House Advances Benefits Bill for Disabled Veterans and Families

A bipartisan bill aimed at increasing benefits for severely disabled veterans and numerous military family members has passed the House of Representatives. The Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act received a 235-179 vote and will now proceed to the Senate for consideration.

Expanded Payments for Veterans and Families

This legislation proposes a 1.5% increase in Dependency and Indemnity Compensation over two years. These payments, provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), support surviving spouses and family members of service members who have died in the line of duty or from service-related conditions.

Additionally, the bill raises annual Special Monthly Compensation payments by $10,000 for veterans with the most severe injuries or traumatic brain injuries, requiring regular aid and attendance.

The act honors Sharri Briley, widow of Army pilot Donovan Lee “Bull” Briley, who died in Somalia in 1993, and Sergeant Eric Edmundson, an injured Army veteran.

Broadening VA Home Loan Access

Introduced in late 2025 by Iraq War veteran Tom Barrett, the bill also includes the Home Affordability for Guard and Reserve Act. This provision enhances access to VA-backed home loans for National Guard and Reserve members.

Currently, members must complete six years of service or 90 days of nontraining federal active duty to qualify. The new proposal reduces this requirement to 14 days of active or inactive training duty, broadening homeownership opportunities.

Funding Changes Stir Criticism

The bill proposes funding expanded benefits by raising the VA home loan refinance fee from 0.5% to 1.42% and increasing the loan assumption fee from 0.5% to 1%. These changes extend existing fees for nondisabled veterans and add modest costs for some borrowers. Disabled veterans remain exempt.

Despite supporting increased payments, some Democrats oppose funding through higher refinance fees. More than 175 Democrats voted against the bill, with objections to charging veterans new mortgage fees for benefits. Mark Takano, House Committee on Veterans Affairs Ranking Member, expressed concern over the funding method.

We must increase benefits for surviving family members and catastrophically injured veterans, but veterans should not be charged new mortgage fees to pay for others’ benefits.

Support and Backing

Despite criticisms, the bill garners support from various veterans and military organizations. Backers include the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and others.

Mike Bost, chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, stated:

These American families would never ask for anything, but our nation owes them a debt that can never fully be repaid. H.R. 6047 takes a step forward for the first time in over 20 years.

The legislation now moves to the Senate for further action.