Three Barrett Bills Pass House VA Committee with Bipartisan Support

Washington, D.C. -The House Veterans' Affairs Committee today passed three bills Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) led to support veterans, servicemembers, and their families: the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act (H.R. 6047), Home Affordability for Guard and Reserve Act (H.R. 7009), and Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act (H.R. 3482). These bills will now advance to the full House of Representatives.

"The men and women who've served our country deserve the best care and support when they return home. The same is true for the families of those who make the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom," said Barrett."These bills we advanced today will deliver the first meaningful increase to benefits for injured veterans and surviving family members in decades, allow more service members to access affordable home loans, and reduce health care wait times for our veterans. I'm grateful to my colleagues on the Veterans' Affairs Committee for their support and look forward to moving quickly to pass these critical bills on the House floor."

The Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act (H.R. 6047), which Barrett introduced in November, would increase benefit payments for more than 7,000 severely disabled veterans and more than half a million Gold Star families. The legislation would add $10,000 to annual benefits under the Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) program for injured veterans who need regular aid in their home under the supervision of a medical professional. The bill will also raise Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits - which support surviving family members who lost a parent, spouse, or child in military service.

Before passing the bill, the committee amended it to include Barrett's Home Affordability for Guard and Reserve Act (H.R. 7009), which would help more reservists and National Guard members buy a home. Currently, Guard and Reserve members must serve at least 90 days of non-training federal active duty or six years in the National Guard or Reserve to apply for VA home loans, which require no down payment and offer a competitive interest rate. Barrett's bill would expand eligibility and allow Guard and Reserve members who have served 14 total days of active duty, inactive duty training, or annual training duty to apply for a VA home loan. The bill is the firstin Barrett's Blueprint for a Better Americato pass committee.

The Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act (H.R. 3482), which Barrett introduced last May, would reduce health care wait times for veterans by requiring the VA to create a single interface where VA employees can view appointments at both VA facilities and community care providers outside the VA. This will empower VA staff to quickly book appointments for veterans at VA facilities and hospitals in the community, cutting down on the frustrating wait times too often associated with seeking care.

Click here to watch Barrett's remarks in support of the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act.

Click here to watch Barrett's remarks in support of the Home Affordability for Guard and Reserve Act.

Click here to watch Barrett's remarks in support of the Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act.