ICYMI: Oregon Veterans Speak, Congress Listens: Dexter and Ranking Member Takano Host Veterans Town Hall
GRESHAM, OR — Yesterday, Congresswoman Maxine Dexter, M.D. (OR-03) and Congressman Mark Takano (CA-29), the Ranking Member of House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs hosted a town hall focused on ensuring veterans receive the benefits they have earned and deserve at VFW Gresham United Post 180.
“As a former VA provider, I’ve seen firsthand how hard our veterans have to fight just to get the care and support they were promised,” said Rep. Dexter. “Yesterday wasn’t just a listening session—it was a call to action. These stories will guide the policies we fight for in Washington.”
“As members of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Representative Dexter and I are tasked with overseeing VA and ensuring that the department provides the quality care veterans deserve. However, it has been more challenging than ever to obtain the necessary information from top VA officials to carry out required oversight," said Ranking Member Takano. "This obstruction makes veteran town halls all the more crucial to our efforts. Being able to engage with veterans directly gives us the best idea of what they’re facing and what we can do to improve the care they have access to. I am so grateful to Representative Dexter, her office, and her veteran constituents for welcoming me to this conversation.”
At a time when the Trump administration has interrupted critical clinical trials and dismissed more than 2,400 Veterans Affairs (VA) staff, Dexter and Takano heard directly from veterans about the impacts on the ground. Dexter and Takano pledged to take these stories back to Washington, D.C. where they will fight for Congress to protect and expand care for veterans and their loved ones.
Rep. Dexter serves on the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, including the Subcommittees on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs and Health, where she continues to push for policy grounded in compassion, efficiency, and accountability.
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