Analyst Brief May 18, 2026

H.R. 6047 — Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2026

Current Status

Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole House

Executive Summary

H.R. 6047, the 'Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2026,' addresses the lifelong financial and caregiving challenges faced by catastrophically disabled veterans and their families. The bill provides a supplemental monthly allowance of $833.33 for severely disabled veterans requiring aid and attendance, and increases the base rate of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses, which has not seen a real increase since 1993. To offset these costs, the legislation extends and increases certain VA home loan funding fees for active-duty servicemembers and non-disabled veterans, while also expanding home loan eligibility to certain Guard and Reserve members.

Bill Data

Primary Sponsor

Mr. Barrett (R-MI)

Bill Number

H.R. 6047

Session

119th

Co-Sponsors

Mr. BostMr. Van OrdenMr. CiscomaniMrs. RadewagenMs. King-HindsMr. Hudson
View on Congress.gov ↗

Arguments For

  • Fulfills a moral obligation to the most severely disabled veterans and surviving spouses by providing a long-overdue real increase to DIC and SMC rates, which have stagnated since 1993.
  • Maintains fiscal responsibility by offsetting the cost of benefit expansions through adjustments to the VA home loan fee structure, resulting in a net decrease in direct spending of $42 million over 10 years according to the CBO.
  • Expands VA home loan eligibility to National Guard and Reserve members, recognizing their service and expanding homeownership opportunities for a previously excluded cohort.

Likely Supporters

RepublicansParalyzed Veterans of AmericaSurviving spouse advocacy groupsVeterans Service Organizations (VSOs) focused on catastrophic injuries

Arguments Against

  • The 'pay-for' mechanism places an unfair financial burden on active-duty servicemembers and non-disabled veterans by raising their VA home loan fees to fund benefits for others.
  • Increasing home loan fees could price some veterans out of homeownership or increase the risk of foreclosure for those with distressed mortgages, a primary concern raised by Committee Democrats.
  • The bill increases discretionary spending subject to appropriation by $65 million over the 2026-2036 period, which may draw scrutiny from fiscal hawks.

Likely Opponents

DemocratsVeteran housing affordability advocatesActive-duty financial readiness groups

📋 Key Provisions

  • Establishes a supplemental monthly allowance of $833.33 for veterans eligible for specific aid and attendance allowances.
  • Increases Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) amounts by the Social Security COLA percentage plus 1% for the first increase, and COLA plus 0.5% for subsequent increases.
  • Extends the expiration of certain VA housing loan fee limits from June 9, 2034, to September 30, 2036, and increases specific fee percentages (e.g., from 0.50 to 1.40).
  • Expands VA home loan eligibility to National Guard and Reserve members who have completed at least 14 days of active duty service, subject to an additional 1.00% loan fee.

Supporting Views on Legislation

Veterans with catastrophic, service-connected disabilities and their families face lifelong financial and caregiving challenges that standard disability compensation does not fully cover. This bill increases Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) rates for the most severely disabled veterans and raises the base rate of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for surviving spouses, which has not seen a real increase since 1993.

⚖️ Dissenting views on legislation

Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee Democrats strongly support increasing Special Monthly Compensation and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation, but oppose the bill's method of offsetting the costs. They argue that raising VA home loan fees on active-duty servicemembers and non-disabled veterans places an unreasonable financial burden on them and could increase the risk of foreclosure for those with distressed mortgages.

search Verification Guide BETA expand_more

Don't trust AI? Don't worry, neither do I. Verify the claims yourself.

Claim Analysis Page 3, Line 21

Establishes a supplemental monthly allowance of $833.33.

Verify Text

"allowance at the rate of $833.33."

Claim Analysis Page 6, Line 4

Increases certain housing loan fees from 0.50 to 1.40.

Verify Text

"places it appears and inserting ‘1.40’"

Claim Analysis Page 9, Line 2

Expands home loan eligibility to Guard/Reserve members with at least 14 days of service.

Verify Text

"14 days on active duty under"