and now it is my pleasure to introduce a new member, a great asset, congresswoman julia brownley. >> thank you very much. i want to thank madam leader for holding this important press conference and for your leadership on this very important issue. as a member of the veterans affairs committee, as an american, and as a proud representative of ventura county, we are home to a large naval base with a very significant veteran community. i am extremely concerned about the impact the sequester will have on our women and men and their families who have courageously served, sacrificed, and defended our country. if congress fails to stop the across-the-board and unnecessary cuts at this time, so many programs that help veterans, like transitioning to civilian life and finding employment, will be reduced. more veterans with less resources is unacceptable. our brave men and women deserve better. now is that time to be doing more, not less. for our veterans' sake, we need to come together to stop the sequester now. thank you very much. >> thank you. while congresswoman brownley was speaking abo