In The News

By Amanda Covarrubias and Tyler Hersko Originally Appeared in The Ventura County Star Broad new immigration policies announced Tuesday under the Trump administration are heightening fears among people living in Ventura County without documentation, advocates for immigrants said. The orders from the Department of Homeland Security also threaten to harm the agricultural industry, which is experiencing a […]

By Tom Kiskin Appeared Originally On Ventura County Star More than 200 people filled every inch of a library conference room in Camarillo, standing in doorways and lined up four deep in the back. Some carried signs to a Tuesday night town hall meeting held by U.S Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Westlake Village. “Patients Over Politics,” […]

Chairman Dent, Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz, and distinguished members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to testify today about my priorities for the Fiscal Year 2018 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act. The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs portfolio includes a number of important priorities for my district, and I’m pleased to […]

By Niki Wentling Appeared Originally on Stars And Stripes WASHINGTON – A handful of lawmakers is again making attempts to open 24 new Department of Veterans Affairs facilities across the country, some of which have been held up by Congress for two years. The VA must receive congressional approval to lease medical facilities with annual […]

by Nikki Wentling  The Stars and Stripes story here. WASHINGTON – A handful of lawmakers is again making attempts to open 24 new Department of Veterans Affairs facilities across the country, some of which have been held up by Congress for two years. The VA must receive congressional approval to lease medical facilities with annual […]

By Sarah Wire Originally Appeared in The Los Angeles Times The phone in Rep. Tom McClintock’s office rang seven times in 10 minutes Tuesday afternoon. “This is Congressman McClintock’s office, how may I help you?” the receptionist said again and again, scribbling down each caller’s name, address and comment. “This call means a lot to […]

By Tom Kiskin Orginally Appeared in The Ventura County Star Hundreds of people gathered outside a Newbury Park mosque for a “Stand with Muslims” event Sunday. The event was triggered in part by an executive order by President Donald Trump for a travel ban that included temporarily blocking many people coming to the United States […]

By Nikki Wentling Appeared Originally in Stars and Stripes WASHINGTON – Dozens of Democrats urged President Donald Trump on Wednesday to exempt the Department of Veterans Affairs from the temporary federal hiring freeze he imposed Monday, saying it had the potential to harm veterans seeking health care and those trying to access benefits. They also […]

By Michael Sullivan Appeared Originally in The Ventura County Reporter The Women’s March sent a strong message that millions of Americans do not agree with the direction or vision that President Donald Trump has for America, and we will not support a president who does not respect the rights, equality and dignity of so many. […]

By Anne Kallas Originally Appeared in The Ventura County Stary A hydraulic dredge moved into place Thursday to pump 1.5 million cubic yards of sand out of the Channel Islands Harbor sand trap so it can replenish local beaches. Lyn Krieger, director of the Ventura County Harbor Department, said that’s the amount of sand Congress was […]

By Bartholomew D Sullivan Originally Appeared in The Ventura County Star WASHINGTON – California National Guard members asked to refund re-enlistment bonuses they signed up for in good faith are expected to be able to keep the money under provisions of a massive defense bill President Barack Obama is expected to sign this week. For […]

By Brendan McGarry and Amy Bushatz Originally Appeared on Millitary.com Days after a news organization reported the Defense Department is forcing National Guardsmen from California to pay back bonuses received in error, lawmakers and advocates are calling on officials to forgive their debt. Rep. Julia Brownley, a Democrat from the state, is among a growing […]

By Editorial Board Originally Appeared in The Ventura County Star It’s not easy these days trying to get anything done if you’re a Democrat in the fractious, Republican-controlled House of Representatives, especially if your eyes are set on major national issues and broad reforms. But the representative’s job can be much more than that — […]

By Staff Appeared Originally in The Camarillo Acorn U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley has announced that the Coast Guard will make its operating base at Naval Base Ventura County permanent. The guard had moved to NBVC due to the closure of the Air Station Los Angeles facility at Los Angeles International Airport. The new facility, now […]

By Kelsey Gerckens Originally Appeared on KEYT.com OJAI, Calif. – The Matilija Dam in Ojai will soon become a thing of the past.  The main reason why officials plan on tearing the Matilija Dam down is because it is no longer useful. Plans to tear down the Matilija Dam have been in the works since […]

A bill that would establish a national memorial to honor the victims of the St. Francis Dam disaster was endorsed Tuesday by the Ventura County Board of Supervisors. The bill has passed the House and is pending in the U.S. Senate. Rep. Julia Brownley, who appeared before supervisors to seek their support, said afterward that […]

Zachary Walker had his doubts about seeing a Department of Veterans Affairs doctor in Sepulveda through a two-way camera and television screen. The Navy veteran from Ventura wondered how she would check him over or listen to his heart. But his concerns about telemedicine were trumped by the frustrating alternative: It would take two months […]

Military veterans in Ventura County needing specialty medical care are increasingly seeing their providers through a Skype-like app. The Department of Veterans Affairs calls it “telehealth.” Traffic on the highways between the V.A. outpatient clinic in Oxnard and the veterans hospital in Westwood is a big reason for the change. It simply took too long […]