Smucker Reintroduces Bipartisan Legislation to Support Veterans

WASHINGTON-Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-PA-11) has reintroduced legislation to support our nation's veterans. Smucker has introduced the VA Billing Accountability Act, with Rep. Don Davis (D-NC-01). Additionally, Smucker has again partnered with Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) to reintroduce the Home for the Brave Act.

VA Billing Accountability Act

The VA Accountability Act would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to set specific and clear billing requirements, so veterans do not receive outdated co-payments from the VA.

"Our veterans and their families have sacrificed so much to protect our country, and we should be doing all we can to make their transition to civilian life as easy as possible. Forcing them to pay for bureaucratic errors and delays is no way to treat those who have risked everything and sacrificed to protect our country," said Rep. Smucker. "I encourage my colleagues to pass this legislation so we can bring our veterans peace of mind, stability, and financial security. "

The VA Billing Accountability Act authorizes the VA to waive the requirement that a veteran make co-payments for medication, hospital care, nursing home care, and medical services if: an error committed by the VA or a VA employee caused delaying copayments notification to the veteran; and the veteran received such notification more than 180 days (18 months in the case of a non-VA facility) after the date on which they received care or services.

Home for the Brave Act

Reps. Smucker and Carbajal's Home for the Brave Act would exempt veterans' disability benefits from counting toward total income when determining their eligibility for housing assistance programs through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

"Our veterans have made tremendous sacrifices to protect our freedom and safety, and they should not lose access to housing assistance because they receive disability benefits for injuries sustained in service," said Rep. Smucker. "Our community has worked hard to end veteran homelessness, and I'm honored to support this important mission alongside my constituents. I also appreciate Rep. Carbajal's dedication to our nation's veterans and their families, and I look forward to partnering with him to advance this legislation."

"No veteran should be punished for receiving the very benefits they earned through their service to our country," said Rep. Carbajal, a Marine Corps veteran. "I'm proud to lead this bipartisan effort to end this unfair practice in our country's housing assistance system and ensure veterans have access to the safe, affordable homes they deserve."

Financial benefits for service-connected disabilities are currently counted as income when determining eligibility for housing assistance programs through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

As a result, many veterans are determined ineligible for these housing programs because their disability benefits are placing them at a higher income level.

Other agencies, including the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), do not consider veterans benefits for service-connected disabilities income.

The bill has endorsement of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW).

"Veterans and their families shouldn't be penalized or disqualified from receiving housing support just because they receive compensation for service-related injuries or the loss of a loved one," said VFW National Legislative Associate Director Joe Grassi. "Many of our nation's heroes are struggling in this economy and facing financial instability or homelessness. To help resolve these serious issues, VFW supports the Home for the Brave Act of 2025."

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