Guthrie Votes to Protect Veterans' Second Amendment Rights and Expand Benefits for Severely Injured Heroes

Washington, D.C. - This week, Congressman Brett Guthrie (KY-02) voted in favor of legislation to protect veterans' Second Amendment rights and expand benefits for brave Americans who were severely injured in the line of duty and Gold Star families. Passing these bills builds upon the recent work by the House of Representatives to fully fund the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and increase access to care.

"I am glad to see the House take bipartisan action and pass commonsense legislation to enhance benefits for America's most disabled veterans and the surviving spouses of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation," said Congressman Guthrie. "I am also proud to have voted this week to defend the Constitutional rights of veterans, who, under previous Administrations, had been stripped of their ability to own a firearm by bureaucrats in Washington, without due process. House Republicans continue to lead the charge to support those who have volunteered to serve in uniform."

Background:

• H.R. 6047, the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2025, would:
  • Increase monthly compensation benefits for service-connected disabled veterans, such as those with traumatic brain injuries or other severe disabilities that require regular, round the clock, in-home medical care, offering an additional $10,000 annually.
  • Raise the base-rate of monthly benefits for surviving spouses of servicemembers killed in the line of duty by 1.5% over two years. This adjustment would be the first non-inflation increase of benefits for survivors since 1993 and would be in addition to the annual adjustment for inflation.
  • In total, this legislation is expected to impact the well-being of over 500,000 veterans and their families over the next five years.
• H.R. 1041, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act, would:
  • Codify the Trump Administration's termination of a VA policy that allowed bureaucrats to submit the names and information of veterans or a beneficiary of VA benefits to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) if they have been appointed a fiduciary to help manage VA benefits.
  • While in effect, this policy resulted in veterans being improperly stripped of their ability to purchase firearms without due process.