Veterans' Affairs

The first female combat veteran was wounded in action in 1782 while serving in George Washington’s army during the Revolutionary War. Deborah Sampson, disguised as a man, was shot twice in the leg. Terrified she would be discovered, she removed one of the bullets herself. Her leg never fully healed. After the war, she married and became a mother. While Congress granted her a pension in 1805, Deborah Sampson continued to struggle with the long-term health impacts of her combat wounds for the rest of her life.

Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) today announced the launch of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee’s new bipartisan Women Veterans Task Force and that Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), an Army veteran, will spearhead a corresponding effort in the Senate. The mission of the Task Force is to increase the visibility of the two million women veterans living in the United States and to promote inclusivity and equitable access to resources, benefits, and healthcare for women veterans.

The work of the task force will focus on culture, healthcare, economic opportunity and benefits access for women veterans, Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Calif., chairwoman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee’s subpanel on health, said at a Thursday press conference. 

The United States has nearly 2 million women veterans today, but but Rep. Julia Brownley thinks many Americans never really see them.

Today, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs launched a new bipartisan Women Veterans Task Force to increase the visibility of the two million women veterans living in the United States and to promote inclusivity and equitable access to resources, benefits, and healthcare for women veterans. The Task Force will be chaired by Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA), who is also the Chairwoman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Health Subcommittee.

Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) today spoke about her bill to support the survivors of Medal of Honor recipients during a House Veterans’ Affairs Disability and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee hearing. Under current law, the special pension awarded to a Medal of Honor recipient does not go to the survivors of the honoree. Brownley’s bill would rectify this injustice to take a small step to repay loved ones who have lost so much.

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) introduced three bills to help eradicate veteran homelessness nationwide.

Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA) today introduced legislation to allow children of disabled veterans to remain eligible for VA healthcare 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.