Rep. Takano Statement on Default on America Act
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, released the following statement after voting NO on House Republicans’ Default on America Act.
“Speaker Kevin McCarthy and House Republicans’ extreme debt ceiling proposal puts our social safety net programs, our nation’s economic future, and the global economy into calamitous peril. Make no mistake — by proposing these draconian cuts, House Republicans are intentionally driving the United States towards an unprecedented default.
“And in the process, House Republicans are holding veterans hostage. They are trying to cut VA funding which would mean 30 million fewer veteran healthcare visits and cut 81,000 VA employees who help veterans access the benefits they earned — an attempt to balance the federal budget on the backs of our veterans. We owe it to our nation’s veterans to honorably recognize their service – not subject them to political brinksmanship with potentially disastrous consequences. With this bill, Republicans have shown the American people that they are unwilling to be responsible stewards of our economy or allies to our veterans.
“I remain committed to defending the benefits our veterans and my constituents in Riverside have earned. Let’s do the right thing for them, and the American people, and pass a clean debt limit increase that protects veterans’ benefits and our economy.”