Women Veterans Task Force

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (CA-26), Chairwoman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health, and House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano (CA-41) issued the following statements after VA released a letter calling into question a Committee staffer’s allegations of sexual assault at a VA facility this September. In the letter, Secretary Wilkie claimed, “We believe that VA is a safe place for all Veterans to enter and receive care and services, but the unsubstantiated claims raised by you and your staff could deter our veterans from seeking the care they need and deserve.”

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village), Chairwoman of the Women Veterans Task Force, introduced the Reproductive Health Information for Veterans Act, which would ensure the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides veterans with comprehensive information about reproductive health care and services.

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley, Chairwoman of the Women Veterans Task Force, introduced the Women Veterans Therapeutic Transitional Residence in Urban Settings Act, also known as the TRUST Act, which would require the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to analyze the need for long-term, residential, women-specific drug and alcohol dependency treatment and rehabilitation programs, as well as carry out a related pilot program.

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Deborah Sampson Act, legislation authored by Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village), which will address inequities and barriers that women veterans face when accessing VA care and benefits. The bill is named after a Revolutionary War veteran, Deborah Sampson Gannett, who served in the Continental Army from 1782-1783 and was awarded a full military pension for her military service after years of petitioning Congress.

Today, the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee approved the Deborah Sampson Act, legislation authored by Health Subcommittee Chairwoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village), which will address inequities and barriers that women veterans face when accessing VA care and benefits. The bill is named after a Revolutionary War veteran, Deborah Sampson Gannett , who served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and who was awarded a full military pension for her military service.

Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-Westlake Village) introduced the Stop Harassment and Sexual Assault at VA Act, legislation urgently needed to implement a department-wide policy to stop harassment and sexual assault that too often occurs at U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities throughout the country.

Rep. Julia Brownley, D-Calif., on Monday introduced the Stop Harassment and Sexual Assault at VA Act, which would create a department-wide policy to stop “this epidemic of rampant” harassment and sexual assault Brownley says “too often occurs” at VA facilities nationwide.

Today, Congresswoman Brownley (D-Westlake Village), introduced a resolution to call for the establishment of “Forever” stamp series that will honor the service of the over two million women veterans who have served our nation.

Congresswoman Julia Brownley, D-Calif., introduced legislation Tuesday, hoping to create a “Forever” stamp series honoring 17 women in particular.

Yesterday, Chairwoman Brownley and the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health held a legislative hearing to discuss a package of bills, developed by the Women Veterans Task Force, to improve equity for the delivery of healthcare for women who have served in our nation’s Armed Forces.

Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA), Chairwoman of the Women Veterans Task Force, continued her efforts to identify and address the challenges facing women veterans by hosting a roundtable with the California Women Veterans Leadership Council and women veterans from throughout Ventura County.

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA), Chairwoman of the Women Veterans Task Force, 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.

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA), Chairwoman of the Women Veterans Task Force, hosted the first Women Veterans Task Force roundtable with a diverse group of women veterans who are current or past leaders in Veterans Service Organizations (VSOs) to discuss how to address and resolve representational challenges in our nation’s VSOs.

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health and Women Veterans Task Force, introduced the Women Veterans Equal Access to Quality Care Act, which would ensure that gender-specific services are continuously available at every VA medical center and community-based outpatient clinic for our nation’s women veterans.

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee’s new Women Veterans Task Force, announced the 48 members and participants of the bipartisan group of lawmakers that will work to promote inclusivity and equitable access to resources, benefits, and healthcare for women veterans.

Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley (D-CA), Chairwoman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health and Women Veterans Task Force, introduced the Building Supportive Networks for Women Veterans‎ Act, a bill that would expand and make permanent the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) pilot program on counseling in retreat settings for women veterans coping with post-traumatic stress (PTS) and other wounds of war.

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.