June 14, 2017

Rep. Takano Applauds Secretary Shulkin’s Commitment to Protecting Veterans’ Individual Unemployability Benefits

Washington, D.C. – Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Vice Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, released the following statement after Secretary David Shulkin expressed his commitment to protecting veterans’ Individual Unemployability benefits, which were subject to dramatic cuts in President Trump’s budget.

“Secretary Shulkin’s comments during today’s Senate hearing are a relief to me and to the 210,000 elderly veterans who could have be harmed by the proposed cut to Individual Unemployability (IU) benefits. It was always clear that the changes to IU offered in President Trump’s budget would be an injustice to those who served the nation. I’m pleased that Secretary Shulkin has publicly recognized the terrible consequences it would have for elderly veterans and I thank him for voicing opposition to any policy that would inflict harm on those who deserve our support.”   

Rep. Takano expressed his serious concerns with the effect of the president’s budget on America’s veterans when Secretary Shulkin testified to the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing in May. 

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