer on her nomination to Secretary of the Department of Labor (DOL) and called for overtime protections for working Americans: “I offer my warm congratulations to Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer on her nomination to lead the Department of Labor. I served with … Continue Reading
October 25, 2024
Rep. Takano Hails President Biden’s Historic Apology on Indian Boarding Schools
RIVERSIDE, CA - Today, Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement hailing President Biden’s historic apology on Indian boarding schools: “To look to the future sometimes means acknowledging the sins of the past, which is why President Biden’s historic apology on Indian boarding schools is so important. Coming from a family of Japanese Americans who endured the incarceration camps of World War II, I know firsthand the power of the government acknowledging and striving to repair … Continue Reading
October 07, 2024
Rep. Takano’s Statement on One-Year Anniversary of October 7th Attack
RIVERSIDE, CA — Representative Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement on the one-year anniversary of the October 7th attack on Israeli civilians: “This October 7th marks a solemn and heavy occasion, as we remember the more than 1,200 Israeli civilians killed and the hundreds more that were taken hostage by Hamas. More Jews were killed on that awful day than on any day since the Holocaust, and the repercussions of Hamas’s terrorism are still with us today. “The subsequent … Continue Reading
September 28, 2024
Rep. Takano Congratulates Prime Minister-Elect Shigeru Ishiba, Thanks Prime Minister Fumio Kishida
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement congratulating Shigeru Ishiba for winning the election to both lead Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and the country as the next Prime Minister, while also thanking outgoing Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. “I offer my warm congratulations to Shigeru Ishiba on his successful election to become LDP leader and Prime Minister-Elect of Japan. I am hopeful that under his leadership, the United States and Japan … Continue Reading
September 24, 2024
Rep. Takano Applauds FTC Action Against Wall Street Landlords in Riverside County
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Federal Trade Commission announced actions to reign in the deceptive business practices of Invitation Homes, the country’s largest landlord of single-family homes. The unlawful practices include deceiving renters about lease costs, charging undisclosed junk fees, failing to inspect homes before residents moved in, and unfairly withholding tenants’ security deposits when they moved out. Riverside County has dozens of single-family rental properties owned by … Continue Reading
September 20, 2024
Takano, Padilla Hail $13 Million DOD Grant for Western Municipal Water District to Support MARB
RIVERSIDE, CA — Today, Representative Mark Takano (D-CA-39) and Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) hailed a $13,092,670 federal grant that will go to Western Municipal Water District of Riverside County to support March Air Reserve Base by upgrading the wastewater system through the replacement and expansion of the sewer force main, as part of the larger Wastewater Infrastructure Resiliency Program. The grant was approved by the U.S. Department of Defense’s Office of Local Defense Community … Continue Reading
September 20, 2024
Rep. Takano Condemns Riverside City Council’s Ban on Flying Pride Flags Over City Hall
RIVERSIDE, CA — Today, Representative Mark Takano (CA-39) condemned the Riverside City Council’s recent decision to ban the flying of Pride Flags and others over City Hall: “I am extremely disappointed by the Riverside City Council’s recent decision to ban the flying of Pride Flags—as well as other flags representing our rich diversity—over City Hall,” said Congressman Takano. “Riverside is a welcoming community, and our diversity has always been a fundamental strength. This decision is … Continue Reading
September 13, 2024
Rep. Takano Celebrates EPA’s Approval to Crack Down on Warehouse Polluters
RIVERSIDE, CA — The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently approved a rule submitted by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) to cut pollutants associated with goods movement in Southern California. South Coast AQMD’s Warehouse Actions and Investments to Reduce Emissions (WAIRE) requires warehouses in Southern California to offset their emissions through reduction measures, including through the purchase and use of zero-emission vehicles, installation and use of … Continue Reading
September 06, 2024
Rep. Takano Secures $7.4 Million for Street Infrastructure Upgrades in Riverside
RIVERSIDE, CA — Today, Representative Mark Takano (CA-39) secured nearly $7.4 million in street infrastructure upgrades to reduce pedestrian and driver deaths in Riverside. This grant is among over $1 billion in street infrastructure upgrades a part of the Department of Transportation’s Safe Street and Roads for All (SS4A) program. The Department of Transportation found that Riverside experiences more total traffic fatalities, and more per capita traffic fatalities, than any other city in the … Continue Reading
August 30, 2024
Takano Office Update on Scheduled Closure of the Base Exchange at March Air Reserve Base
RIVERSIDE, CA - Today, the office of Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement on the scheduled closure of the Base Exchange (BX) at March Air Reserve Base (MARB): The Base Exchange at March Air Reserve Base has long been a critical resource for the military community, providing essential goods and services to servicemembers and their families. Congressman Takano is deeply concerned by its scheduled closure and is actively engaging with MARB leadership to explore potential … Continue Reading
August 21, 2024
Rep. Takano Remembers the Life of Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr.
RIVERSIDE, CA — Representative Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement following the death of Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-9): “I am deeply saddened at this news, especially when I had heard his condition was improving. Rep. Pascrell was a passionate Member of Congress who cared deeply about ordinary folk. I was honored that this veteran entrusted me with his support to care for our nations’ veterans. He was “Billy” to all of us. My heart goes out to his family and the … Continue Reading
August 16, 2024
Rep. Takano Celebrates the Two-Year Anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act
RIVERSIDE, CA — Representative Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement marking the two-year anniversary since President Biden signed the transformational Inflation Reduction Act into law: “Today marks two years since the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). I am proud to have voted for this landmark legislation which equips the Biden-Harris administration with programs to invest in our communities and make a greener and healthier future. “California’s South Coast Air … Continue Reading
August 09, 2024
Takano and Japanese Lawmakers Discuss Joint Letter to Biden and Kishida on Taiwanese Security
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Representative Mark Takano (CA-39), Vice Chair for Policy for the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), convened a virtual meeting with Japanese Representative Masaharu Nakagawa, Leader of Progressive Caucus Japan (PCJ) for a virtual press conference. They discussed a joint letter signed by members of both caucuses on Taiwanese security that was sent to U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The signatories wrote to “express our … Continue Reading
August 06, 2024
Rep. Takano’s Statement on the Passing of Riverside School Board VP, Tom Hunt
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement on the passing of Riverside school board Vice President, Tom Hunt: “Tom Hunt attended La Sierra High School a couple of years ahead of me and never lost his connection to our hometown. Tom wholeheartedly believed that quality public education was foundational to building a healthy community. Although we had our disagreements, I never doubted his love and dedication to our city. He was a lifelong Riversider who … Continue Reading
July 30, 2024
Rep. Takano’s Statement on Scheduled Closure of March Air Reserve Base Exchange
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Mark Takano (CA-39), who is the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, released the following statement on the scheduled closure of the March Air Reserve Base exchange: “I am deeply concerned about the scheduled closure of the base exchange (BX) at March Air Reserve Base. Thousands of veterans and servicemembers rely on the BX every month for lower-cost goods and groceries. This closure will have a significant impact on their lives … Continue Reading
July 23, 2024
Reps. Takano and Ruiz Secure an Additional $50 Million for Desalination Efforts
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representatives Mark Takano (CA-39) and Raul Ruiz (CA-25) secured an additional $50 million for Eastern Municipal Water District for desalination projects in Southern California. The additional funds were included in the Water Resource Development Act (WRDA) that passed the House yesterday. Following final passage and signage of WRDA, a total of $100 million will be allocated to Eastern Municipal Water District to boost their South Perris Desalination Program. The … Continue Reading