Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2026

The DIC cost-of-living adjustment enhancement is substantially reduced. The original bill added one full percentage point on top of Social Security COLAs for five consecutive increases. The engrossed version adds only half a percentage point (0.5%) after the first increase, and terminates after just two increases instead of five.

The housing loan fee provision is restructured. Instead of creating new authority to collect fees from veterans with disabilities rated 70 percent or less (effective August 2026 through September 2035), the engrossed version directly amends the existing loan fee table: it extends a date from June 9, 2034 to September 30, 2036, raises a fee rate from 0.50 to 1.42 in one category, and raises another from 0.50 to 1.0.

A new Section 4 extends the limit on payments of pension under section 5503(d)(7) from January 31, 2033 to September 30, 2036, giving veterans an additional three and a half years of this benefit.

A new Section 5 (Home Affordability for Guard and Reserve Act) expands VA home loan eligibility. It broadens the definition of 'active duty' to include reserve component members performing inactive-duty training, annual training, or certain active duty calls, and National Guard members performing full-time state guard duty. It also creates a new 'veteran' category for those with at least 14 days of qualifying service who completed entry level and skill training, subject to an additional 1.00 percentage point loan fee. The expanded definitions apply retroactively to service on or after September 11, 2001.

The short title year is changed from 2025 to 2026, and various formatting and indentation changes are made throughout the bill.