Veterans' Affairs

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.

Today, Congresswoman Brownley reintroduced the Driver Reimbursement Increase for Veteran Equity (DRIVE) Act, which would increase the beneficiary travel mileage reimbursement rate for eligible veterans with service-connected disabilities. Senator Peter Welch introduced companion legislation in the U.S. Senate.

For 25 years, between 1951 and 1976, women service members were involuntarily separated from the military due to motherhood, leaving without separation benefits, counseling or assistance. In 2023, Congress recognized the injustice in its annual defense policy bill, acknowledging the harm it caused to women troops. Now, Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Calif., is leading legislation that aims to make financial and symbolic amends.

Congresswoman Julia Brownley announced the reintroduction of the Women Involuntary Separated Earnings Remittance (WISER) Act, legislation aimed at rectifying a wrong perpetuated against women servicemembers from 1951 to 1976.

Congresswoman Julia Brownley announced the reintroduction of a resolution supporting the naming of new or undedicated U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities after women veterans and minority veterans.

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.”

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley issued the following statement following House passage of the Elizabeth Dole 21st Century Veterans Healthcare and Benefits Improvement Act (H.R. 8371), a comprehensive package of bills to significantly expand and reform delivery of services at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs for veterans, service members, and their families.

The VEO bill introduced by Budzinski and Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Calif., requires the office to report data continuously to lawmakers and calls for a Government Accountability Office review of the efficacy of the VEO’s 1–800–MyVA411 hotline. The hotline offers information on VA benefits and can connect callers with experts.

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26) and Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) announced the introduction of the Improving Veterans Experience Act, a bill to codify the Veterans Experience Office (VEO) within the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Established in 2015, the VEO gathers feedback directly from veterans, their families, and caregivers on their experience with VA and incorporates the information to improve services.

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley announced the introduction of the Loved Ones Internment Act (H.R. 9804) to ensure that veterans can be laid to rest alongside their loved ones in national or veterans cemeteries.

Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) introduced the Women Involuntary Separated Earnings Remittance (WISER) Act last week to “rectify a wrong perpetuated against women servicemembers” who were discharged due to an executive order by former President Harry Truman.

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley introduced the Women Involuntary Separated Earnings Remittance (WISER) Act to rectify a wrong perpetuated against women servicemembers from 1951 to 1976.

Congresswoman Julia Brownley issued the following statement of disapproval after House passage of H.R. 8580, the FY2025 Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Funding Bill.

Congresswoman Julia Brownley announced the introduction of the VA Marriage and Family Therapists Equity Act, legislation which would expand access to professional therapists for veterans and their families. Specifically, this bill would remove an onerous regulation that limits the practice of nearly half of all the Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists (LMFTs) employed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).