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.
- March 2019
-
Brownley Talks Healthcare, Infrastructure and Veterans’ Issues
When she’s on the job in Washington, D.C., nearly 3,000 miles separate U.S. Rep. Julia Brownley from her constituents in Ventura County.
-
| Press Releases
Brownley Introduces Bill to Expand VA’s Holistic Medical Services to Reduce Opioid Use and Better Treat Wounds of War
Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, today introduced a bill that would improve access and research at VA for evidence-based complementary and integrative medicine – services that may include animal-assisted therapy, acupuncture, and hypnosis – aimed at helping our nation’s veterans reduce dependence on opioids and better treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), chronic pain, and other conditions.
-
| Press Releases
Brownley Introduces Two Bills to Fix VA Funding Process & Ensure Veterans Get Care They Need
Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee, today introduced two bills to ensure that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has the resources it needs to care for America’s heroes. The Veterans Healthcare Improvement Act would require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct an independent audit of VA’s medical care budget so that Congress can ensure there are enough resources for veterans to get the care they’ve earned and deserve. The Build a Better VA Act would fix a bureaucratic budgeting rule that is an unnecessary roadblock to quickly expanding veterans’ access to VA care in underserved communities across the nation.
- February 2019
-
| Press Releases
House Passes Brownley Bill to Expand Child Care Program to Improve Veterans’ Access to Healthcare
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Veterans’ Access to Child Care Act (H.R. 840), a bill introduced by Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee, to break down barriers for veterans to access healthcare. This legislation will make permanent the VA’s Child Care Pilot Program and expand it so that veterans across the nation who are parents, grandparents, or other caretakers of young children have a convenient, cost-free child care option when they have VA medical appointments. Congressman Brian Higgins (D-NY) was the original co-sponsor of the bill, and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced similar legislation in the Senate on Monday.
-
| Press Releases
Brownley Testifies on Veterans’ Access to Child Care Act Before Rules Committee
Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee, testified before the House Rules Committee on her bill, the Veterans’ Access to Child Care Act (H.R. 840), which is on the House floor this week.
- January 2019
-
| Press Releases
Brownley and Higgins Introduce Bill to Expand Child Care Program to Improve Veterans’ Access to Healthcare
Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA), newly elected Chairwoman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee, introduced the Veterans’ Access to Child Care Act, legislation which would make permanent the VA’s Child Care Pilot Program and expand it so that veterans across the nation who are primary caretakers have a convenient, cost-free option for child care when they have VA medical appointments. Congressman Brian Higgins (D-NY) is an original co-sponsor of the bill.
-
| Press Releases
Brownley Elected Chairwoman of House Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee
Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) released a statement today after she was elected by her Democratic colleagues on the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee to serve as Chairwoman of the Health Subcommittee.
-
| Press Releases
Brownley Introduces Bill to Protect Veterans from Financial Fraud and Abuse
Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) introduced the Protect Veterans from Financial Fraud Act, legislation that will help ensure that veterans who are unable to manage their own financial affairs are better protected from fraud and abuse.
-
Political Roundup | January 2019
Congresswoman Julia Brownley, D-Westlake Village, has hit the ground running as part of the new Democratic majority in the U.S. House with several new bills aimed at addressing local and national issues.
-
| Press Releases
Brownley Introduces Job Training and Entrepreneurship Bills to Help More Veterans Achieve American Dream
Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) today introduced a trio of bills to help our nation’s heroes achieve the American Dream through job training and improved access to entrepreneurship.
-
| Press Releases
Brownley and Walorski Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Help More Veterans Become Entrepreneurs
Today, Representatives Julia Brownley (D-CA) and Jackie Walorski (R-IN) introduced the Veteran Entrepreneurs Act, legislation to help veterans achieve the American Dream by reducing barriers often in the way of starting a small business. The bill lowers up-front costs for veterans opening a franchise — a good option for first-time small business owners because of the built-in support — by cutting red tape and creating a tax credit to cover 25 percent of initial franchisee fees.
-
New Year, New Push to Get Dental Care for Veterans
With 2018 now gone, and with it the 115th Congress, federal lawmakers left a lot on the table that would help veterans nationwide. One such bill would require the VA to provide dental care. The legislation, which was reintroduced by Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) on Jan. 3, require the VA to provide dental care to veterans, just as they provide medical care.
-
| Press Releases
Brownley Sworn In to 116th Congress; Priorities Include Restoring Democracy, Serving Women Veterans, Addressing Climate Change
Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) released a statement today after she was sworn in to the 116th Congress.
-
| Press Releases
Brownley Introduces Bill to Help Homeless Veterans With Children Find Safe Housing
On the first day of the 116th Congress, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) introduced the Homeless Veteran Families Act, legislation to help homeless veterans with children find a safe place to live.
-
Brownley-Wenstrup Bill to Fight Veteran Homelessness Signed into Law
This week, the Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Programs Reauthorization Act, legislation co-authored by Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) and Congressman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH) to fight veteran homelessness by strengthening job training programs, was signed into law. The bill passed Congress as part of the Veterans Benefit and Transition Act of 2018.
- December 2018
-
| Press Releases
Brownley-Wenstrup Bill to Fight Veteran Homelessness Passes House
Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Programs Reauthorization Act, legislation co-authored by Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) and Congressman Brad Wenstrup (R-OH), to fight veteran homelessness by strengthening job training programs. This bill was passed as part of the Veterans Benefit and Transition Act of 2018, and it is expected to pass the Senate and be signed into law in the coming days.
- October 2018
-
Trump Awards Medal of Honor to Vietnam Vet for Saving Lives During Tet Offensive
Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.), who represents the district Canley calls home, said in an interview that several men who served with Canley in Vietnam brought his case to her office in 2014.
-
Heroic Vietnam Veteran Receives Medal Of Honor For Saving More Than 20 Marines
Rep. Julia Brownley (D-Calif.) wrote the necessary legislation to upgrade Canley’s Navy Cross after Defense Secretary James Mattis wrote her in December that Congress would have to waive the law requiring Medals of Honor to be awarded within five years of the actions justifying the award.