House Passes Bill Raising Benefits for Disabled Veterans and Gold Star Families

The House of Representatives passed the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act last week in a 235-179 vote. The measure would raise Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits by 1.5 percent over two years and increase Special Monthly Compensation payments by $10,000 annually for veterans with the most severe disabilities.

The bill would also incorporate the Home Affordability for Guard and Reserve Act, lowering the service threshold for National Guard and Reserve members to qualify for VA-backed home loans. Under the proposal, members who complete 14 days of active duty, inactive duty training, or annual training would become eligible.

To cover the added costs, the legislation would raise the VA home loan refinance fee from 0.5 percent to 1.42 percent and increase the loan assumption fee from 0.5 percent to 1 percent. Disabled veterans would remain exempt from the new fees. Some Democrats opposed the measure, stating that the cost should not be offset by higher fees on other veterans.

More than 175 Democrats voted against the bill, while 30 supported it; three Republicans voted against.

The Veterans of Foreign Wars, American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, Wounded Warrior Project, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Gold Star Spouses of America, and Military Officers Association of America expressed support for the bill.

Common Defense, a veterans advocacy group, said the refinancing fee increase could cost the average veteran more than $8,000 over the life of a loan and opposed financing expanded benefits through higher borrowing costs. The bill now heads to the Senate.