Newsletter: New VA Clinic for Ventura County in FY2016 Budget

Statement

Dear Friend,

Since I first came to Congress, I have worked tirelessly to expand veterans' access to healthcare in Ventura County. That is why I am very pleased to announce that the President's FY2016 budget request for the Department of Veterans Affairs includes a new 47,200 square foot VA community clinic in Oxnard.

One of the main reasons why I asked to serve on the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs was to be in a position to best advocate for our local veterans. It was clear to many in our region that the existing Community-Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC) was not meeting the growing needs of our region's veterans.

Over the past two years, I have fought to improve access to care at the Oxnard CBOC. Since that time, the CBOC has nearly doubled its full-time mental health staff, expanded its facility so more veterans can be served, and put a VA management team on the ground to increase accountability.

While these improvements have helped veterans in our region, the new Oxnard community clinic proposed in the FY2016 budget will better ensure that they can access the services and care they have earned and deserve closer to home. The new clinic will offer specialty care services like optometry, audiology, dermatology, physical therapy, mental health, and gastroenterology, which are in high demand.

Getting the new community clinic included in the VA's Strategic Capital Investment Plan is only the first step towards making the proposal a reality, but it's a very important first step. You have my word that I will continue to remain laser-focused on the process as it moves forward until the day the doors open. Along the way, I look forward to working with Veterans Service Organizations, stakeholders, and constituents like you during the planning process, so that together we can create a facility that meets the needs of Ventura County's veterans.

To read the Ventura County Star article, click on the image below.

As always, it continues to be an honor to serve as your advocate in Congress.

Sincerely,
JULIA BROWNLEY

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