Chairman Takano Statement on Passage of H. Res 965

Statement

Today, House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (D-Calif.) released the statement below following the historic passage of H. Res. 965 which allows Committee's to conduct remote proceedings during the public health emergency due to COVID-19:

"Despite working virtually to ensure the safety of our witnesses, stakeholders, and staff, our Committee has relentlessly worked to advocate for veterans and fulfill our oversight of VA's response to this crisis. We led the Democratic Caucus and held the first ever live, public, and entirely Virtual Bipartisan Full Committee Forum on veteran homelessness.

"We successfully safeguarded benefits for student veterans by passing legislation -- Now Signed Into Law -- worked to ensure that our most vulnerable veterans Receive Their Stimulus Check without unnecessary burden, continued conversations with VSOs on their legislative priorities, and Advocated For Veterans in emergency legislation passed by Congress. Our business may have temporarily adjusted, venues may have changed, and our communications moved online, but our commitment to fighting to ensure VA can deliver the best care and services to our veterans throughout this national emergency has never stopped.

"What the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs has been able to accomplish during this public health emergency is proof that Congress is willing and capable of adapting in response to this crisis in order to effectively serve the American people. The Resolution allowing for remote voting and virtual committee proceedings that the House passed today will help Congress continue doing the important work that needs to get done and hold the Trump Administration accountable."

For more information about the Committee's efforts to address the COVID-19 crisis and resources for available for veterans, please visit: Https://Veterans.House.Gov/Covid-19.

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