Press Releases
Currently showing results in the 113th Congress
Rep. Takano Statement on LGBT Veterans Benefits Amendment
Washington DC - Earlier this morning, Rep. Dina Titus (D-NV) introduced an amendment in the House Committee on Veterans Affairs based on her bipartisan bill H.R. 2529, the Veteran Spouses Equal Treatment Act. The Veteran Spouses Equal Treatment Act amends the definition of “spouse” in Title 38 of the U.S. Code to ensure equal treatment for same-sex spouses, thereby aligning the VA with the Department of Defense and the Supreme Court ruling in Windsor v. U.S. Supported by the VA, the change … Continue Reading
August 29, 2014
Rep. Takano Meets with Border Agents, Mexican Government Officials at U.S.-Mexico Border Facility
Washington DC - Earlier this morning, Rep. Mark Takano traveled to McAllen, Texas with a delegation of Congressional members to meet with members of the Mexican Chamber of Deputies, U.S. border patrol and enforcement officials and a delegation from the Mexican government. Rep. Takano visited Hidalgo International Bridge, the McAllen Border Patrol Station, and the Department of Health and Human Services BCFS Harlingen Children’s Facility. While at the Hidalgo International … Continue Reading
August 26, 2014
Rep. Takano Releases 100 Businesses of the Inland Empire Report
Washington DC - Earlier today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) released a report titled “100 Businesses of the Inland Empire,” which uses the knowledge gained through the 100 Business Tour that he conducted last year. Takano visited book stores, coffee shops, manufacturers, software companies, retailers, and a number of other types of businesses across the Inland Empire. Although the businesses varied in size, location, and business sector, some of the most common concerns that business owners … Continue Reading
August 19, 2014
Rep. Takano Releases Report on Public Transportation in Riverside County for Seniors and Disabled
Washington DC - Earlier this morning, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) released a report titled “Public Transportation In Riverside County: How to Break Down Barriers to Access for the Disabled and Elderly” during an event with the Riverside Transit Agency about the RTA’s Travel Training Program. The report details the difficulty seniors and disabled residents in Riverside County have while using public transportation. Some key finding in the report: By 2015, more than 15.5 million … Continue Reading
July 30, 2014
Rep. Mark Takano Announces Legislation to Protect Students from For-Profit Colleges
Washington, DC - Earlier today, Rep. Mark Takano (CA-41) announced the Protections and Regulations for Our Students Act (PRO Students Act) in a press conference with Rep. Susan Davis (CA-53) and Rep. Steve Cohen (TN-09). The legislation would: Require proprietary institutions to derive at least 15% of their revenue from non-federal student aid and ensure that military and veterans’ education benefits are included in that calculation. Prohibit schools from using … Continue Reading
July 30, 2014
Rep. Mark Takano Introduces Legislation to Let Deaf and Hard of Hearing Serve in the Air Force
Washington, DC - Earlier today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) introduced legislation that would allow deaf and hard of hearing individuals to serve in the United States Air Force in a demonstration program. Original co-sponsors include Rep. Niki Tsongas, Rep. John Garamendi, Rep. Henry Waxman, and Rep. Chris Van Hollen. Currently, the Department of Defense sets medical standards for enlistment. Within the “hearing” section, there are requirements for hearing levels that would exclude an … Continue Reading
July 29, 2014
Rep. Mark Takano Provision Included in Conference Committee Legislation
Washington, DC - Veterans’ Affairs Conference Committee Member Rep. Mark Takano released the following statement after it was announced that the final legislation would include a provision championed by Takano: “Yesterday’s announcement was a good step forward in increasing access to treatment for our veterans. As the final language was released late last night, I was pleased to see that the deal includes one important item that I recommended to the committee - an increase in medical … Continue Reading
July 29, 2014
Rep. Mark Takano Statement on Confirmation of Bob McDonald as Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary
Washington, DC - Rep. Mark Takano released the following statement after the Senate confirmed Bob McDonald as the next Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary: “I am pleased to see the Senate has confirmed Bob McDonald as the next Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. With the VA Conference Committee agreeing on a deal last night and Mr. McDonald being confirmed today, I am encouraged by the steps we are taking to fix the problems at the VA so that it is able to serve our … Continue Reading
July 28, 2014
Rep. Mark Takano to Introduce Comprehensive For-Profit College Legislation to Protect Students
Washington, DC - On Wednesday, July 30 at 2:00pm, Rep. Mark Takano will hold a press conference to announce the PRO Students Act (Protections and Regulations for Our Students Act) - a comprehensive piece of legislation intended to protect students from questionable for-profit colleges. Rep. Susan Davis and Rep. Steve Cohen, who are co-leads of the PRO Students Act, will also attend. WHAT: Rep. Mark Takano PRO Students Act Press Conference WHO: Rep. Mark Takano … Continue Reading
July 28, 2014
Rep. Mark Takano Statement on the VA Conference Committee Deal
Washington, DC - Earlier today, Senator Bernie Sanders and Rep. Jeff Miller announced that an agreement had been reached to reform our VA system. The agreement would: Allow veterans who face long wait times for appointments or who live more than 40 miles away from a VA facility to instead seek care with private doctors who take Medicare, community health centers, Indian Health Service and Department of Defense facilities. Allow the immediate firing of high-level … Continue Reading
July 24, 2014
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, … Continue Reading
July 23, 2014
Rep. Mark Takano to Participate in “Live the Wage” Challenge
Washington, DC - Earlier today, Rep. Mark Takano announced that he would participate in the “Live the Wage” challenge by living for one week, starting tomorrow, July 24, on just $77 - which is the amount left over for average full time minimum wage workers after taxes and housing expenses. More than 600 economists and business leaders have called on Congress to raise the minimum wage, which would boost the wages of 28 million workers by $35 billion, generate $22 billion in economic … Continue Reading
July 23, 2014
Rep. Mark Takano Introduces Legislation to Close Social Security and Medicare LGBT Loopholes
Washington DC - Earlier today, Rep. Mark Takano introduced the Social Security and Medicare Parity Act, which would close several loopholes in the Social Security Act and guarantee that all married couples, traditional and same-sex, receive the Social Security and Medicare spouse and survivor benefits that they have earned. After the Supreme Court issued its ruling for United States v. Windsor, the Department of Justice conducted a review to determine implementation of spouse and … Continue Reading
July 21, 2014
Rep. Mark Takano Statement on President Obama’s Executive Order Protecting LGBT Employees
Washington, DC - Rep. Mark Takano released the following statement after President Obama signed an executive order that bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity for federal contractors: “Today’s executive order signed by President Obama represents what millions of LGBT families and activists have fought for for decades - fairness and equality. It is a simple idea that says nobody should be fired from their job because of who they are or who they love. … Continue Reading
July 17, 2014
Rep. Mark Takano Speaks on the Humanitarian Crisis at Our Border
Washington, DC -Earlier today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) took to the floor of the House of Representatives to speak on the humanitarian crisis at our border: (click to watch) [[{"fid":"445","view_mode":"default","fields":{"format":"default","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","attributes":{"style":"height: 326px; width: 550px;","class":"media-element file-default"}}]] “Several weeks ago, the first wave … Continue Reading
July 16, 2014
Rep. Mark Takano Introduces Helping Schools Protect Our Children Act
Washington, DC -Earlier today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) introduced the Helping Schools Protect Our Children Act, which would ensure that teachers receive the training they need to properly recognize signs of sexual abuse in children. The Helping Schools Protect Our Children Act is the companion to the Senate version, which was introduced by Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA). The Helping Schools Protect Our Children Act would expand Title II of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to … Continue Reading
June 30, 2014
Rep. Mark Takano Statement on the Nomination of Bob McDonald as Secretary of Veterans Affairs
Washington, DC - Rep. Mark Takano issued the following statement after it was announced that President Obama would nominate Bob McDonald for Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs: “I am pleased to see the President has chosen to nominate Bob McDonald as the next Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Mr. McDonald will bring decades of military and corporate experience to the VA and I look forward to his confirmation by the Senate. However, we must remember that the … Continue Reading
June 30, 2014
Rep. Mark Takano Statement on Hobby Lobby Supreme Court Ruling
Washington, DC -Earlier today, the Supreme Court issued its ruling in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby. The 5-4 decision ruled that closely held corporations could deny women access to contraception. Rep. Mark Takano issued the following statement: “Today’s decision by the Supreme Court to give corporations say-so over women’s health coverage is misguided and I disagree with the ruling. The owners of Hobby Lobby or other closely held for-profit corporations should not be able to impose their … Continue Reading
June 30, 2014
Rep. Mark Takano Statement on Murder of Israeli Teenagers
Washington, DC - Rep. Mark Takano released the following statement after the bodies of three Israeli teenagers were discovered earlier today in the West Bank: “I am saddened to hear that the bodies of Gil-ad Shaar, Eyal Yifrach and Naftali Fraenkel were discovered earlier today in the West Bank. My thoughts and prayers go out to their families during this difficult time, and I stand with the international community in condemning this barbaric and cowardly act. It is my hope that the … Continue Reading
June 24, 2014
Representative Takano Introduces Legislation to Honor the Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week
Washington, DC - Earlier this week, co-chair of the Congressional Deaf Caucus Representative Mark Takano introduced legislation with fellow co-chair Representative Kevin Yoder (R-KS) to honor the Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week’s 30th Anniversary. In 1984, President Ronald Reagan signed the proclamation to create Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness Week, to not only honor Helen Keller, but also to spread understanding of deaf-blindness and the specific needs of the Deaf-Blind … Continue Reading