Local Issues

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley announced that Ventura County Fire Chief Dustin Gardner will be her guest at this year’s Joint Address, taking place on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 9:00 PM Eastern/6:00 PM Pacific. Chief Gardner leads the Ventura County Fire Department (VCFD), an all-hazards department of 658 personnel dedicated to protecting Ventura County. Chief Gardner has served with VCFD since 1998.

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 hosted the annual Valentines for Vets event throughout Ventura County and the Conejo Valley, encouraging students in California’s 26th Congressional District to create valentines for local veterans.

Congresswoman Julia Brownley sent a letter to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman and Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director Caleb Vitello demanding answers about recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations conducted in Ventura County, California. These operations, which took place in Oxnard and Santa Paula, have sparked widespread fear and raised serious concerns about the agency’s tactics and respect for due process. 

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley announced Benjamin Xie and Mihir Bamdhamravuri as the winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for California’s 26th Congressional District. The students created Sentinel, an integrated web application that monitors and detects wildfires to improve safety and reduce emergency response times. 

Congresswoman Julia Brownley announced five students from California’s 26th Congressional District, who she nominated to the U.S. Service Academies and who have accepted appointments to attend these prestigious institutions of higher learning in the fall.

Congresswoman Julia Brownley announced Lynn Moline from Newbury Park High School as the winner of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition for California’s 26th Congressional District. Lynn’s piece “Memories” will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol complex for one year. 

Congresswoman Julia Brownley announced an award of $3,806,152 for the City of Oxnard to replace aging cast iron waterline pipes at risk of failure throughout the city. The 60-year-old pipes have reached the end of their useful life, and are constantly in need of repairs, which is disruptive and costly to the residents of the city. With this funding, the city will be able to deliver clean water to the residents of Oxnard while creating good-paying jobs in the region.

Recently, Congresswoman Julia Brownley presented $963,000 to the County of Ventura to upgrade the region’s 15-year-old analog simulcast radio communications system. The funds will go toward establishing a state-of-the-art digital radio communication system which will utilize 700MHz frequencies. The upgraded radio system will be used by all public safety entities throughout the county to improve communications interoperability for public safety and first responder individuals as they respond to incidents and disasters.

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley announced the inclusion of 13 community projects totaling more than $10.3 million that she secured in the Fiscal Year 2024 funding bills for the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies. This legislation will ensure the federal government remains open, and it also includes targeted investments that address the climate crisis, strengthen critical infrastructure, provide essential resources to our local law enforcement agencies, and create good-paying jobs. 

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley announced Team Infect-ID, comprised of Jason Xie, David Wan, Vaibhav Sridhar, and George Wang of Oak Park High School, as the winner of the 2023 Congressional App Challenge for California’s 26th Congressional District. The student group created Infect-ID, an interactive app that helps visualize the spread of diseases to keep communities informed and safe.  

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley announced Christopher Laranang, a 10th grader from Oaks Christian School, as the winner of the 2023 Congressional Art Competition for California’s 26th Congressional District. 

On Tuesday, May 2, Congresswoman Julia Brownley delivered the following remarks at the designation ceremony for the newly renamed “John R. Hatcher III Post Office Building,” located at 1961 North C Street in Oxnard, California.

Brownley introduced legislation to designate a US Post Office in Oxnard the John R Hatcher 3rd Post Office Building, and the bill was signed into law on December 27, 2022 by President Biden.

On their way to line up on her deck, the sailors passed by the many guests in attendance, including Santa Barbara Mayor Randy Rowse, former fighter pilot and prisoner of war Captain Charlie Plumb, Congressmember Julia Brownley, Santa Barbara city councilmembers, uniformed naval officers, and family members.

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley announced that Ventura County teacher, Shannon Klemann, will be her guest at this year’s State of the Union Address, which will take place on Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at 9:00 PM Eastern/6:00 PM Pacific.

Ventura County’s teacher of the year will visit the U.S. Capitol Tuesday evening sporting a new blazer — colored Camarillo High blue — as a guest of Congresswoman Julia Brownley, D-Westlake Village, for the State of the Union.

On Wednesday, Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Westlake Village, and Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-Santa Barbara, applauded the FEMA approval. Both worked with county, state and federal officials in the weeks since the storms hit the area.