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 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.

  • August 2016
  • Skype with your doc? ‘Telehealth’ shortens wait times for vets in Ventura County

    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 […]

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  • Brownley sees challenges, progress on visit to Oxnard veterans clinic

    Rep. Julia Brownley got a firsthand look at the operations of Oxnard's outpatient facility for veterans on Tuesday, greeting patients and speaking with staff about their needs. The outpatient clinic on Universe Circle has been identified as having one of the worst backlogs for patient appointments. Compared to other Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinics, […]

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    Brownley and Wenstrup Examine Telemedicine in VA Healthcare

    Today, Rep. Julia Brownley (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, led a local hearing in Camarillo to discuss the use of telemedicine within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs healthcare system. Dr. Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), a subcommittee member, also attended the event.

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    Brownley Statement on Nearly 50 Percent Decline in Veteran Homelessness

    Rep. Julia Brownley released a statement after the Obama Administration’s announcement that the number of homeless veterans has decreased by nearly half since 2010.

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  • June 2016
  • Brownley’s bill to help prevent suicide among female veterans moves to president’s desk

    WASHINGTON — The House passed a measure Tuesday evening aimed at finding and implementing the best ways to prevent suicide by female military veterans. It is now headed to President Barack Obama to be signed into law. The House version of the measure was introduced last June by U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Westlake Village. The […]

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    Bill Requiring VA Study of Female Veterans’ Suicide Prevention Programs Heads to President Obama

    The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs will have to look at whether its suicide prevention programs are meeting female veterans’ needs under a California-led bill that passed the House on Tuesday afternoon.

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    Brownley Announces Passage of Her Bill to Prevent Female Veteran Suicides

    Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Female Veteran Suicide Prevention Act (S. 2487) with overwhelming bipartisan support.  The legislation would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to identify the most effective programs and approaches in reducing suicide rates among female veterans. House passage of the bill sends it directly to President Obama for signing.

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    Brownley Announces Additional Assistance for Homeless Veterans in Ventura County

    Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D – Westlake Village) is pleased to announce that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) awarded $113,700 to the City of San Buenaventura and the City of Oxnard to help homeless veterans transition into safe and affordable housing. The award will support 13 new housing vouchers that provide rental assistance for homeless veterans and will include access to supportive services.

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  • May 2016
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    Brownley Amendments Would Improve Health Care for Disabled Veterans

    Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) offered two amendments during a House Veterans’ Affairs Committee mark-up. The Brownley amendments would help veterans start families and improve health care services for catastrophically-disabled or blinded veterans.

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    Brownley Bill to Protect Veterans Passes Subcommittee

    Today, the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs (DAMA) approved Congresswoman Julia Brownley’s (D-Westlake Village) bill, the Protect Veterans from Financial Fraud Act (H.R. 2975). Brownley’s bill was approved as an amendment to the Fair Treatment for Families of Veterans Act (H.R. 4087).

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    Brownley Demands Plan of Action to Improve Oxnard Clinic

    Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) hosted a discussion with community stakeholders on the status of veterans’ healthcare services and plans for immediate improvements at the VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Oxnard.

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    Brownley to Host Discussion Regarding Oxnard CBOC

    On Monday, May 9, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) will host a discussion with community stakeholders on the status of veterans’ healthcare services and plans for immediate improvements at the VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) in Oxnard.

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  • April 2016
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    Brownley Statement on Final Review of Improper Handling of Veterans’ Claims

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

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    Brownley Presents Bronze Star to High School Teacher

    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. 

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  • Buena teacher receives Bronze Star for his wartime heroism 10 years ago

    With hundreds of students looking on, Buena High School social studies teacher Emmet S. Cullen received a Bronze Star with Valor on Thursday for his heroic actions 10 years ago during the Iraq War, when he was a sergeant in the U.S. Army. U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley came to the short midday ceremony in the […]

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  • March 2016
  • Shunned decades ago, Vietnam vets are honored and thanked

    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. […]

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  • Female armed forces veterans bound by service, sacrifice

    FINDING COMMON GROUND—Shawn Terris of Ventura, left, a veteran and former motor transport officer in the Marine Corps, expresses her concerns about sexual assaults in the military at U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley’s roundtable discussion March 10 at the Camarillo Library. Below, Connie Hanson, who is retired from the U.S. Air National Guard, discusses the transition […]

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  • Women veterans talk about assault, bias and identity crisis

    JUAN CARLO/THE STAR Shawn Terris of Ventura speaks to U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley in a roundtable event for women veterans in Camarillo. Terris served in the Marine Corps. Posted: March 10, 2016 JUAN CARLO/THE STAR U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley walks into a roundtable event for women veterans at the Camarillo Public Library. JUAN CARLO/THE STAR Mary […]

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