Bill > HR6047

This bill, the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2026, aims to increase certain benefits for veterans and their families. Specifically, it directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide a supplemental monthly allowance of $833.33 to veterans eligible for aid and attendance benefits, effective December 1, 2026. Additionally, it mandates that Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) rates, which are paid to surviving spouses and children of veterans who died in service or from a service-related disability, will automatically increase by the same percentage as Social Security benefit adjustments, plus an additional percentage (initially 1%, then 0.5% after the first increase), with these increases terminating after the second such adjustment. The bill also modifies housing loan provisions by extending the period during which certain loan fee structures apply until September 30, 2036, and increases specific loan fees for certain types of loans. Furthermore, it expands the definition of "active duty" for housing loan eligibility to include certain types of service for reservists and National Guard members, making their service on or after September 11, 2001, potentially qualify them for housing loans. It also creates a new category of eligibility for housing loans for individuals with at least 14 days of qualifying service, provided they complete entry-level and skill training, though this will involve an additional loan fee. Finally, the bill extends certain limits on pension payments until September 30, 2036.