Julia Brownley

Ms. BROWNLEY

Ms. BROWNLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Takano for his partnership and his efforts to bring this important bill for our Nation's disabled and aging veterans and their caregivers to the floor. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, Representative Bergman's and my bill, H.R. 542, the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act. I am so proud to have authored this legislation, which delivers the largest set of reforms to the VA's long-term care programs in decades. The bill will significantly expand access to the programs disabled and aging veterans need to live their lives at home and with their families. Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Veterans Affairs to provide access to all home- and community-based services, such as home health aides, home-based primary care, home skilled nursing, and respite care for caregivers to all veterans who need them. Currently, elderly and disabled veterans only have access to these programs if their VA medical centers choose to offer them. My bill would also require VA to improve care coordination between the Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers and VA's other home-based programs. If a veteran does not meet the enrollment criteria for the comprehensive caregiver program, VA would be required to proactively assist the veteran and their caregiver in enrolling in other home-based programs and ensure there is a warm handoff for those who do not qualify for the comprehensive caregiver program. Finally, my legislation would require VA to establish a public-facing website that will enable veterans and their loved ones to assess their eligibility for each of the home- and community-based services VA offers and provide information about how to access these services. I have served on the Veterans' Affairs Committee since my first term in Congress, and over the last 10 years, I have participated in at least five oversight hearings related to improving long-term care for our veterans. I have also spoken with countless veterans and their loved ones, and based on my experience, one thing is very clear: Almost every veteran would prefer to age at home rather than in a facility. However, for many veterans, doing so requires certain clinical support that can be prohibitively expensive if not covered by the VA. This bill would help address just that. Furthermore, it is important to really underscore this point: Home- and community-based care is far and away higher quality and cheaper to provide than institutional care. VA's veteran-directed care program can serve three veterans for every one who would be in institutionalized care at VA's expense. It is important to note that veterans who participate in this program are less likely to develop complications or to be hospitalized than those who do not. Yet, this program is currently not made available to all veterans. The Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act changes that. Passage of this legislation cannot wait any longer. Like so many families across the country, thousands of elderly and catastrophically disabled veterans and their families are having critical and often difficult conversations about their long-term care. They question whether they spend their lifesavings to keep their veterans at home or whether it is safer to go to a VA-funded nursing facility. H.R. 542 would help relieve this heartache and give families access to programs that will help veterans stay in their homes and receive the care they need, the care that they have earned, and the care that they deserve. I will repeat one more time that, most importantly, health outcomes prove to be far better at home compared to institutionalized care. Last week, 45 veterans service organizations, military service organizations, and community-based organizations sent a letter to House and Senate leadership, urging the swift passage of this bill and saying that, as the ranking member said, disabled veterans and their families cannot wait any longer. I could not agree more. Mr. Speaker, I would like to try to put a face to the experiences that so many disabled or aging veterans often go through and why this bill is so necessary. This bill is for the 40-year-old veteran who is quadriplegic and who may have to move into institutionalized care because VA won't provide the skilled nursing services that would help him remain at home. This bill is for the 50-year-old veteran with ALS who has three small children and wants to spend the remaining time he has with them at home. He shouldn't be forced to move into a long-term care facility because the cost of his care has gone over an arbitrary spending cap. This bill is for the Vietnam-era amputee who needs help getting dressed and preparing food but can otherwise live safely at home. He should not have to wait for Congress to act to get the care and assistance he needs. Moreover, this bill is for the Korean war veteran whose aging spouse can no longer provide the level of care she once did. They want to stay at home together. It is unconscionable this Congress would make them wait a moment longer. They need these services and support, and they need it now. I am, therefore, perplexed that when the majority brought H.R. 542 to the House floor, they chose to bring a version of the legislation that did not include the minor revisions that had been negotiated with our Senate counterparts. This means future House action will be warranted, which is truly inexcusable to me and the veterans, their families, and their caregivers who are waiting on passage of this bill. We had the opportunity to get this done before the end of the year, send it to the Senate, and then to the President's desk for enactment. When Representative Bergman and I first introduced this legislation, we named it after Senator Elizabeth Dole. She has done more for aging and disabled veterans and their caregivers in one lifetime than most of us could hope to do in several. It was introduced in February 2022, just a few months after the veteran she cared for, Senator Bob Dole, passed away. Tomorrow, we will mark the second anniversary of Senator Bob Dole's passing. It is a shame that we could not honor Senator Elizabeth Dole's example and life's work on this anniversary by sending a hotline-ready bill to the Senate that the President could sign before Christmas. It is shameful, and it is disrespectful, really, to play politics with a bill the veteran community wants so badly and a bill that is more cost- effective, provides better outcomes, and is what our Nation's veterans need and want. I hope we will soon be voting on the final passage of the bill language that the House and Senate have already agreed to and that veterans and their families so desperately need. All of us will, one day, have conversations about what we want our last years to look like. Our aging and disabled veterans have more than earned the right to have the option of living out these final years at home. Of all the things we owe these men and women, a peaceful and dignified life after their service to our country is the least we can do. I call on my colleagues to do right by these veterans. Put politics aside, keep families together, and keep veterans healthy and at home. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in voting for the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act, and I thank Ranking Member Takano and Representative Bergman for their work on this bill.

Ms. BROWNLEY

Ms. BROWNLEY. Mr. Speaker, I, too, support the renaming of the VA outpatient clinic in Hinesville, Georgia, after the four servicemembers who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country in Vietnam. Like a majority of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, I will support this bill because it is the right thing to do. This weekend, so many of us returned to our districts to honor the men and women who have served our Nation in uniform in theaters and eras from World War II to our veterans who served multiple deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. We recognized every man and woman who has answered the call to duty because it is the right thing to do. However, it is incumbent upon all of us in this Chamber to do more and to do better. Our words ring hollow if we don't do our part to fulfill our Nation's solemn promise to serve our veterans and their families as well as they have served our country. These words cannot only be spoken, but we must act upon them, live upon them. While I believe it is important that we recognize John Gibson, Dan James, William Sapp, and Frankie Smiley, I ask myself how do we best serve the next generation of our Nation's veterans? How do we show them the respect that they have shown us? How do we let them age with as much dignity as they deserve and as much as possible? Long-term care is one of the biggest challenges facing our aging population and their families. That is why I am calling on Speaker Johnson to bring before the House my bill, H.R. 542, the Elizabeth Dole Home Care Act, for a vote. This bill, which has overwhelming bipartisan, bicameral support and passed out of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee unanimously almost 4 months ago, would be a fitting honor for the service and sacrifice of the Vietnam veterans advocating for this bill. It would be the single largest expansion of long-term care services at VA in decades. It would impact nearly every veteran living with catastrophic disabilities or living with the effects of aging. Currently, every veteran enrolled in VA has the right to nursing home care if clinically eligible, but it is important to note that nursing homes are not where veterans want to live their golden years. They want to be home. They want to be with their families. They want to be in their communities and with their communities. I doubt there is a person here today who has not grappled with how best to care for an aging or disabled loved one. Every veteran should have the right to dignity in their later years. VA home- and community-based services enable veterans to do just that. However, these services are not available at all VA medical centers, and my bill changes that. In addition to listening to what veterans want, home- and community- based services are also a far less expensive option for taxpayers and an investment in the elder care infrastructure this country so desperately needs. Even more important is, the health outcomes of those who are cared for at home are far, far better than the outcomes of those who receive care in an institution. The chairman spoke about the Elizabeth Dole bill and said that CBO has scored it in a way that has caused him to have to revisit the bill. I don't know what he means because we got a CBO score. We had one CBO score that was astronomical. Then, finally, we won with CBO, and CBO went back and looked at the bill again and said, oh, no, it is just a very minimal cost. The beauty of this bill is the health outcomes of veterans are much better, it is less expensive than institutionalized care, and we can use that money to invest in other programs for our veterans. As you all know too well, our healthcare system is facing a silver tsunami as the largest generation, baby boomers, enter their later years. VA is not exempt from this tsunami, and preparation is critical. Almost half of VA's patient population is over 65. Without an aggressive expansion of home care, in the next 15 years, VA will have doubled its spending on institutional, long-term care services, nearing $15 billion, to meet these needs. Without the option of receiving care at home, veterans will have to languish on wait lists or move to facilities far away from their families. All this aside, the Elizabeth Dole act is the right thing to do right now. As both Chairman Bost and Ranking Member Takano have stated, this is the right time. The Elizabeth Dole act is the right bill for this Congress to pass and move forward. It is too late for this bill to go to the President's desk before Veterans Day, as I had hoped, but we cannot delay any further. Our veterans, their caregivers, and their families cannot wait any longer. To further delay this bill is really absolutely cruel. Let us work together. Let's work with Senator Elizabeth Dole to fulfill our promise to America's veterans. Let us act, and let us act now, Mr. Speaker.

Ms. BROWNLEY

Ms. BROWNLEY. Madam Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I come before this body to remember the 12 innocent lives lost 5 years ago today at Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, California. Our community was forever changed by this tragedy inflicted by the plague of gun violence that continues to permeate every corner of our country. While House Republicans wasted precious time fighting with each other over electing a new Speaker for 21 days and 21 hours, there were 33 more mass shootings, 1,030 people died from gun violence, and another 2,072 people were injured. Within hours of Speaker Johnson being elected, there was a mass shooting in Maine that resulted in the tragic loss of 18 lives and left 13 others injured. Madam Speaker, the American people are no longer satisfied with empty offers of thoughts and prayers in times of such tragedies. They want action, not meaningless words. In memory of the Borderline 12, I call on Speaker Johnson and my Republican colleagues to bring commonsense, lifesaving gun safety legislation, including a ban on assault weapons, to the floor now.

Ms. BROWNLEY

Ms. BROWNLEY. Mr. Chair, had I been present, I would have voted ``no'' on rollcall No. 579. Amendment No. 86 Offered by Mr. Crane

Ms. BROWNLEY

Ms. BROWNLEY. Mr. Chair, this year marks 50 years since our country stopped drafting citizens into service and began instituting an all- volunteer force. Unfortunately, today's military is facing significant recruitment challenges. That can be detrimental to the security of our great Nation. Seeking to limit the reproductive rights and freedom of America's servicewomen only exacerbates the issue. Why would a woman who takes an oath to defend our Nation do so when House Republicans stand in this Chamber attacking their bodily autonomy? Today, women make up about 20 percent of our Armed Forces, and our military is stronger because of their contribution. It is important to note that servicewomen experience higher unintended pregnancy rates than their civilian counterparts, largely due to limited access to contraceptive services and the inexcusable high degree of sexual assault. It is an appalling reality that nearly one in four female servicemembers have reported sexual harassment during their careers. That my Republican colleagues would force a woman raped by her superior to pay for her own travel to access abortion care is beyond appalling. This amendment is a shameful politicization of our military, and it is using our servicemembers as pawns in an ideological debate.

Ms. BROWNLEY

Ms. BROWNLEY. Madam Speaker, this week, during National Police Week, House Republicans are again exploiting law enforcement for political gain rather than helping law enforcement with real policy. House Republicans are using messaging bills to nowhere to trick the public into thinking they support law enforcement while turning around and stripping communities of the funds necessary to support local law enforcement agencies across the country. It was only 2 weeks ago that House Republicans voted to slash funding for law enforcement by 22 percent. That would decimate local law enforcement agencies nationwide while leaving our streets unsafe and our communities vulnerable. I call on my colleagues to reject the empty rhetoric, and instead, work with House Democrats to provide the resources necessary to actually support our law enforcement officers and their mission to protect and serve our families and our communities.

Ms. BROWNLEY

Ms. BROWNLEY. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2, House Republicans' so-called border security bill, is yet another glaring example of the false outrage exhibited by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. As they speak blatant mistruths about concerns over Americans' safety, they turn a blind eye to the deadly epidemic of gun violence within our borders. Instead, House Republicans clamor around a bill that guts the U.S. asylum process and eliminates any realistic pathways to legal immigration. Their proposal costs the American people $6.1 billion and does nothing to increase border security personnel. In fact, the bill would pay for the former President's vanity project, an expensive and ineffective wall that would make our Nation more vulnerable to drug and human trafficking. It is with a deep understanding that we are a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants that House Democrats are working to pass comprehensive immigration reform that will protect our communities, the American people, and the American Dream.

Ms. BROWNLEY

Ms. BROWNLEY. Mr. Speaker, in the spirit of National Infertility Awareness Week, I rise to bring greater awareness to infertility and to express my solidarity and support for individuals and families facing this difficult disease. As you may know, National Infertility Awareness Week was founded in 1989 to salute the parents, doctors, researchers, and others for the extraordinary progress over the last four decades to destigmatize infertility and bring awareness to the many barriers people face when trying to start and build their families. Most Americans are not aware that approximately one in five Americans are impacted by the disease of infertility. The disease affects both men and women of all races, religious backgrounds, and economic status; it knows no barriers and impacts millions of individuals. Through the revolutionary contributions of research scientists and considerable medical advancements, fertility treatments have vastly improved since the first successful IVF pregnancy and live birth occurred in 1978. Such advancements include early infertility detection through detailed and data-driven testing, advanced egg-freezing technology, and progressive procedures that allow young cancer patients to preserve their fertility prior to undergoing lifesaving chemotherapy treatments. Organizations like RESOLVE: the National Infertility Association, advocate for millions of individuals and couples in this country who need medical assistance to have a family. Other groups, such as the Military Family Building Coalition (MFBC), have focused on raising awareness for active-duty service members and their spouses facing unique challenges with family building. They are actively working to bring awareness to these unique challenges and advance laws and policies that will help our servicemembers sacrificing for our country achieve their dream of building or expanding their own family. There are also organizations such as the Alliance for Fertility Preservation, who stand up to voice on the importance of affordable fertility preservation options for individuals undergoing cancer treatment. In fact, in the absence of comprehensive and reliable fertility preservation and family building healthcare coverage, the option of having children may not otherwise be available for millions of Americans without the financial assistance of organizations like RESOLVE, AFP, and MFBC, and countless other worthwhile organizations. Since 1978, and because of extraordinary medical advancements and steadfast advocacy organizations, millions of Americans have been able to receive life affirming treatments that have resulted in the delivery of babies. And while advancements have been a substantial step forward for family building, significant medical, financial, and health equity barriers still exist for others who require medical assistance to combat infertility. During this National Infertility Awareness Week, I am calling on my colleagues in Congress to do more to remove many of the barriers that currently exist for those experiencing infertility challenges in their pursuit of having a child. The ability to have children and the timing of building a family is a basic human right, and thus we must work together to pass legislation to create a path for these American families. I also applaud my colleagues including Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz, Congresswoman DeLauro, Congresswoman Strickland, and Congressman Rick Larsen for joining me in introducing legislation devoted to eliminating obstacles to building families. I salute the millions of infertility warriors throughout the country and the world, who advocate on behalf of that most precious of gifts, that of family.

Ms. BROWNLEY

Ms. BROWNLEY. Mr. Speaker, House Republicans' ineffectual and outright wrong economic policies are bringing our country to the brink of default and opening the door to crippling financial hardships for America's working families. In addition to catapulting our Nation into economic instability, the House Republican default on America bill will cause unemployment to double, the stock market to crash, and mortgage and student loan rates to skyrocket. The Republican budget cuts vital funding to schools, forces communities to lay off thousands of first responders, and increases housing costs. Rather than discuss the budget in good faith, Republicans are intent on holding the full faith and credit of the United States hostage. Under the guise of responsible spending, Republicans are destroying our economy and putting the lives and livelihood of millions of Americans at risk in the process. House Democrats stand united in working for the people and building an economy that lowers costs, creates good-paying jobs, and makes communities safer.

Ms. BROWNLEY

Ms. BROWNLEY. Mr. Speaker, the number one cause of death for children in America is gun violence. Yet, instead of making our schools safer and creating environments for children to thrive, House Republicans are focusing their attention on harmful political rhetoric. Today's passage of H.R. 5 politicizes classrooms and facilitates the censorship of American stories, American experiences, and factual American history. To unreasonably limit the scope of our children's knowledge and to dilute their critical thinking abilities is an immense disservice to America's children and to our country's future. Instead of solving real problems, House Republicans are simply trying to distract the American people with divisive political stunts and empty culture wars. I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to work with House Democrats to pass legislation that will actually help America's children, not exploit them to further divide Americans for political gain.

Ms. BROWNLEY

Ms. BROWNLEY. Mr. Speaker, while working families are facing economic challenges, House Republicans continue to prioritize political stunts. This week, Republicans have taken to the House floor to support efforts that disseminate extreme MAGA conspiracy theories and encourage the spread of foreign propaganda and harmful online content that undermine our democracy. House Republicans are also using committee hearings to dehumanize the LGBTQ community--promoting hateful and dangerous rhetoric. House Democrats will always put people over politics, and we continue to work to build on the economic gains we have made over the last 2 years. House Democrats continue to work to lower costs and invest in America--all while reducing the Federal deficit. It is past time for House Republicans to stop playing the politics of demonization and work for the American people and work for their interests.

Ms. BROWNLEY

Ms. BROWNLEY. Mr. Speaker, as President Biden laid out at the State of the Union, House Democrats and the Biden administration have delivered for the American people. Because House Democrats put people over politics, our economy saw the creation of more than 12 million new jobs in the past 2 years. We enacted landmark legislation that made historic investments in infrastructure and lowered costs for America's working families, all while decreasing the deficit by more than $1.7 trillion. We are rebuilding our economy and American pride by reigniting the spirit of American manufacturing and industrial strength. As Members of Congress, we have a responsibility to strengthen the middle class, fix our crumbling infrastructure, safeguard Social Security and Medicare, protect reproductive freedom, uphold our promise to our Nation's veterans, and create a fair economy that works for all Americans. House Democrats are committed to finishing the job and continuing to work and deliver for the people.

Ms. BROWNLEY

Ms. BROWNLEY. Mr. Speaker, this week marks the 83rd anniversary of the first Social Security check being issued. Since then, Democrats have worked to protect and strengthen Social Security, which has kept seniors from poverty and helped ensure a secure economic future for working Americans. This year, Social Security beneficiaries received an 8.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment, the largest increase in decades. While 70 million Americans are benefiting from this increase today, Republicans are working hard to slash Social Security and Medicare. To add further insult to injury, the Republican economic scheme includes a 30 percent sales tax that will impact every American family. Our children, our families, and our seniors do not deserve to carry the undue financial burden of Republican tax breaks for large corporations and billionaires. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to realign their priorities and start working for the people.

Ms. BROWNLEY

Ms. BROWNLEY. Mr. Speaker, how are House Republicans working for America's working families struggling to make ends meet? By pursuing an economic scheme that raises their taxes and increases their everyday costs. The very first bill that House Republicans passed was a break for tax cheats that also benefited large corporations and billionaires while adding $114 billion to the deficit. Last time Republicans controlled the House, they enacted a $2 trillion tax cut for the 1 percent and big corporations. All the while, House Democrats continue to work to hold large corporations accountable and ensure they are paying their fair share. We are working to strengthen the middle class by creating good-paying jobs, lowering middle-class taxes, and protecting Social Security and Medicare because we understand that a strong middle class is essential to a strong economy, to a strong democracy, and to a strong America.

Ms. BROWNLEY

Ms. BROWNLEY. Mr. Speaker, last week, House Republicans sadly displayed their incoherent and chaotic approach toward governing in this country. But when it comes to ripping away the reproductive rights and freedoms of women across the country, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have never been more united. Despite the many immediate challenges facing our country, their priority was to criminalize abortion care and to put the health of women at risk. The party that claims they want government out of our lives could not move more quickly to put the government and politicians in charge of one of the most personal decisions a woman can ever make. Listening to my colleagues pontificate about the sanctity of life while attempting to take away life-saving healthcare for millions of women is appalling. I am proud to stand with House Democrats to continue to fight for reproductive freedom and reproductive justice and the right to abortion across the United States.

Ms. BROWNLEY

Ms. BROWNLEY. Mr. Speaker, this summer the Supreme Court issued the Dobbs decision, a direct assault on the right to safe and legal abortion. In a disturbing concurrence to an already dangerous decision, Justice Clarence Thomas attacked Obergefell v. Hodges, which underpins the right to marriage equality. With the right to marry potentially at risk, House Democrats put people over politics and took action to protect marriage equality for all Americans. The Respect for Marriage Act prevents right-wing extremists from overturning legal precedent and ensures statutory protections for same- sex and interracial marriages across the country. While extremist Republicans continue their path to destroy American freedom and challenge the legitimacy of LGBTQ families, Democrats are protecting American people's right to marry who they love. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this crucial bill to safeguard same-sex and interracial marriages, and I look forward to seeing President Biden sign this bill into law to protect and respect the right to marriage equality across our country.

Ms. BROWNLEY

Ms. BROWNLEY. Madam Speaker, there is perhaps no greater threat to our future than the climate crisis. House Democrats understand the severity of this existential threat and the harm it poses to the American people, our health, our national security, and our economic prosperity. That is why House Democrats have championed comprehensive and sustainable investments in a clean energy future. Our efforts were relentless to secure passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which includes historic investments in climate action. By investing in smart policies for clean, secure American energy production, this law makes monumental strides in fighting the climate crisis, all while creating millions of good-paying jobs. While congressional Republicans remain occupied with lining the pockets of Big Oil, global corporations that saw record profits while Americans struggled to make ends meet, Democrats remain steadfast in putting people over politics as we continue to work to protect our planet and a strong, prosperous future for working families.

Ms. BROWNLEY

Ms. BROWNLEY. Madam Speaker, from day one, House Democrats have worked for the people and passed historic legislation to address the challenges facing our country, and clearly, the American people resoundingly supported our efforts. Democrats passed the CHIPS and Science Act that makes significant investments in American manufacturing, which is the backbone of our economy and drives job creation. Democrats passed the Inflation Reduction Act to lower costs at the pharmacy counter, in the grocery aisles, and at the gas pump. This landmark legislation also delivers the most significant action on climate in history, while reducing the deficit. Democrats passed the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to fix our roads and public transit systems. This is one of the largest Federal investments in our Nation's infrastructure and is laying the foundation for strong economic growth by creating millions of good- paying jobs. While congressional Republicans play politics at the expense of our democracy, Democrats remain steadfast in putting people over politics, and we will continue to deliver transformational investments for America's working families.

Ms. BROWNLEY

Ms. BROWNLEY. Madam Speaker, I thank the chairman of the committee and the ranking member for being so supportive of this bill. I also thank Speaker Pelosi and Majority Leader Hoyer, and every member of the California delegation, for their support. As the chair and ranking member mentioned, my bill, H.R. 7698, will name the new VA outpatient clinic in Ventura County after Captain Rosemary Bryant Mariner. This new VA clinic has been a long time in the making. Since I was elected to Congress, I have been working to expand VA services in Ventura County to ensure that our veterans have access to the timely and quality care that they have earned and deserve. When I first came to Congress, it was clear that Ventura County veterans were being deeply underserved by the undersized and understaffed local VA clinic, so I immediately set out to work to correct the situation. While I was able to secure improvements to the facility that existed, it was clear that the large veteran population in our region needed a much larger facility and one run by VA personnel, personnel that understood them and understood their experiences. That was critically important. Although the road to passing legislation to authorize a new facility was long, in 2017, my legislation was signed into law. This new clinic will be better equipped to deliver high-quality healthcare to a growing community of veterans living in Ventura County and in the area. Importantly, the new clinic will have VA personnel and will offer expanded services and more specialty care, like dental care, physical therapy, rehabilitation services, optometry, audiology, podiatry, cardiology, and other services. Getting the new facility open has been my highest priority in Congress, and I am very, very excited that it will be opening next Tuesday, September 27. I am very grateful for the work of all the dedicated VA personnel in our region, who have been laser focused on getting this new facility opened and hiring all the necessary staff it needs. Already, the reviews from local veterans who have toured the new facility have been very positive. I am hopeful that as veterans begin to get care at the facility, it will be truly transformative in their lives. As chair of the Women Veterans Task Force, I am also especially pleased that the new clinic will be one of the first VA clinics in the country, and the very first in the greater Los Angeles area, with a women-only entrance. Since the Revolutionary War, millions of women have served in the Armed Forces of the United States. However, when they leave the military, they are often invisible, and far too many women leave military service with the scars of military sexual trauma. The women- only entrance will ensure that our women veterans can feel safe and welcomed and, hopefully, never feel discouraged from seeking the care they need. While opening this clinic has been my highest priority, I also believe that naming the clinic will provide us with yet another opportunity to recognize the service and sacrifice of our women veterans. Women comprise the fastest growing and most diverse demographic in both the military and veteran populations. Through my work in Congress, I am constantly reminded that women are the most visible while serving and the most invisible when they return to civilian life. This is symbolized, sadly, by the lack of VA facilities named after women veterans. In fact, of the 1,255 VA healthcare facilities, only two facilities have been named in honor of women veterans--only two. To address this, I convened a local citizens advisory panel comprised of veterans and community leaders to select a woman veteran for whom we could name the new clinic, and they selected Captain Rosemary Bryant Mariner. Captain Mariner, a former resident of Ventura County, joined the Navy in 1973, where she became a member of the Navy's first flight training class for women. In 1974, she was one of six women to earn her wings and, the following year, became the first female naval aviator to fly a jet attack aircraft. Captain Mariner was named commander of the Naval Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 34 at Naval Air Station Point Mugu in Ventura County, California. The unit was 30 percent female and made Captain Mariner the first woman to command an operational air squadron. Throughout her career, Captain Mariner was a passionate advocate for women in the military, leading the Women Military Aviators and working with Congress and the Department of Defense to lift restrictions barring women from flying in combat. I could not be more pleased that the House is taking up my bill to honor Captain Rosemary Bryant Mariner. This bill and this clinic send a critically important message to our women veterans, and that is: We see you. Madam Speaker, for these reasons, I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on the bill.

Ms. BROWNLEY

Ms. BROWNLEY. Mr. Speaker, I know the American people are feeling the effects of higher prices. That is why Congressional Democrats continue our work to provide relief to America's working families who are struggling to make ends meet by putting people over politics and passing the Inflation Reduction Act. This historic life-changing legislation significantly lowers healthcare costs for America's seniors by enabling Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices and by capping Medicare out-of-pocket expenses to $2,000 every year. The Inflation Reduction Act tackles rising costs and inflation by ensuring big corporations pay their fair share of taxes which will, in turn, reduce the national debt. The legislation also makes the largest investment ever in fighting the climate crisis by investing in clean and secure energy production and manufacturing, while creating good- paying American jobs for the future. Congressional Republicans are too busy trying to score political points rather than working with us to solve today's challenges. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to join us in working for the people.

Ms. BROWNLEY

Ms. BROWNLEY. Madam Speaker, the American people are feeling the effects of rising costs. As these costs continue to put pressure on the pockets of America's working families, House Democrats are working tirelessly to provide relief. When gas prices soared earlier this year, House Democrats took action to fight price gouging at the pump. House Democrats took action to lower insulin costs and ensure that lifesaving prescriptions do not send families into bankruptcy. As food prices rose, House Democrats took action to reduce prices for American farmers and lower prices for families in the grocery aisles. But our work is far from over. We understand that prices are too high and Americans are struggling to make ends meet. Fighting inflation and lowering costs for families remains our top priority. Republicans have tried to obstruct bills to cut costs to earn political points at the expense of hardworking American families. It is time to put people before politics. House Democrats are working for America's working families, and it is time my Republican colleagues do the same.

Ms. BROWNLEY

Ms. BROWNLEY. Mr. Speaker, I am so very proud to announce that the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs once again authorized the Women Veterans Task Force, which has been instrumental in helping Congress develop and pass impactful legislation that is greatly improving the lives of women veterans across the country. Since its establishment in 2019, the task force has built a powerful women veterans outreach network through convening bipartisan meetings with community advocates, veterans service organizations, stakeholders, and individual veterans. The Deborah Sampson Act, the task force's signature achievement and one of the most comprehensive pieces of legislation for women veterans in our history, is the result of this direct insight. The authorization of the task force will further advance our mission to increase the visibility of women veterans and promote inclusivity and true equity for the 2 million women who have served our Nation in uniform. As chair of the Women Veterans Task Force, I am proud to continue our work to recognize the service and sacrifice of America's women veterans.

Ms. BROWNLEY

Ms. BROWNLEY. Madam Speaker, last month, the extreme and radical wing of the Republican Party and the Supreme Court took a dangerous and detrimental strike against women's reproductive rights by overturning Roe v. Wade and dismantling decades of healthcare and privacy protections, and they are not stopping there. In his opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas threatened American women that the Supreme Court will no longer protect the right to birth control. Nearly all women in the United States use contraceptives at least once during their lifetime and an estimated 65 percent of women use a form of birth control every single day. This is but another egregious component of the radical Republican agenda to restrict women's rights and the fundamental right to her bodily autonomy. This is why I am supporting the Right to Contraception Act, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' to protect access to birth control. House Democrats will not be deterred in the fight for the health, safety, and reproductive freedom of women and every American.

Ms. BROWNLEY

Ms. BROWNLEY. Madam Speaker, recently the Supreme Court took an unprecedented, deeply disappointing, and ideologically driven action to overturn Roe v. Wade. This is a targeted attack on Americans' rights to make decisions for their bodies, their lives, and their future. This decision sets a very dangerous precedent for our Nation's highest court and is the result of a premeditated agenda from radical conservatives to dismantle access to comprehensive reproductive care. The decision to have an abortion is a deeply personal one, one that should be made between a patient and their doctor, not by politically motivated judges or politicians. Roe offered Americans protections from the unsolicited belief systems and the ideologies of others being imposed on them and their personal healthcare decisions. I am committed to continuing to work alongside House Democrats and President Biden in the fight for reproductive freedom and reproductive justice and the right to abortion across the United States.

Ms. BROWNLEY

Ms. BROWNLEY. Mr. Speaker, it was once said: ``The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively.'' By this definition, John R. Hatcher, III, was a great man. As the founding father of the Ventura County chapter of the NAACP, John was guided by his passion for social justice, and he was a champion for diversity, equality, and civil rights. An Air Force veteran, a civil servant, an extraordinary citizen, our community is forever grateful for his immeasurable contributions. For these reasons, I thank my colleagues for supporting the passage of H.R. 5659, which will designate the post office in Oxnard, California, as the John R. Hatcher, III, Post Office. This bill is but a small measure of appreciation that recognizes John and his life's work, and I urge the bill's swift consideration before the Senate.