Local Issues

Congresswoman Julia Brownley released a statement regarding the final Department of Veterans Affairs Office of Inspector General review of improper handling of veterans’ claims.

On Thursday, April 7th, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) presented Sgt. Emmet Cullen, a local high school teacher, with the Bronze Star Medal that he earned during his service in Iraq. Sergeant Emmet Cullen, now a Buena High School social studies teacher, received the Bronze Star with Valor for his exceptional actions in protecting his platoon and saving the lives of fellow servicemembers during his deployment in Mosul, Iraq in 2006. 

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) hosted an event with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) Administrator Sarah E.Feinberg to announce a $1.5 million grant for the Rice Avenue rail safety project.  They were joined by other local officials to discuss this grant to the state of California to fund the design of a bridge to carry vehicular traffic on Rice Avenue over railroad tracks.

At the front of a room filled with Vietnam veterans, a blue banner offered this message Tuesday: “A grateful nation thanks and honors you.” Bill Rowley, wearing his Army 1st Calvary Division cap, remembered people glaring at him as he walked through a San Francisco airport on his way back from the Vietnam War in 1970. […]

On Saturday, March 19, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) will host an Income Tax Assistance Workshop in Oxnard. This free service is available to individuals who earned less than $54,000 in 2015. Representatives with the Office of the Taxpayer Advocate and Brownley staff will also be available to answer questions.

On Thursday, March 10, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) will host a roundtable with female veterans and key community stakeholders to discuss the unique experiences they have faced returning to civilian life and accessing VA healthcare and other benefits. 

On Wednesday, March 9, Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) will host a town hall event in Oak Park. The town hall will allow constituents, advocates and homeowners to discuss the final report on the Rim of the Valley Corridor Special Resources Study which examined the possibility of expanding the boundary of Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (SMMNRA) to include the Rim of the Valley. The report recommends a significant expansion of the existing recreation area, and has been delivered to Congress and the public.

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village), Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, is pleased to announce that the full committee approved H.R. 4590, legislation that would authorize a new 47,000 square foot, VA-run Community Clinic in Ventura County. 

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) announced $9.85 million in funding has been included in the President’s FY2017 budget request that will be made available to dredge Channel Islands Harbor and to replenish sand at Hueneme Beach.

Today, the House passed the surface transportation conference agreement, which included a number of priorities and amendments championed by Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village), which will invest in our highway, transit, and rail systems, creating jobs and growing Ventura County’s economy.

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) announced that the Port of Hueneme will receive a $12.3 million Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) grant from the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) announced that The Abundant Table in Oxnard will receive nearly $100,000 from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to increase access to locally-grown produce for low-income communities throughout Ventura County.

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley released a statement after learning of an arson attack on the Thousand Oaks Planned Parenthood clinic last night.

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D – Westlake Village) announced that the Port of Hueneme will receive $1,472,625 from the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) for wharf and berth infrastructure improvements.

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) announced that United Water Conservation District will receive $750,000 in funding to support the planning phase of the United Water Conservation District Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP). This grant is awarded through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services’ Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund (CESCF), and partially funded through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF).

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) announced that the Port of Hueneme received $532,000 through the Department of Homeland Security’s Fiscal Year 2015 Port Security Grant Program (PSGP).

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) announced that the Santa Paula Fire Department (SPFD) received a two-year grant for $912,976, funded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Staffing for Adequate Fire & Emergency Response (SAFER) program.

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) announced that the U.S. Department of Education has awarded two grants to local universities through the federal TRIO Student Support Services Program (SSSP) for student counseling in the 2015-2016 school year. Specifically, California State University, Channel Islands (CSUCI) was awarded $220,000 and California Lutheran University (Cal Lutheran) was awarded $248,925.