Wasserman Schultz Statement on Rep. Mark Takai's Personal Health

Washington, DC, October 29, 2015
I was very saddened to learn of my colleague and friend Rep. Mark Takai's pancreatic tumor this week. Over his career in public service and our armed forces, Mark has always been a fighter, and my family and I will be pulling for him during his recovery, which we know he will undertake with the same passion with which he serves his home state of Hawaii and our nation. As a breast cancer survivor, I know firsthand that he will need strength to beat this – and I also know that he already has that strength within him, his wife Sami and his entire family.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) issued the following statement today after Rep. Mark Takai (HI-01) made a statement about his personal health:

“I was very saddened to learn of my colleague and friend Rep. Mark Takai’s pancreatic tumor this week. Over his career in public service and our armed forces, Mark has always been a fighter, and my family and I will be pulling for him during his recovery, which we know he will undertake with the same passion with which he serves his home state of Hawaii and our nation. As a breast cancer survivor, I know firsthand that he will need strength to beat this – and I also know that he already has that strength within him, his wife Sami and his entire family.

“His early diagnosis serves as a further reminder that everyone, regardless of their gender, personal history or other factors, should be a determined advocate for their own health and seek preventative care whenever possible.”

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Sean Bartlett, Sean.Bartlett@mail.house.gov, 202.225.7931

Geoff Burgan, Geoff.Burgan@mail.house.gov, 202.225.7931