Congressman Pat Harrigan Co-Leads Bill to Strengthen Financial and Housing Support for Troops

Contact: Lexi Kranich (814) 380-4408

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Today, Congressman Pat Harrigan (NC-10) joined Congresswoman McDonald Rivet in co-leading the Military Housing Financial Literacy Act of 2026, legislation expanding credentialed, personalized financial and housing counseling to members of the Armed Forces serving on active duty or transitioning from service.

"Service members are constantly on the move, dealing with VA benefits, new housing markets, and unfortunately, lenders who see them as easy targets. A quick briefing just doesn't cut it," said Congressman Harrigan. "This bill gets them in front of a real expert, one on one, who can walk them through their credit, their budget, their VA home loan options, and their legal rights as a service member. I'm proud to co-lead this because these men and women have enough to worry about defending this country. Their financial future shouldn't be one of them."

"Financial readiness is mission readiness. The Military Financial Literacy Act equips Servicemembers with the tools and trusted guidance needed to stay focused, prepared, and resilient both in uniform and beyond. We thank Congressman Harrigan for his leadership and commitment to strengthening those who serve our nation," said Son Nguyen, Founder and President, VAREP.

The legislation directs the Secretary of Defense to establish a program providing individualized counseling to service members on credit management, budgeting, anti-predatory lending, rental planning during permanent station changes, VA home loan benefits, and legal protections under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act. The program would be carried out through a partnership with a HUD-approved counseling agency organized as a Veteran Service Organization with demonstrated expertise in financial literacy, housing stability, and VA loan benefits for military families.

The Military Housing Financial Literacy Act will now be referred to the relevant committees for consideration. Congressman Harrigan will continue working to ensure that every service member and military family has access to the financial tools and expert guidance they need to build long-term stability.