A bipartisan VA benefits bill that would increase payments for some severely disabled veterans and hundreds of thousands of surviving military family members has passed the House of Representatives.
The bill, known as the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act, cleared the House in a 235-179 vote and will now move to the Senate.
Supporters say the legislation would provide long-awaited financial help to more than 7,000 severely disabled veterans and over half a million Gold Star family members.
However, critics argue that the way the bill is funded could raise costs for some veterans using VA home loan benefits.
What the VA Benefits Bill Would Change
The bill would increase Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits by 1.5 percent over two years.
These payments are provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs to surviving spouses and eligible family members of service members who died in the line of duty or from service-connected conditions.
The legislation would also raise Special Monthly Compensation payments by $10,000 per year for veterans with the most severe injuries and disabilities. This includes veterans who require regular aid and attendance or who have traumatic brain injuries.
For families and veterans facing long-term hardship, these increases could provide meaningful financial relief.
Why the Bill Is Named After Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson
The legislation is named after Sharri Briley, the widow of Donovan Lee “Bull” Briley, an Army Special Operations Blackhawk helicopter pilot killed during Operation Gothic Serpent in Somalia in 1993.
It also honors Sergeant Eric Edmundson, an Army veteran who suffered an anoxic brain injury that left him unable to walk or speak.
By attaching their names to the measure, lawmakers are highlighting the sacrifices made by military families and catastrophically injured veterans.
VA Home Loan Access Could Expand
The bill also includes the Home Affordability for Guard and Reserve Act, which would expand access to VA-backed home loans for National Guard and Reserve members.
Under current rules, Guard and Reserve members usually must complete six years of service or at least 90 days of nontraining federal active duty to qualify for VA home loans.
The proposal would lower that threshold significantly. Guard and Reserve members who complete a combined 14 days of active duty, inactive duty training, or annual training duty would be able to apply for the program.
Supporters say this change could make homeownership easier for reservists and Guard members who have served but do not currently meet eligibility requirements.
Funding Plan Faces Criticism
While many lawmakers support raising payments for disabled veterans and surviving families, the funding method has become controversial.
To help pay for the expanded benefits, the bill would raise the VA home loan refinance fee from 0.5 percent to 1.42 percent.
It would also increase the loan assumption fee from 0.5 percent to 1 percent and extend some existing funding fee rates for nondisabled veterans.
Disabled veterans would remain exempt from the additional fees. The refinance fee would apply only to veterans who voluntarily refinance their loans, such as to lower interest rates.
Still, critics argue that some veterans should not face higher borrowing costs to fund benefits for other veterans.
Several Democrats and veterans’ advocacy groups have raised concerns that the bill could make refinancing more expensive for military families already under financial pressure.
Support From Veterans Organizations
Despite the criticism, the VA benefits bill has received support from several veterans and military family groups.
Supporters include organizations such as the Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Wounded Warrior Project, Gold Star Spouses of America, and others.
Backers argue that increasing benefits for surviving families and severely disabled veterans is overdue and necessary.
The House passage of the VA benefits bill marks a major step toward expanding financial support for severely disabled veterans and Gold Star families.
The legislation would increase key VA payments and broaden VA home loan access for Guard and Reserve members.
However, debate over funding remains a major issue as the bill heads to the Senate. While supporters see the proposal as a long-overdue step toward honoring military sacrifice, critics say veterans should not face higher mortgage-related fees to pay for the expanded benefits.