Press Releases
Rep. Takano Statement on President Trump’s Executive Order on Apprenticeships
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, released the following statement in response to President Trump's executive order on apprenticeships, which undermines the Department of Labor's role in ensuring apprenticeship programs use taxpayer money effectively and responsibly. "The Department of Labor's oversight role has been critical to ensuring that workers and taxpayers are receiving the full benefits of apprenticeship … Continue Reading
June 15, 2017
Rep. Takano Statement on House Passage of VETERAN Act
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Vice Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, released the following statement after the House passed the VETERAN Act, H.R. 2372, which closes the loophole in the American Health Care Act (AHCA) that jeopardized access to tax credits for up to 7 million veterans. "The 7 million veterans who are eligible but not enrolled at the VA deserve the same access to health care tax credits as every other American. I am pleased that the … Continue Reading
June 15, 2017
Rep. Takano Statement on Shooting in Alexandria, VA
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), released the following statement after a gunman opened fire on Republicans preparing for the annual Congressional Baseball Game. "I am stunned and saddened by this attack on my Republican colleagues and the Congressional community. Speaker Ryan was absolutely right: We are a family and an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us. "I am incredibly grateful for the heroism of the two Capitol Police officers, who risked their lives to save … Continue Reading
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 … Continue Reading
June 13, 2017
Rep. Takano Statement on House Passage of VA Accountability Legislation
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Vice Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, released the following statement after the House passed S.1094, the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act. "Ensuring accountability for employees at the Department of Veterans Affairs, without violating their constitutional right to due process, is critical to providing veterans the care and support they have earned. The bill that passed the … Continue Reading
June 08, 2017
Rep. Takano Statement on House GOP’s Vote to Deregulate Wall Street
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement after House Republicans voted to pass the Financial CHOICE Act of 2017, which repeals or weakens the Wall Street regulations put in place in response to the global financial crisis. "Less than ten years ago, Wall Street's reckless and unethical behavior triggered the Great Recession and nearly destroyed America's financial system. American taxpayers were forced to bail out Wall Street banks, even as millions of … Continue Reading
June 07, 2017
Rep. Takano: Delaying Overtime Rule is Another Betrayal of Workers
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, released the following statement after Secretary Alexander Acosta announced at a hearing this morning that the Department of Labor will file a Request for Information that will further delay the implementation of the overtime rule. The rule, finalized under the Obama administration, would restore overtime protections to more than 4 million middle-class workers. "American workers have … Continue Reading
June 06, 2017
Rep. Takano Statement on Senate Passage of VA Accountability Legislation
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Vice Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, released the following statement after the Senate passed S.1094, the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act. "Throughout the debate over accountability at the Department of Veterans Affairs I have advocated for legislation that holds VA employees accountable without violating their constitutional right to due process. The Department of … Continue Reading
June 02, 2017
Rep. Takano Statement on Withdrawal from Paris Climate Agreement
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement in response to President Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement. "President Trump's decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Agreement will have severe consequences for our community that are both immediate and lasting. In the short-term, the president is further undermining America's credibility and relationships with our friends and allies around the … Continue Reading
May 15, 2017
Rep. Mark Takano, Veterans’ Affairs Committee Democrats Send Letter to CBO Regarding AHCA
Washington, DC - Representative Mark Takano (D-CA) and fellow Democrats on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs sent a letter today to the Congressional Budget Office asking the agency to carefully consider the impact on veterans of the American Healthcare Act, the Republican bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Every Democrat on the committee, including Ranking Member Tim Walz, signed onto the letter drafted by Rep. Takano, who serves as the committee's Vice Ranking Member. "House … Continue Reading
May 04, 2017
Rep. Takano: Everything We Thought About Modern GOP is True
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Vice Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, released the following statement after House Republicans passed the American Health Care Act, which will strip 24 million Americans of their insurance and jeopardizes access to health care tax credits for 7 million veterans. "I've often warned my constituents and colleagues that the modern Republican Party is more interested in cutting taxes on the wealthy than providing … Continue Reading
May 04, 2017
Rep. Takano Warns GOP: AHCA Will Harm Veterans
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Vice Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, took to the House floor today to warn Republicans that the American Health Care Act would jeopardize access to affordable health care for millions of veterans. "There are 7 million veterans who are eligible for VA care but not enrolled at the VA. All of them could be denied access to the tax credits in this bill," said Rep. Takano, before outlining the problematic provisions in the … Continue Reading
May 02, 2017
Rep. Takano Condemns Passage of So-Called Working Families Flexibility Act
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, released the following statement after House Republicans passed H.R. 1180, the so-called Working Families Flexibility Act of 2017. "I am extremely disappointed that House Republicans have pushed through yet another bill that rigs the rules of the economy against working families. The so-called Working Families Flexibility Act gives employees no meaningful rights they don't already … Continue Reading
April 28, 2017
Rep. Takano Statement on Confirmation of Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, released the following statement after Alexander Acosta's confirmation as U.S. Secretary of Labor. "In its first 100 days, the Trump administration has pursued an agenda that is openly hostile to working families. By opposing a rule requiring financial advisers to act in the best interests of their clients, by rolling back workplace safety reporting standards, and by refusing to … Continue Reading
April 27, 2017
Rep. Takano: Revised AHCA Still Strips Tax Credits from 7 Million Veterans
Washington, D.C. - Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Vice Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, released the following statement regarding a loophole that remains in the revised American Health Care Act stripping tax credits from up to 7 million veterans. The MacArthur Amendment fails to address language in the bill that prevents veterans who are eligible but not enrolled in VA health care from receiving tax credits to afford insurance. "I am in disbelief that my Republican … Continue Reading
April 26, 2017
Education and the Workforce Committee Republicans Pass Bill Stripping Workers of Overtime Pay
WASHINGTON - Today, the Committee on Education and the Workforce held a markup on H.R. 1180, the Working Families Flexibility Act. Republicans rejected Democrats' efforts to advance amendments that would have provided real solutions for workers - paid sick days, fair work schedules, and strengthened overtime protections. Republicans voted unanimously (22-16) to make it harder for working people to be paid for every hour on the job. "H.R. 1180 doesn't give employees any rights they don't … Continue Reading
April 26, 2017
Rep. Takano Calls for International Condemnation of Ongoing Violence Targeting Chechnya’s Gay Community
Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement calling on the international community to condemn the Chechen government's horrific campaign of violence and oppression against the gay community. He also called on Vladimir Putin and the Russian government to exert its influence in Chechnya to end the arrest, torture, and murder of gay men in the region. "The chilling reports of mass detentions and violence against gay men in Chechnya demand an … Continue Reading
April 11, 2017
Rep. Takano Mourns Victims of Tragic Shooting at San Bernardino’s North Park Elementary School
Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement regarding the tragic shooting at North Park Elementary School in San Bernardino. "There are no words to express the pain and sorrow I feel for the victims of this tragedy and their families. I am stunned and horrified that gun violence has once again struck the Inland Empire and claimed the lives of members of community. "There are many questions about how this heartbreaking tragedy unfolded. What we … Continue Reading
April 06, 2017
Responding to Wave of For-Profit School Closures, Rep. Takano Introduces Bill to Protect Student Veterans
Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) introduced legislation that would restore Post-9/11 GI Bill education benefits to veterans affected by the permanent closure of certain educational institutions. The Veterans Education Relief and Restoration Act (VERRA) comes nearly two years after the abrupt closure of Corinthian Colleges, which stranded 16,000 students, and just one week after Westech College suddenly closed its three locations in Southern California. Student veterans … Continue Reading
April 05, 2017
Rep. Takano, Committee Democrats Voice Strong Opposition to Bill that Weakens Overtime Rights for Low-Income Workers
Washington, D.C. - Today, at a hearing of the Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, Rep. Takano and Committee Democrats voiced strong opposition to the Working Families Flexibility Act of 2017 (H.R.1180). The bill would weaken overtime rights for low-income workers who are already struggling to keep pace with the economy. Instead of paying workers for their overtime work, the legislation allows employers to pocket employees' overtime pay in return for a vague promise that employees may be … Continue Reading