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.
- June 2023
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No Timeline for Trans Vet Surgeries, VA Says 2 Years After Announcing Coverage
“I cannot emphasize this enough: This care will save veterans’ lives,” Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Calif., said at a March news conference urging the VA to act faster to cover surgery for transgender veterans. “Time is of the essence.”
- May 2023
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| Press Releases
Brownley Introduces Legislation to Establish National Database to Better Serve Veteran Population
Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley announced the reintroduction of the Every Veteran Counts Act, which would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to establish and regularly update a database containing veterans’ demographic information to ensure VA programs and policies are designed to serve the changing population of veterans.
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Brownley, Miller Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Veteran Entrepreneurs
Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) and Congresswoman Carol Miller (R-WV) introduced the Veteran Entrepreneurs Act, which reduces barriers to entrepreneurship by lowering upfront costs for veterans operating small businesses.
- April 2023
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| Press Releases
Brownley Introduces Legislation to Expand Dental Care for Veterans
Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley announced the introduction of the Dental Care for Veterans Act, which would authorize the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide dental care to all veterans enrolled in the VA healthcare system.
- March 2023
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| Press Releases
Brownley, Brown Introduce Legislation to Expand Equitable Access to Veterans’ Children
Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley introduced the CHAMPVA Children’s Care Protection Act, legislation which would allow children of disabled veterans to remain eligible for VA health care until they are 26 years old – the same coverage required under the Affordable Care Act for private-sector insurance plans, as well as the military’s TRICARE program. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
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Transgender vets call for more protections from Congress, VA
“Allowing VA to provide gender affirming surgery isn’t just the right thing to do. It will undeniably save lives,” said Rep. Julia Brownley, R-Calif., during Wednesday’s rally.
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Brownley Applauds VA Mission Statement Change to Recognize All Veterans
Today, Congresswoman Brownley released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ announcement that its motto will be changed to the following: “To fulfill President Lincoln’s promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.”
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Brownley, Welch, and Stabenow Introduce Legislation to Increase Travel Reimbursement for Veterans
Today, Congresswoman Brownley introduced 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 and health conditions. Senators Peter Welch (D-VT) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) introduced companion legislation in the Senate.
- February 2023
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| Press Releases
Brownley Introduces Legislation to Provide Women Veterans Equal Access to Contraceptive Care
Today, Congresswoman Brownley introduced the Equal Access to Contraception for Veterans Act, legislation which would provide women veterans access to the same no-cost contraceptive care as their non-veteran counterparts.
- January 2023
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| Press Releases
Brownley Introduces Three Bills to Expand and Improve Veterans Health Care and Benefits
Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley introduced a legislative package of three bills to further advance her work to expand and improve health care for our nation’s veterans. The bills include the Elizabeth Dole Home- and Community-Based Services for Veterans and Caregivers Act of 2023, the Veterans Infertility Treatment Act of 2023, and the Department of Veterans Affairs Continuing Professional Education Modernization Act.
- November 2022
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“It’s About Truth and Accountability”: The Military Families Fighting the Feres Doctrine
This past July, he provided an overview of Patrick’s death to US congresswoman Julia Brownley, who represents California’s 26th District. Maharaj wrote that according to his analysis, the reports the military have done on Patrick’s death are “riddled with serious inconsistencies and blatantly false information about what happened to Patrick leading up to his death and relating to what ultimately caused his death.”
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VA needs to train employees on abortion rules to provide proper care and safety, House Democrats say
The report, which was released Monday, includes findings from site visits between Aug. 8 and Sept. 8 to VA medical centers in Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona, and Nevada by Takano and Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Calif., chairwoman of the House VA subcommittee on health and the Women Veterans Taskforce.
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Veterans gather to dedicate new VA clinic and honor its namesake pilot
In October, nearly four years after Mariner’s death to ovarian cancer, President Joe Biden signed legislation naming the new clinic for Mariner. Her name was recommended by an advisory panel of veterans and community leaders put together by U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Westlake Village, who helped lead the drive for the new clinic.
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Our veterans deserve better dental care
The Dental Care for Veterans Act proposed by Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) aspires to broaden dental coverage. Our veterans put their lives at risk for us without expecting anything in return. The very least we can do for them is to help protect their health—including their oral health, which is essential for their well-being.
- October 2022
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Women in military facing fertility issues; some say burn pits, toxic chemicals to blame
Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Calif., has made helping veterans dealing with toxic exposure central to her work on Capitol Hill, and she’s focused much of her attention on those hazardous burn pits.
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Ventura Veterans Affairs clinic named for trailblazing female pilot who ‘pushed the limits’
The clinic’s women’s health unit is the first standalone program of its kind in the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System with a separate entrance and waiting room. The program, and the clinic’s new name, are testament to the importance of women veterans, said U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Westlake Village. She led the drive for the clinic and wrote the bill naming it for Mariner.
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This former Marine from Lenox says the VA’s policy on travel costs is unfair
A bill filed in July by U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Calif., would adjust language in the Caregivers and Veterans Omnibus Health Services Act of 2010 to increase payments to veterans under what’s known as the beneficiary travel program. Instead of saying the secretary of defense “may” adjust the mileage rate, Brownley’s measure would require that increase to be “at least” equal to the rate set for use of privately owned vehicles by U.S. government employees.
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Biden Signs Brownley Bill to Name VA Clinic in Ventura County After Captain Rosemary Bryant Mariner
Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley issued the following statement regarding the recent enactment of legislation she authored to name the new U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Ventura County to Captain Rosemary Bryant Mariner.