Mark Takano

I will resist vigorously any attempts to undermine the law and shift back to the old funding paradigm.

Delivering VA for all veterans, irrespective of their age, gender, sexual orientation, or race.

I am less optimistic, albeit still hopeful about the willingness or ability of the House majority to do what is right.

Today VA is receiving and processing more claims for disability compensation than ever before.

I will continue to fight for real, concrete, actionable solutions to the problems veterans currently face.

I want to thank the VFW for your support for the Guard and Reserve GI Bill Parity Act.

The legislative response to those issues from this Congress has largely been nonexistent.

The PACT Act continues to be a good-news story, the law is not without its challenges.

Let me add, Democrats have also locked in $800 per year in health insurance savings for 15 million Americans. Members should ask themselves who has more credibility on protecting Americans' healthcare and saving them money and lowering…

Chairman Bost, Ranking Member Takano, and distinguished members of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs...

This majority professes to carry the torch for veterans, but they cannot muster the will to move the needle one single bit.

I implore those watching today to not be fooled by window dressing. Instead, demand real, concrete action.

A bill that does nothing more than fiddle around with VA's organization chart and does not do a single thing to improve or expand the delivery of benefits.

Soon we will have legislation introduced from my colleague, Representative Frank Mrvan, to increase benefits for those using Chapter 35 education benefits.

We have members like Dean Phillips, who has introduced the Love Lives On Act, which would address many of the issues that we have heard raised here about the consequences of survivors who remarry.

Representative Jahana Hayes has introduced legislation to raise the levels of DIC benefits on par with other Federal survivors programs.

We have members like my colleague Julia Brownley, who has introduced legislation to extend CHAMPVA eligibility.

That is why I really feel compelled to point out the distinction between how the two different parties' representatives on this dais here are addressing the issue.

I want to extend a special thank you to the survivors on the panel and the survivors in the audience.

I can certainly sympathize with the frustration the Gold Star families' experience from the confusion and delays these mix-ups cause.

How about a proactive outreach campaign, meaning a campaign that seeks to reach survivors before they are in a position of being survivors.

The honor in our PACT Act provided eligibility for surviving spouses to access benefits as their veterans' toxic exposures are now being recognized.

I will be introducing a bill to create a program similar to VA's Solid Start program, where survivors are contacted multiple times in the year following the death of their loved one.

I just want to acknowledge all of your journeys. Very moving testimony by all of you, and your resilience is inspiring and I am also inspired by your courage.

The confusion and delays can be extremely frustrating.