Mark Takano
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At least five bills have been reintroduced in the 116th Congress by incumbent lawmakers. And as the fog of last month's partial government shutdown clears, it's possible more bills have or will resurface.
February 21, 2019 -
In today's Federal Newscast, the Congressional Budget Office takes a look at just how much it will cost for the Defense Department to go through with all of its plans for the near future.
February 14, 2019 -
In today's Federal Newscast, Representative Mark Takano (D-Calif.) is launching an official investigation into the influence of three members of President Donald Trump’s Mar-A-Lago golf club, on recent personnel and policy decisions at the Department of Veterans Affairs.
February 12, 2019 -
The Department of Veterans Affairs has six months to consolidate disparate community care programs into one, revamped veterans choice program. But lawmakers are concerned VA won't successfully meet its deadlines amid a "constant churn" of agency leadership.
December 27, 2018 -
The Veterans Affairs Department says it will begin deployment of a new electronic health record at three sites in the Pacific Northwest in October, and the system will be implemented at those sites by March 2020.
June 26, 2018 -
As Congress will soon resume debates over the future of the Veterans Choice Program, the American Federation of Government Employees is urging lawmakers to consider consequences of privatization.
October 06, 2017 -
The House will vote this week on a bill that would replenish the Veterans Choice Fund with an additional $2 billion. But to offset the costs, VA would continue to collect housing loan fees and would trim pensions for some veterans living in nursing facilities that are covered under Medicaid.
July 24, 2017 -
The House will pass the VA Accountability First and Whistleblower Protection Act, clearing the way for the President to sign the bill later this week. Some lawmakers and veterans service organizations see the bill's passage as a major win after years of debate over new accountability legislation. But federal employee groups say the bill would do more harm than good.
June 13, 2017 -
The House Veterans Affairs Committee wrote to the Justice Department, asking that DOJ investigate whether VA officials lied before Congress when they testified about ongoing schedule and cost overruns for new medical center in Denver. A new report from VA's inspector general slammed the department's leadership for making poor decisions about the hospital's construction that weren't in the best interest of the veterans they hope to serve.
September 23, 2016 -
The House is moving forward on a bill that would shorten the time in which Veterans Affairs employees and senior executives could appeal disciplinary actions and removals. The VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act of 2016 also includes provisions that would change the veterans' appeals process, but the bill is drawing ire from the Obama administration, House Democrats and federal employee groups.
September 13, 2016 -
The House Veterans Affairs Committee also discussed several of the recommendations from the VA Commission on Care's report. Lawmakers generally agreed with the majority of the 18 suggestions, but issues of leadership at the Veterans Health Administration will likely be the sticking point in future debates over VA transformation.
September 07, 2016 -
Lawmakers cringed at the price expansion and lack of tangible goals associated with the Veterans Benefits Management System.
January 12, 2016