Press Releases
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
July 23, 2024
Rep. Takano Statement on Not Attending Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Joint Address to Congress
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement regarding his decision not to attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s joint address to Congress: “For weeks I have wrestled with whether or not to attend Prime Minister Netanyahu’s joint address before Congress. In recent months, I’ve grown increasingly troubled by Mr. Netanyahu’s actions, which have sought to further his own political survival rather than securing the return of hostages and … Continue Reading
July 22, 2024
Rep. Takano Celebrates Investment in Clean Ports
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, as part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Investing in America agenda, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the general competition selections of South Coast Air Quality Management District to receive a $499,997,415 Climate Pollution Reduction Grant to implement community-driven solutions that tackle the climate crisis, reduce air pollution, advance environmental justice, and accelerate America’s clean energy transition. California’s South … Continue Reading
July 10, 2024
Rep. Takano Fights to Keep Title IX Protections for LGBTQ+ Students
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Mark Takano (CA-39) spoke in opposition to H.J.Res.165, a piece of legislation that seeks to upend recent Biden Administration updates to Title IX. Rep. Takano released a statement in April when the Department of Education released a finalized rule to Title IX to include explicit protections for LGBTQ+ students in schools receiving federal funds. WATCH REP. TAKANO’S FULL REMARKS Remarks As Prepared for Delivery: I rise in strong opposition to the … Continue Reading
July 01, 2024
Rep. Takano’s Statement on Trump Immunity Ruling
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement on today’s U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Trump v. United States: “Today’s ruling from an activist, conservative majority on the U.S. Supreme Court shakes our system of government to its core. Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s dissent lays out the terrible effect of today’s decision in plain terms: ‘It makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of Government, that no man is above the … Continue Reading
June 27, 2024
Takano, Beatty Lead 21 U.S. Reps. in Introducing Resolution Condemning Uganda’s Deadly Anti-LGBTQ+ Law
WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Reps. Mark Takano (CA-39) and Joyce Beatty (OH-03) led 21 Members of Congress (co-sponsoring U.S. Reps. include Becca Balint, Lloyd Doggett, Adriano Espaillat, Robert Garcia, Sylvia Garcia, Josh Gottheimer, Raúl Grijalva, Pramila Jayapal, Hank Johnson, Gwen Moore, Seth Moulton, Jerry Nadler, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Mark Pocan, Delia Ramirez, Linda Sánchez, Jan Schakowsky, Brad Sherman, Rashida Tlaib, Ritchie Torres, Debbie Wasserman Schultz) in introducing a House … Continue Reading
June 23, 2024
Rep. Takano Celebrates 52 Years of Title IX
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representative Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement on the 52nd anniversary of the enactment of Title IX: “After 52 years, Title IX is stronger than ever. We celebrate its landmark provisions and applaud the Biden Administration’s actions tostrengthen Title IX to protect LGBTQ+ people in a political moment when our community is targeted and singled out. Today more than ever, a federal commitment to ensuring equal access to educational opportunities is … Continue Reading
June 21, 2024
Rep. Takano Commemorates One Year Since the Reintroduction of the Equality Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Representative Mark Takano (CA-39) commemorated one year since he reintroduced the Equality Act. The Equality Act is a landmark piece of civil rights legislation that would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to extend non-discrimination protections to the LGBTQ+ community. It would explicitly prohibit discrimination based on gender identity or sexual orientation in employment, education, access to credit, jury service, federal funding housing, and public … Continue Reading
June 18, 2024
Takano Hails Biden Admin’s Action to Keep American Families Together
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Mark Takano (CA-39) hailed President Joe Biden’s decisive executive order that will help keep certain mixed-status American families together. The Biden-Harris Administration’s move will extend much needed legal status and work authorization to long-settled undocumented spouses and children of U.S. citizens. “I applaud President Joe Biden’s bold action that made today’s historic executive order possible,” said Rep. Takano. “Countless American families … Continue Reading
June 14, 2024
Rep. Takano Opposes Extreme NDAA
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement after voting NO on the House’s partisan Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025: “It is unfortunate this Republican-led House has caved to extreme partisan measures and transformed the passage of the FY25 NDAA into a tactic bill filled with regressive policies for LGBTQ+ and women servicemembers. Amendments added to the original, bipartisan text do … Continue Reading
June 13, 2024
Rep. Takano’s Statement on SCOTUS Decision to Protect Contraception
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement following the unanimous decision in FDA v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine: “Today is a victory. The right to safe and effective contraception is affirmed, but we cannot rely on this activist Supreme Court to continue to protect the most common form of abortion care. We know this Supreme Court could claw back abortion access in other formslater this summer, which is why we need federal legislation to protect … Continue Reading
June 06, 2024
Rep. Takano Statement on the 80th Anniversary of D-Day
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day:"Today marks the 80th anniversary of the ‘Longest Day.’ On June 6, 1944, over 150,000 Allied troops—Americans, British, Canadians, and others—embarked on the most audacious amphibious assault in history. "The magnitude of what was achieved on D-Day can be measured not just in miles of liberated coastline, but in generations of freedom secured. Those young servicemembers who … Continue Reading
June 03, 2024
Rep. Takano’s Statement on Mexican Presidential Election
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Following Mexico’s election of Claudia Sheinbaum as its first woman president, Congressman Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement: “I congratulate Mexico on a historic first: electing their first woman president. This is an important milestone and an opportunity for the U.S. to reaffirm our commitment to this critical bilateral relationship. Mexico is a top trading partner, an important collaborator on stopping deadly drugs like fentanyl from getting onto our … Continue Reading
June 01, 2024
Rep. Takano's Statement to Celebrate the Beginning of Pride Month
"When I ran for Congress in the 1990s, I was publicly outed as gay by my opponent and made the target of homophobic attack ads. I would lose that race by more than 18%. Almost two decades later, I ran again and won by 19%. With that victory, I became the first openly gay person of color to serve in Congress. This Pride Month, let us celebrate how far queer people have come but also recommit ourselves to the mission of full equality and dignity for every LGBTQ person. Happy … Continue Reading
May 09, 2024
Rep. Takano’s Statement on President Biden’s Decision to Halt Arms to Israel if Rafah is Invaded
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Mark Takano (CA-39) released the following statement on President Biden’s decision to withhold offensive arms shipments to Israel if it launched a full-scale ground invasion of Rafah: I applaud President Biden’s decision to protect civilians and hostages by withholding weapons from the Netanyahu-led Israeli government if they follow through with a full ground invasion of Rafah. With 34,000 Gazans dead, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza is already dire. An … Continue Reading
May 09, 2024
New Poll: Youth Believe in a 32-Hour Workweek
WASHINGTON, D.C. — New polling published by CNBC shows that 81% of youth believe a four-day workweek would increase productivity in the workplace. The polling comes on the heels of Congressman Mark Takano’s (CA-39) Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act gaining fresh momentum with Senator Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) introduction of a Senate companion bill and a Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee hearing in March. “We are witnessing a generational shift in attitudes towards the … Continue Reading
May 01, 2024
Rep. Takano’s Statement Celebrating AANHPI Heritage Month
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Mark Takano (CA-39), Second Vice-Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus released the following statement celebrating Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage month: “Today, we celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. “AANHPI peoples are not a monolith. We come from diverse and culturally rich backgrounds, but are united by a shared sense of community. “I feel great pride … Continue Reading
April 30, 2024
Rep. Takano Applauds Appellate Court Decision to Protect Gender Affirming Care
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman Mark Takano (CA-39), co-chair of the Congressional Equality Caucus and primary sponsor of the Equality Act, released the following statement applauding the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision to roll back discriminatory healthcare policies: “I applaud the 4th Circuit for correctly upholding the right to gender-affirming care. The Court clearly statedthat state-funded health plans cannot exclude those seeking medically-necessary care, a giant step forward … Continue Reading
April 23, 2024
Overtime Pay Fairness Advocate, Rep. Takano, Applauds Labor Department’s Overtime Rule
Takano Also Urges Passage of Legislation to Further Strengthen Overtime Pay WASHINGTON, D.C. - Rep. Mark Takano (CA-39), who has led a number ofCongressional efforts to make sure workers are paid their fair share for the overtime they work, released the following statement applauding the Biden Administration and U.S. Department of Labor’s new overtime rulethat will expand overtime pay to 3.6 million workers: For far too long, workers have been working more for less. I’m proud that President … Continue Reading
April 20, 2024
Statement from Takano, Castro, Velázquez, Doggett, Jayapal, Khanna, Ocasio-Cortez, Balint, Casar, McGovern, Barbara Lee, Blumenauer, Chu, Johnson, Carson, Watson Coleman, Jesús “Chuy” García, Jonathan Jackson, and Tokuda on the Israel Security Supplemental
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, nearly 20 members of Congress—Reps. Mark Takano (CA-39), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Pramila Jayapal (WA-07), Ro Khanna (CA-17), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Becca Balint (VT-AL), Greg Casar (TX-35), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Barbara Lee (CA-12), Earl Blumenauer (OR-03), Judy Chu (CA-28), Hank Johnson (GA-04), André Carson (IN-07), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Jesús "Chuy" García (IL-04), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), and … Continue Reading