H.R. 6047 explained · 119th Congress · Pending in Congress
Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2026
Cosponsors: 14 (0 D, 14 R) · per Congress.gov, 2026-10-08
Introduced: 2025-11-17
Latest action (2026-06-02): Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
What H.R. 6047 does, in plain terms
Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2026 This bill expands specified benefits programs for veterans and their survivors and establishes a supplemental monthly allowance for certain disabled veterans. The bill establishes a supplemental monthly allowance of $833.33 for veterans who are already eligible for a monthly aid and attendance allowance due to service-connected disabilities or traumatic brain injury. The bill increases the rate of dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) by an additional 1% the next time DIC is adjusted for cost of living and an additional 0.5% the following adjustment. DIC is a monthly payment made to eligible survivors of (1) certain veterans who died due to a service-connected condition; (2) service members killed in the line of duty; or (3) veterans who were totally disabled by a service-connected disability for a certain period. The bill expands eligibility for loans under the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) home loan program to certain members of the reserve components and National Guard by expanding what qualifies as active duty. The bill includes annual training duty as qualifying active duty and grants eligibility for VA loan guarantees after 14 days of active-duty service (with an additional fee). Under the VA home loan program, the bill extends certain loan fee rates through September 30, 2036, and increases the fees for certain refinancing loans and loan assumptions. The bill extends the limitation on pension amounts for certain hospitalized or institutionalized veterans through September 30, 2036.
Official summary by the Congressional Research Service, via Congress.gov.
Constitution Index
“VFA Constitution grade”
Constitutionally sound
Graded 2026-10-08
SI-generated grade · five published checks · not individually reviewed by a person · methodology
Federal compensation and housing support for veterans and survivors falls squarely within Congressional military powers, infringes no rights, restricts no individual liberty, respects federalism because only the national government can honor service obligations, and takes no property. Supplemental allowance, DIC increase, and loan eligibility involve voluntary benefits with SI-reviewed fiscal provisions.
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✓ Passes · Enumerated powers
Congress has explicit authority to raise and support Armies under Article I, Section 8, Clause 12, to provide and maintain a Navy under Clause 13, to govern the forces under Clause 14, and to make laws necessary and proper under Clause 18 for executing those powers. Providing disability allowances, survivor compensation, and housing benefits to those who served is a direct exercise of the military… -
✓ Passes · Bill of Rights
No provision restricts speech, religion, press, assembly, arms, searches, self-incrimination, trial rights, jury rights, punishment, or unenumerated rights. Bill expands voluntary benefit payments and loan eligibility; it does not compel speech, disarm anyone, authorize searches, or impose punishment. No First through Tenth Amendment infringement under Amendments I-X. -
✓ Passes · Individual sovereignty
Bill restricts no person, property, labor, speech, or belief. Participation in VA allowances, DIC, and VA home loans is voluntary and expands options for veterans and survivors. Fee adjustments condition only the voluntary use of a federal guarantee program and leave private financing untouched. Government bears no burden here because no liberty is curtailed. -
✓ Passes · Decentralization
Veterans benefits are inherently national in character and cannot be handled by individuals, localities, or single states without fragmenting obligations owed by the federal government that sent members to war. (1) Individuals cannot pay their own service-connected compensation. (2) Counties cannot administer national DIC or VA guarantees. (3) States cannot assume federal military compensation dut… -
✓ Passes · Due process and takings
Bill confers payments and loan eligibility; it takes no property and imposes no penalty, forfeiture, or adjudication. Pension-limitation extension for hospitalized veterans continues an existing cap on government outlays, with eligibility determined through VA procedures subject to notice and appeal under Fifth Amendment due process. No taking without just compensation under Fifth Amendment Taking…
Sources: Congress.gov: HR 6047 summary
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