Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman Julia Brownley announced 26 bills as part of her legislative agenda for the 115th Congress.
The bills reflect the Congresswoman’s legislative priorities this term, which include better serving our nation’s heroes, investing in our infrastructure critical to growing our economy, and building stronger ladders of opportunity to lift up all Americans.
“From fixing our crumbling infrastructure, to providing pathways to higher paying jobs, to improving healthcare for our veterans – I am ready to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to move Ventura County and the nation forward.” said Rep. Julia Brownley.
Below is the list of bills on Rep. Julia Brownley’s legislative agenda for the 115th Congress:
Better Serving Our Nation’s Heroes
Improving VA Healthcare
• The Veterans Healthcare Improvement Act – Require the Government Accountability Office to continue to verify the accuracy and adequacy of the Department of Veterans Affairs budget for medical care
• The Expanding Care for Veterans Act – Expand research and education on, and delivery of, complementary and alternative medicine to veterans through the VA
• The Build a Better VA Act – Streamline the lease authorization process for new VA healthcare facilities to provide more care to veterans
• The Providing Veterans with Overdue Care Act – Authorize 24 log-jammed VA medical facility leases, including a proposed clinic in Oxnard, to provide much needed health care to underserved veterans
• The Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act – Phase in chiropractic care and services at all VA medical centers and improve the standard of care for veterans
• The CHAMPVA Children’s Protection Act – Allow children eligible for VA medical care to continue coverage up to age 26
Addressing Veteran Homelessness
• The Homes for Veterans Act – Encourage landlords to rent to homeless veterans who participate in the HUD-VASH voucher program
• The Helping Homeless Veterans Act – Reauthorize and make permanent homeless veterans assistance programs
• Homeless Veterans with Children Reintegration Act – Prioritize homeless veterans with dependent children for services under the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program
Providing Critical Healthcare Resources to Address Needs of Women Veterans
• Women Veterans Equal Access to Quality Care Act – Ensure that gender-specific services are continuously available at every VA medical center and community-based outpatient clinic
• Building Supportive Networks for Women Veterans Act – Make permanent the VA’s successful pilot program providing retreats for women veterans coping with PTS and other wounds of war
Providing Critical Resources for Our Nation’s Heroes
• Help Hire Our Heroes – Reauthorize the Veterans Retraining Assistance Program to help unemployed veterans find jobs
• The Protect Veterans from Financial Fraud Act – Ensure that every veteran participating in the VA Fiduciary Program can recover their benefits in cases of misuse and fraud
• VOW to Hire Heroes Extension Act – Extend and improve the work opportunity tax credit for hiring long-term unemployed veterans
• Veterans Access to Child Care Act – Expand and make permanent the VA’s popular Child Care Pilot program
• TSA Loose Change Act —Direct unclaimed funds left at security checkpoints to non-profits that provide rest and recuperation for servicemembers at airports
• Honoring Our Fallen TSA Officers Act – Ensure fallen TSA officers are eligible for the Public Safety Officer Benefits program
Investing in Our Infrastructure and Economy
• Support Local Transportation Act – Direct more federal transportation resources to local communities
• Start up in a Day Act – Permanently authorize the SBA “Start up in a Day” program to eliminate red tape and help small businesses succeed
• Veteran Small Business Access to Credit Act – Improve access to credit for veterans seeking to start or expand a small business
• Mortgage Debt Tax Forgiveness Act – Make permanent the income tax exclusion for mortgage debt relief
• Mortgage Insurance Tax Deduction Act – Make permanent the tax deduction for mortgage insurance premiums
Building Ladders of Opportunity for All Americans
• American Dream Employment Act – Permit Members of Congress to hire DREAMers
• American Manufacturing Jobs for Students Act – Improve school counseling programs to help young people find skilled jobs in 21st Century manufacturing
• Student Loan Repayment Assistance Act – Encourage businesses to offer student loan repayment plans
• Amend the Code for Marriage Equality Act – Amends the federal code to ensure marriage equality by removing gender-specific definitions of spouse
Issues: 115th Congress, Affordable Housing, Education, Transportation and Infrastructure, Veterans' Affairs