Congresswoman Julia Brownley

We have a sacred responsibility to those who have served our country in uniform. As a daughter, sister, and niece of veterans, I take no responsibility more personally and seriously. When I came to Congress, the very first committee I asked to serve on was the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Both here in Ventura County and at the national level, I have made it my priority to put our nation’s veterans first.

That means helping our servicemembers transition back into civilian life and caring for our veterans by ensuring they all receive the timely, high-quality healthcare and benefits they have earned and deserve. It also means tackling veterans homelessness and unemployment and addressing high suicide rates that continue to plague our nation’s heroes.

Finally, as more and more women join our Armed Forces and return home after their service, I’ve made it a special focus to ensure that the VA is prepared for the changing veteran demographics. Women represent the fastest-growing veteran population and the VA needs to adapt to meet their needs. That means making sure the VA offers gender-specific healthcare, addressing the unique circumstances leading to female veteran suicide, and providing critical wrap-around services like job-training, child care, and caregiver assistance. It’s long past time to recognize the contributions that all veterans, female and male, have made to our great nation.

We must invest in our nation’s infrastructure including our airports, roads, bridges, and waterways that are vital to the movement of people and goods across our country. As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I have been working to address the infrastructure challenges facing Ventura County and the nation.

As Ventura County’s Representative in Congress, I view everything I do through the lens of how it will create jobs and grow our economy. From our ports, to our large and small businesses, to our naval base, to our agricultural community, I strive to advance federal policy that will support our diverse job creators.