Press Releases
130 Democratic Members Sign Letter of Support for Rep. Mark Takano to Become Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
Washington, D.C. - 130 Democratic Members and Members-Elect have signed a letter indicating their support for Vice Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-Calif.) to become Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs. The letter is here and below: November 30, 2018 Dear Colleague: To best serve our nation's veterans in the 116th Congress, we need experienced leaders who are dedicated to protecting veteran benefits while also holding this Administration accountable. That is why we are … Continue Reading
November 28, 2018
Rep. Takano Statement on VA Announcement of Changes to Post-9/11 GI Bill Housing Payments
The announcement of further delays in the implementation of these specific provisions in the Forever GI Bill is extremely disconcerting. When Congress passed this law, the language indicated that provisions were to be implemented by August 2018, but ongoing technical issues have prevented any progress and the VA has failed to meet the deadline. If this process and the reoccurring technical failures at the VA have taught us anything, it's that the underlying issues causing these delays - IT … Continue Reading
November 21, 2018
Rep. Takano Slams DeVos Decision to Recognize ACICS
Riverside, CA - Today, Rep. Mark Takano released this statement after the U.S. Department of Education announced restoration of federal recognition to the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools, which gave accreditation to for-profits like ITT Tech and Corinthian Colleges: "Secretary Betsy DeVos' decision to continue granting the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) federal recognition represents clear neglect by the Department of Education to … Continue Reading
November 13, 2018
Rep. Takano Statement on G.I. Benefits Payment Delays Affecting Student Veterans
Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement after multiple reports stated that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is continuing to experience technical issues that are causing delays in payments of G.I. Bill benefits: "It is completely unacceptable for student veterans to be on the brink of losing their housing and to be unable to pay their tuition because of G.I. Bill benefits payment delays. Last month, my colleagues and I urged the VA to … Continue Reading
October 09, 2018
Rep. Takano Calls for Release of Full Department of Education File on ACICS
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released this statement after it was revealed that the Department of Education inflated the support from other accreditors in its recommendation for granting the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) federal recognition for another year. "ACICS, at its height, was the largest accreditor of for-profit colleges, however, it often granted accreditation to low-performing, predatory institutions that engaged in risky and … Continue Reading
September 10, 2018
Rep. Takano’s Bill Extending Paid Sick Leave Benefits to Wounded Warriors Working at the VA Becomes a Law
Washington, D.C. -Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Rep. Steve Stivers' (R-Ohio) Veterans Providing Healthcare Transition Improvement Act was signed into law. This law will ensure that newly hired veterans with service-connected injuries working in medical positions at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are able to take paid sick leave to receive the care they need. This bill will also help in hiring and recruiting veterans to fill VA "Title 38" employee vacancies nationwide. "Veteran … Continue Reading
August 30, 2018
Rep. Takano Calls on Secretary DeVos to Abandon Proposal That Would Weaken Protections for Survivors of Sexual Assault on Campus
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) issued this statement following a New York Times report stating that Secretary DeVos would be considering a proposed rule change that would weaken protections for survivors of sexual assault who are seeking justice: "It is absolutely reprehensible for Secretary DeVos to even consider a policy that would weaken protections for survivors of sexual assault and make college campuses and school classrooms less safe. If Secretary DeVos and this … Continue Reading
August 28, 2018
Rep. Takano Statement on the Resignation of Student Loan Ombudsman at the CFPB
"The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau was created by Congress to protect consumers, including students, from misleading and fraudulent practices and hold unlawful companies like ITT Tech and Corinthian Colleges accountable. Since its inception, it has helped return $750 million to defrauded student loan borrowers. "However under this Administration, and Acting Director Mulvaney's leadership, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is not doing its job. This could not be made clearer than … Continue Reading
August 10, 2018
Rep. Takano: “This Administration Couldn’t Care Less About Students”
Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released this statement following the Trump administration's proposal to eliminate the Gainful Employment rule: "The Gainful Employment requirement was regulated to protect students and hold for-profit schools and career-training programs accountable for delivering on their promises, as required by federal law. By eliminating this rule completely, Secretary DeVos has once again given for-profits free reign to carry out predatory and … Continue Reading
August 08, 2018
Rep. Takano Statement Following Reports of Inappropriate Influence from “Mar-a-Lago Crowd” at the VA
Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Vice-Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs released this statement following a report from Pro-Publica indicating influence over VA policies from Mar-a-Lago members and other millionaire Trump insiders: "It seems that for the Trump Administration, having a Mar-a-Lago membership and being one of President Trump's millionaire friends makes you qualified to make decisions and shape policies that affect the VA and our … Continue Reading
July 25, 2018
Rep. Takano: “It is clear who Secretary Betsy DeVos sides with, and it’s not with students.”
Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Education's announcement of the final proposed Borrowers Defense rule that would cut $12.7 billion in debt relief from students who were deceived by predatory for-profit colleges. Secretary DeVos' rule also proposes to force students to default on their loans before they are eligible for debt relief. "It is clear who Secretary Betsy DeVos sides with, and it's not with students. … Continue Reading
July 24, 2018
Reps. Takano, Pocan, and Grijalva Introduce Resolution Against VA Privatization
Washington, D.C. - Today, Reps. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Mark Pocan (D-Wisc.), and Raúl M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) introduced an anti-privatization resolution expressing support for policies that maintain a robust, fully-funded and staffed Veterans Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that does not jeopardize care for veterans by moving essential resources to the private sector. "More than 9 million veterans depend on the VA to receive the health care services … Continue Reading
July 24, 2018
Rep. Takano Helps Introduce the Aim Higher Act
Washington, D.C. -Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement after announcing the Aim Higher Act, a comprehensive reauthorization of the Higher Education Act, which ensures that every student has a path to a debt-free degree or credential. "As a public school teacher for 24 years and a community college trustee for more than two decades, I know that rising college costs put college out of reach for many students in Riverside and across the country. That is why I am proud to … Continue Reading
July 23, 2018
Rep. Takano Statement on the Confirmation of Robert Wilkie as VA Secretary
Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Vice Ranking Member, released this statement after the Senate confirmation of Robert Wilkie as Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA): "The Secretary of Veterans Affairs is tasked with the responsibility of ensuring that all of our country's veterans are properly served by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Which is why Robert Wilkie's role in the implementation of the trans military ban … Continue Reading
July 18, 2018
Rep. Takano Statement on VA Implementation of Executive Order Limiting the Use of Official Time
Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released this statement after the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Labor Management Relations issued a notice of implementation of Executive Order #13837, which drastically limits the use of official time: "Instead of working to ensure that the VA is well-staffed, well managed, and capable of providing veterans with quality services, the Trump Administration has focused its efforts on undermining worker protections and attacking VA … Continue Reading
July 16, 2018
Rep. Takano’s Bill to Extend Paid Sick Leave Benefits to Wounded Warriors Working at the VA Passes the House
Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Rep. Steve Stivers' (R-Ohio) Veterans Providing Healthcare Transition Improvement Act passed out of the U.S. House of Representatives. This bipartisan bill will ensure that newly hired veterans with service-connected injuries working in medical positions at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) are able to take paid sick leave to receive the care they need. This bill will also help in hiring and recruiting veterans to fill VA "Title … Continue Reading
May 17, 2018
Reps. Takano and Bonamici Raise Concerns about Conflict of Interest at the Office of Federal Student Aid
Washington, D.C. - Today, Reps. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Suzanne Bonamici (D-Ore.), and two other Democrats sent a letter to Department of Education General Counsel Edward Muniz to inquire about the ethics and standards of conduct within the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA). The Office of Federal Student Aid releases billions of dollars in student aid each year. Since the majority of employees at FSA are career staff, they are not required to sign the ethics pledges that President Trump's … Continue Reading
April 26, 2018
Rep. Takano Statement on Dr. Ronny Jackson
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), the vice ranking member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, released the following statement after Dr. Ronny Jackson withdrew from consideration as Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. "Given the serious allegations of misconduct - in addition to his lack of management experience- it is clear that Dr. Jackson made the right decision by withdrawing from consideration as the next VA Secretary. "In terms of both the size of … Continue Reading
April 26, 2018
GAO Report: Shadowy Industry is Manipulating Student Loan Borrowers, Default Rates
Washington, D.C. - Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report - commissioned by Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) - revealing how the little-known but increasingly harmful "default management industry" is using misleading information, coercion, and even $25 gift cards to manipulate student loan default rates. In response to the report's findings, Mr. Takano and Ms. DeLauro joined the GAO in calling for improvements to the Cohort Default Rate … Continue Reading
April 13, 2018
Rep. Takano Statement on U.S. Military Strike in Syria
Riverside, Calif. - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), the vice ranking member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, released the following statement after President Trump ordered military strikes in response to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad's use of chemical weapons against civilians. "President Bashar Al-Assad must be held accountable for his use of chemical weapons against civilians. However, President Trump's decision to use military force in Syria without a coherent strategy and … Continue Reading