Press Releases
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
June 20, 2014
Riverside Makerspace Vocademy Participates in White House Maker Faire
Washington, DC - Earlier this week, Vocademy, a Riverside based makerspace, was invited to participate in the first ever White House Maker Faire, which brought more than 100 students, entrepreneurs, engineers and researchers from 25 states to Washington to showcase their inventions and advocate for ways to grow the maker movement through innovation and entrepreneurship. Vocademy Founder and CEO Gene Sherman was accompanied at the White House with Representative Mark Takano … Continue Reading
June 10, 2014
Rep. Mark Takano Statement on Vergara v. State of California Ruling
Washington DC - Rep. Mark Takano released the following statement after the Los Angeles Superior Court issued its ruling on Vergara v. State of California: “Today’s decision by the Los Angeles Superior Court ruling that teacher tenure laws are unconstitutional is disappointing. After spending more than 20 years as a classroom teacher, I learned that we are better off with teachers who see the profession as a mission and that great teachers develop over time with hard work and support … Continue Reading
May 30, 2014
House Veterans Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Takano Statement on the Resignation of Secretary of Veterans Affairs Shinseki
Washington DC - House Veterans Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee Ranking Member Rep. Mark Takano released the following statement after Secretary of Veterans Affairs General Eric Shinseki resigned: “General Shinseki has served his country for decades and I admire his dedication toward our veterans. But with the recent revelations that some VA facilities were hiding wait times and using secret wait lists, I believe that his decision to resign as Secretary of Veterans Affairs … Continue Reading
May 29, 2014
Takano Supports Bill to Protect Veterans’ Education Benefits
WASHINGTON, DC - Yesterday afternoon, Congressman Mark Takano spoke on the House floor to support a bill that would reestablish the VA Advisory Committee on Professional Certification. In another example of bipartisanship from Members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, the bill was passed shortly following Mr. Takano’s comments. The bill will allow the Advisory Committee to ensure the benefits veterans have earned are being used to gain licenses in career fields of their choosing. … Continue Reading
May 22, 2014
U.S. House of Representatives Passes Two Pieces of Legislation Submitted by Rep. Mark Takano
Washington DC - Earlier today, the United States House of Representatives passed two pieces of legislation submitted by Representative Mark Takano (D-CA) as amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act. The Work for Warriors Act (H.R. 4363), introduced with Rep. Paul Cook (R-CA), will create a pilot program to explore the replication and expansion of California’s WFW model nationwide. These direct employment pilot programs would enhance the efforts of the Department of Defense … Continue Reading
May 21, 2014
El Congresista Mark Takano y el Congresista Luis Gutierrez convocaran una reunión en apoyo a una reforma inmigratoria el 24 de mayo!
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