Healthcare

Congresswoman Julia Brownley introduced Katie Meyer’s Law, legislation to ensure students at higher education institutions have the right to select an independent adviser to help them navigate disciplinary proceedings and create new reporting requirements for campus suicide incidents. The bill was inspired by the life of Katie Meyer, whose tragic passing underscored the urgent need for greater protections and support for students.

Congresswoman Julia Brownley and fellow Democratic colleagues have urged the Trump administration to rescind its proposed rule to reinstate a near-total ban on abortion care and abortion counseling at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). As a longtime champion for women veterans’ healthcare, Brownley participated in multiple efforts to underscore the dangers of the rule.

Over 140,000 residents across Ventura County and the Conejo Valley receive Social Security benefits, according to the Social Security Administration, and they deserve to have their benefits strengthened and protected – not subject to risky bets of Wall Street. I am working with my Democratic colleagues to not only protect your benefits from these cuts, but also to enhance benefits to keep them up with rising costs.

In direct response to the Trump administration’s proposed rule to roll back abortion access for veterans, Congresswoman Julia Brownley announced the introduction of the Reproductive Freedom for Veterans Act, which would guarantee that veterans and eligible dependents have the right to receive abortion care, medication, and counseling through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), without interference from political appointees or partisan agendas and protected by law.

Congresswoman Julia Brownley joined Congresswoman Luz Rivas, Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove, California Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff (CA), and 33 of her Democratic colleagues in urging U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem to reconsider the termination of the legal status of S.G.V. (identified by her initials for privacy reasons). S.G.V. is a four-year-old girl from Bakersfield living with short bowel syndrome who is facing deportation and could die if she loses medical care at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Congresswoman Julia Brownley signed a discharge petition to force an up-or-down vote in the House to protect Medicaid and food assistance from devastating budget cuts proposed by House Republicans.

Friday morning, Democratic Congresswoman Julia Brownley joined health care providers in denouncing Republicans’ proposal to cut 1.5 to 2 trillion dollars from the federal budget over the next decade, saying it could lead to the largest Medicaid cut in history. 

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley joined local healthcare leaders at the Clinicas del Camino Real, Inc.’s Karen R. Burham Health Center in Oxnard to denounce the Republican proposal for the largest Medicaid cuts in history – jeopardizing care for millions, including over 200,000 Ventura County residents.

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley, Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, hosted a roundtable to hear from local veterans about the impacts they’re experiencing related to workforce cuts in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

Congresswoman Julia Brownley was proud to join Planned Parenthood California Central Coast at its annual Power of Love Brunch to celebrate the organization’s work in Ventura County. Below are Congresswoman Brownley’s remarks as prepared.

Congresswoman Julia Brownley announced the reintroduction of the CHAMPVA Children’s Care Protection Act, legislation to ensure children of disabled veterans can remain eligible for VA health care until age 26, the same coverage already provided under the Affordable Care Act for private-sector insurance plans and the military’s TRICARE program.

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley reintroduced the Fix FEDVIP Age Act, legislation aimed at addressing an existing gap in federal benefits by allowing children of federal workers and retirees to remain eligible for health care coverage under the Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) until the age of 26. 

Congresswoman Julia Brownley announced the reintroduction of three bills aimed at strengthening the workforce that serves our nation’s veterans, improving the delivery of health care, and addressing service-related needs. The bills include the VA Marriage and Family Therapists Equity Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs Continuing Professional Education Modernization Act, and the Veterans Law Judge Experience Act.

Congresswoman Julia Brownley announced the reintroduction of three bills to expand and improve health care for our nation’s women veterans. The bills include the Veterans Infertility Treatment Act, the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act, and the Improving Menopause Care for Veterans Act. 

Congresswoman Julia Brownley announced the reintroduction of the Dental Care for Veterans Act, a bill that seeks to provide dental care to all veterans enrolled in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system.

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley announced the introduction of the Supporting Military Families Exposed to Toxic Substances Act (H.R. 10137), legislation that would extend U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs health care benefits to eligible military and veterans family members exposed to toxic substances.

Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Calif., authored several provisions featured in the bill and called long-term care “one of the biggest challenges facing our aging population and their families.” She praised the House vote as setting the stage for “the single largest expansion of long-term care services at VA in decades.”

Congresswoman Julia Brownley announced Congressional action calling on the U.S. Office of Science, Technology, and Policy (OSTP) to issue strong guidance that mitigates risk and misuse of synthetic nucleic acids, a vital bio-material. Brownley’s effort was co-led by Representatives Dan Crenshaw (R-TX), Neal P. Dunn, MD (R-FL), Bill Foster (D-IL), Andy Harris, MD (R-MD), Sara Jacobs (D-CA), Rich McCormick, MD, MBA (R-GA), August Pfluger (R-TX), and Haley M. Stevens (D-MI), as well as Senator Edward J. Markey (D-MA), in a letter to OSTP Director Arati Prabhakar urging the agency to issue guidance to gene synthesis providers that will ensure safety, while promoting innovation.