Press Releases
Rep. Takano Celebrates Passage of Korean American VALOR Act
Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, released a statement after his Korean American VALOR Act passed the House of Representatives by voice vote. This bill allows veterans who served in the armed forces of the Republic of Korea during the Vietnam War and have since become naturalized U.S. citizens to be eligible for healthcare services through the VA. “Naturalized … Continue Reading
May 12, 2023
Reps. Takano, Schiff, Hayes, Larson, Sen. Booker Reintroduce Bicameral Legislation to Boost Teacher Compensation
Under the RAISE Act, educators would be eligible to claim up to $15,000 in new, refundable tax credits WASHINGTON, D.C. — Representatives Mark Takano (D-CA), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), John Larson (D-CT), and Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) reintroduced the bicameral Respect, Advancement, and Increasing Support for Educators (RAISE) Act, legislation that would boost teacher compensation by putting tax money back in their pockets and help diversify the … Continue Reading
May 02, 2023
Rep. Takano Releases Report on the State of Air Quality in California’s 39th Congressional District
RIVERSIDE, CA – Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) released a report describing air quality conditions in California’s 39th Congressional District, the impact of poor air quality on Riverside families, and offering potential solutions to address this persistent issue. The report, The State of Air Quality in California’s 39th Congressional District, reveals that air quality in Riverside County continues to be some of the worst in the nation and places a significant burden on … Continue Reading
April 28, 2023
Rep. Takano Celebrates Passage of Korean American VALOR Act out of Committee
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs passed the bipartisan Korean American Vietnam Allies Long Overdue for Relief (VALOR) Act (H.R. 366), sponsored by Ranking Member Mark Takano. Since 1958, through its Allied Beneficiary Program, the VA has been furnishing healthcare services to veterans of any era who served in the armed forces of European nations that were allies of the U.S. during World War I and World War II. The Korean American VALOR Act would … Continue Reading
April 26, 2023
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 … Continue Reading
April 20, 2023
Rep. Takano Statement on Republican Attacks on Transgender Student Athletes
Washington, D.C. – Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.), Co-Chair of the Equality Caucus and a senior member of the Education and the Workforce Committee, released the following statement in response to the House passage of H.R. 734, the “Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act.” “I am disgusted and deeply disappointed, but sadly not surprised, at the passage of H.R. 734,” said Rep. Mark Takano. “Republicans continue to use the House of Representatives as … Continue Reading
March 29, 2023
Rep. Takano Celebrates Advancement of Korean American VALOR Act
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs advanced the bipartisan Korean American Vietnam Allies Long Overdue for Relief (VALOR) Act (H.R. 366), sponsored by Ranking Member Mark Takano. This legislation would create a pathway for Korean American veterans of the Vietnam War to access healthcare through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Since 1958, through its Allied Beneficiary Program, VA has been furnishing healthcare services to veterans of any … Continue Reading
March 29, 2023
Reps. Takano, Adams and Sen. Brown Reintroduce Bill to Expand Overtime Pay Protection for Workers
Washington, DC – Today, Reps. Mark Takano (CA-39), Alma Adams (NC-12), and Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) released a statement after reintroducing the Restoring Overtime Pay Act. “Too many workers put in more than 40 hours a week and are still unable to support their families,” said Rep. Takano. “It is high time we pursue meaningful policies that support strong overtime standards to put money back into the pockets of hardworking middle-class families. The previous … Continue Reading
March 29, 2023
Reps. Takano, Slotkin, Strickland, Sen. Markey Announce Legislation to Boost Gun Violence Prevention Research at CDC, Urge Stronger Action on Gun Safety in Wake of Tragic School Shooting
Washington, DC – As the nation reels from yet another tragic school shooting this week, Representatives Mark Takano (CA-39), Elissa Slotkin (MI-07), and Marilyn Strickland (WA-10) and Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) today reintroduced legislation that would fund research at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to better understand and address the nation’s ongoing gun violence epidemic, a public health crisis which in the past five years has taken the lives … Continue Reading
March 29, 2023
Reps. Takano and Lee, Sen. Schatz Introduces Resolution to Demand Equal Opportunity, Civil Rights Protections, and Freedom from Erasure for LGBTQI+ Youth in K-12 Schools
Washington, DC – Today, Reps. Mark Takano (CA-39), Barbara Lee (CA-12), and Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) released a statement after introducing a resolution to support the Rise Up for LGBTQI+ Youth in School Initiative. This resolution was cosponsored by Senator Wyden. At only three months in, this has been the worst legislative year for the LGBTQI+ community on record. The national public discourse over the rights of LGBTQI+ individuals has had a particularly severe impact on … Continue Reading
March 28, 2023
Reps. Takano, Schiff, Urge Elon Musk to Act Against Rising Hate Speech on Twitter
Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) and Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) urged Elon Musk to address the continued rise in hate speech on Twitter, citing a recent study that found a 119% increase in anti-LGBTQ rhetoric and slurs on the platform since Musk took over. "New studies have demonstrated, once again, that hate speech has dramatically increased on the platform. As a result of these studies, we have new data showing that Twitter is not adequately or consistently acting … Continue Reading
March 23, 2023
Rep. Takano to Lead the Equality Act in the 118th Congress
Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement on his leadership of the Equality Act in the 118th Congress. “Being the first openly gay person of color elected to Congress gives me a unique point of view on the impact of discrimination in the lives of the American people. As the grandson and son of a family incarcerated during World War II, and as a person who grew up knowing my identity could put my employment at risk and deprive me of the … Continue Reading
March 15, 2023
Reps. Takano, Garcia, lead California Delegation Letter Expressing Support for the Repeal of Proposition 8 Language from the California Constitution
RIVERSIDE, CA – Today, Representatives Mark Takano (D-CA-39) and Robert Garcia (D-CA-42) led California Congressional Delegation members in a letter to the Governor of California and California legislature expressing support for the repeal of Proposition 8 language from the California State Constitution. They were joined by Reps. Pete Aguilar, Nanette Barragán, Ami Bera, Julia Brownley, Salud Carbajal, Tony Cárdenas, Judy Chu, Mark DeSaulnier, Anna Eshoo, John Garamendi, Jimmy … Continue Reading
March 14, 2023
Rep. Takano Slams Republicans’ Evasion of Accountability for Failed Bank Deregulation Policies
Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement in response to the Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank failures directly resulting from the enactment of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act of 2018. "The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank mark the second and third largest bank failures in U.S. history. These failures serve as stark reminders that rolling back the rigorous prudential … Continue Reading
March 10, 2023
Rep. Takano Statement on South Korea and Japan Forced Labor Negotiations
WASHINGTON, DC -- Today, Representative Mark Takano (D-CA) released the following statement applauding ongoing negotiations between South Korea and Japan: "Never before has strengthening the trilateral partnership between the United States, South Korea, and Japan been so important, and that alliance will only continue to get stronger as the relationship between South Korea and Japan deepens. Therefore I am delighted that the leaders of South Korea and Japan have courageously stepped … Continue Reading
March 01, 2023
Congressman Takano Reintroduces 32 Hour Workweek Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Mark Takano (CA-39), a member of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, reintroduced the Thirty-Two Hour Workweek Act. This legislation would reduce the standard workweek from 40 hours to 32 hours by amending the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and lowering the maximum hours threshold for overtime compensation for non-exempt employees. Original cosponsors of the bill are Representatives Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Jan Schakowsky … Continue Reading
February 07, 2023
Rep. Takano Statement on President Biden’s Second State of the Union Address
Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA) released this statement following President Biden’s State of the Union address. “At last year’s address, the President called on Congress to send him a comprehensive bill addressing the effects of toxic exposure for all current and future veterans. Together, we delivered, and my Honoring our PACT Act was signed into law, extending long-overdue care to over 3.5 million veterans living with the effects of … Continue Reading
February 07, 2023
Rep. Takano Announces Richard Valdez as Guest to the State of the Union
Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, has announced veteran advocate Richard Valdez as his guest to the State of the Union. “I am honored to have a constituent and proud Marine, Richard Valdez, join me as my guest to the State of the Union. Richard has dedicated his life to serving our country and advocating for veterans in our community,” said Rep. Mark … Continue Reading
February 02, 2023
Reps. Takano and Rutherford Relaunch the Congressional Deaf Caucus in the 118th Congress
Washington, DC – Today, Representative Mark Takano (D-CA) and Representative John Rutherford (R-FL) released the following statement after relaunching the Congressional Deaf Caucus in the 118th Congress. Reps. Takano and Rutherford will serve as Co-Chairs of this bipartisan caucus dedicated to bridging the communication divide between Members of Congress and their Deaf and hard of hearing constituents, as well as promoting equal access to government for all. “I’m … Continue Reading
February 02, 2023
Rep. Takano Statement on Republican Resolution on Socialism
Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the following statement on House Concurrent Resolution 9. “This resolution is not about socialism. It is about political cynicism. It is empty posturing from a flailing majority that peddles outrage because it has no positive agenda to offer the American people. No one in this chamber would defend the atrocities committed by Communist ideologues such as Mao Zedong or Fidel Castro – or dismiss the … Continue Reading