Legislation· Jun 2026Sponsored by Tom Barrett (R)
Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2026
Increases disability payments for veterans and expands VA home loan eligibility for Guard and Reserve members.
Tradeoff
Expands VA benefits and home loan access for veterans and survivors. Finances expansions partly through higher loan fees for certain refinancing and new borrowers.
What's in it
Adds $508 million to the deficit over 2026-2031, but saves $42 million over the full 2026-2036 period.
This bill federal money to expand Veterans Affairs benefits through a cost-of-living adjustment for certain beneficiaries, a new monthly benefit for disabled veterans, and expanded home loan guarantee eligibility, funded by increased fees on borrowers; the net cost is $508 million over the first six years, but declining to a savings by 2035 as temporary provisions expire.
The House passed this 235-179 on May 21, 2026 — now in the Senate.
House
Introduced
(Nov 17, 2025)
House
Committee on Veterans' Affairs(Nov 17, 2025)
House
The Committee on Veterans' Affairs voted to send it to the floor
Reported 13 - 10(Feb 12, 2026)
Committee report H. Rept. 119-577.
House
Passage of the bill
Passed(Roll #191 · May 21, 2026)
235 yeanay 179Senate
Received from the House
on Veterans' Affairs(Jun 2, 2026)
- Mike Bost (R-IL)
- Derrick Van Orden (R-WI)
- Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ)
- Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-AS)
- Kimberlyn King-Hinds (R-MP)
- Richard Hudson (R-NC)
- Jennifer A. Kiggans (R-VA)
- J. French Hill (R-AR)
- Morgan Luttrell (R-TX)
- Robert J. Wittman (R-VA)
- Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA)
- Jefferson Van Drew (R-NJ)
- Jeff Crank (R-CO)
- Ashley Hinson (R-IA)
Passage votes so far· May 21, 2026· 119th Congress · 2025–2027