Ranking Member Takano: "My priorities for this Congress center on making VA more accessible and responsive to all"
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-Calif.) delivered opening remarks at the Joint House and Senate Committees on Veterans' Affairs hearing featuring the legislative presentations of The American Legion, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Student Veterans of America, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs, Black Veterans Empowerment Council, Vietnam Veterans of America, Fleet Reserve Association, National Congress of American Indians, and National Guard Association of the United States.
Click here to watch Ranking Member Takano’s Remarks
Ranking Member Takano’s Remarks as prepared:
Thank you Chairman Tester, Chairman Bost, Ranking Member Moran. It is an honor and a pleasure to once again join you, and the other members of the House and Senate Committees on Veterans’ Affairs, for the second of our three annual VSO hearings.
Today’s hearing features a diverse array of VSO partners, representing a wide cross section of the veterans’ community.
Higher numbers of women, LGBTQ+, Black, Asian, Hispanic, and Native Americans are choosing to serve in our military than at any point in America’s history. And today’s panelists not only reflect that diversity but embrace it. Because they know, as I do, that there is strength in diversity, both for our armed forces and veteran communities, and our country more broadly.
For example, our first panelist, The American Legion, is the nation’s largest VSO representing over two million veterans from all walks of life. So, I am especially keen to hear the insights they have gleaned from their broad membership base.
As I said at yesterday’s hearing, my priorities for this Congress center on making VA more accessible and responsive to all. And the unique perspectives shared by National President Troiola [Troy-oh-la], and the rest of today’s panel members will aid us greatly in achieving those goals.
Veterans from underserved communities deserve to feel safe and welcome when they enter through VA’s doors, with outreach, programming, and solutions that address their unique needs. Additionally, VA must acknowledge the diversity of its workforce – a third of which includes veterans --
and must address systemic discrimination in the workplace and ensure that VA is a safe and equitable environment for employees and veterans.
We must ensure that healthcare and benefits are fairly and equitably distributed to all eligible veterans.
Further, VA must remove barriers faced by aging and homeless veterans regarding access to healthcare and benefits and continue the expansion of care and delivery of benefits to those in rural areas.
But it is important to remember that none of this can happen, if we subject VA to the large and arbitrary budget cuts that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have endorsed. It is imperative that we do everything we can to protect VA’s ability to deliver on the promise we have made to our veterans, and avoid pitting veteran against veteran, or veterans against other Americans, in a scramble for a dwindling pool of resources. And our panelists today will be key in that fight.
I look forward to hearing the testimony of all our panelists today. Thank you for your continued advocacy and support for the veteran community. Thank you and I yield back the balance of my time.
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