Issue Position: Military & Veterans

Issue Position

"Perhaps it is because I serve shoulder-to-shoulder in uniform with some of the finest men and women that I feel so passionately about investing in and protecting our returning soldiers."

In the Hawaii House I have been pushing for tax credits for companies that hire veterans and worked closely with the Chamber of Commerce to ensure our local military bases remain strong. I passed an initiative to improve the education of military children that has won national awards.

I created the Hawaii Medal of Honor and established a task force to help non-profit providers get homeless vets off the streets -- building a network of care to help these vets.

I helped create the Veterans Court, which focuses exclusively on vets by bringing together state social services and the VA to help these vets adjust back into society and navigate the courts.

Our vets went to bat for us; let's go to bat for them. They are our new "greatest generation," so let's give them a chance to build our future. I also think it is wrong that some in Congress have proposed cutting critical services like assistance to homeless vets, suicide prevention programs and job training assistance. There are fewer vets serving Congress than at any point since WWII; maybe that's part of the problem.

Mark Takai has a long history of supporting our veterans. As a member of the Legislature and the Chairman of the House Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, he feels that the state needs to work to ensure that the relationship between the military, our veterans, and our communities continues to strengthen and grow to produce a more cohesive society.

Mark has been a member of the Hawaii Army National Guard for 15 years and is currently a Lt. Colonel. Mark joined the Guard because he wanted an opportunity to serve both his state and country during times of need. He deployed during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2009 and that first-hand experience only strengthened his resolve to continue fighting for our veterans.

During his time as a state representative, Mark has been pushing to create tax credits for companies that hire veterans and worked closely with the Chamber of Commerce to ensure our local military bases remain modern and secure. He passed an initiative to improve the education of military children that has won national awards.

One of the most unfortunate consequences of war is the loss of our men and women in uniform. That's why Mark created the Hawaii Medal of Honor in 2005, which has allowed the Legislature to recognize military personnel with Hawaii ties killed in action. A total of 331 service members have been honored since March 29, 2003.

In 2011, Mark worked closely with then-U.S. Assistant Sec. Tammy Duckworth on a proposal to provide grants to states to address veteran homelessness. Hawaii has received three federal grants. Mark currently serves as an advisory board member to US Vets, a non-profit in Kalaeloa that houses homeless veterans.

He helped create the Veterans Court, which focuses exclusively on veterans, bringing together state social services and the VA to help these vets adjust back into society and navigate the court system.

Mark worked to implement the bill that provides for veteran's designation on the Hawaii driver's license and state identification cards to identify one as a veteran. This new law will go into effect on October 1 of this year.

Mark believes that it's wrong that some in Congress have proposed cutting crucial services like assistance to homeless vets, suicide prevention programs and job training assistance. Helping veterans is a priority for Mark and he will continue to fight for support services and programs that empower veterans as Hawaii's next Congressman.

"These men and women are our new "greatest generation', so let's give them a chance to build our future." -- Representative Mark Takai.

Source