Rep. Mark Takano Statement on the VA Conference Committee

Washington, DC – VA Conference Committee Member Rep. Mark Takano released the following statement after House Republicans decided to forego bipartisan negotiations to fix the VA system:

 

“The VA Conference Committee is about ensuring our nation’s heroes get the quality, timely care they need and deserve, and it is our duty to work on a compromise that does just that. Unfortunately, it seems as though House Republicans have decided to forgo collective and bipartisan negotiations, springing meetings and take-it-or-leave-it proposals on the rest of the conferees at the eleventh hour. This is a conference committee that is not operating like a conference committee. Republicans must come together with their Democratic Conference Committee partners and negotiate in good faith to get this legislation done. If final legislation is not completed by the August recess, I believe that Congress should remain in town until a deal is made. Congress must finalize this legislation as soon as possible so our veterans receive the care that they deserve, and if that means working through August recess, then so be it.”