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By Suzanne Blake
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A bipartisan proposal that would give some of the nation's most severely disabled veterans an extra $833 per month has stalled in the Senate even after making its way through the House of Representatives,
The legislation, known as the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act (H.R. 6047), would provide roughly $10,000 per year in additional compensation to veterans who require intensive daily care because of catastrophic service-connected injuries.
It would also increase benefits for hundreds of thousands of surviving military family members.
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Despite it being seen to some as a long-overdue correction to benefits, disagreements over how to pay for it have effectively halted its momentum in the Senate.
“The Senate delay is less about the rejection of the benefit itself and more about the problem of cost, as some lawmakers will look for a different legislative vehicle for a veterans package that contains several significant changes,” Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor for the University of Tennessee at Martin, told Newsweek.
“Ultimately, the legislation is stalled rather than dead.”
Why It Matters
The legislation would deliver the first significant increase in Special Monthly Compensation for some of the nation's most severely disabled veterans in more than two decades.
Many of the affected veterans suffer catastrophic service-connected injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, paralysis, or multiple limb loss, and require around-the-clock care that causes substantial financial strain for families.
The bill would also increase Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payments for surviving military spouses and family members, which have not received a major increase since 1993. Nearly 600,000 survivors could see higher payments if the legislation becomes law.
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What To Know
The law would create a new supplemental monthly payment of $833.33 for veterans currently receiving the highest levels of VA Special Monthly Compensation under aid-and-attendance categories associated with major disabilities and traumatic brain injuries. These are veterans who often require near-constant assistance with everyday tasks and medical care.
"Our nation can never fully repay the debt we owe to the heroes and families who have served and sacrificed for our freedom," Representative Tom Barrett, an Iraq War veteran who sponsored the bill, said in a statement after the House vote. "But passing my bipartisan legislation today is further proof that we will never stop trying."
According to Congressional Budget Office estimates, roughly 8,000 veterans currently qualify for this type of special compensation, with that number projected to grow to about 10,000 over the next decade. The additional payment would amount to approximately $10,000 annually for eligible recipients.
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The legislation would also increase Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits for surviving spouses and family members of service members who died in the line of duty or from service-connected conditions. That means nearly 600,000 survivors could see higher payments over time.
The bill also includes provisions expanding eligibility for certain VA-backed home loans for National Guard and Reserve members.
How the House Voted
The measure passed the House in May by a vote of 235-179. The legislation was introduced by Barrett, a Michigan Republican, and also received backing from House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost of Illinois.
More than 20 veterans organizations have publicly supported the legislation, including the American Legion, Wounded Warrior Project, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Vietnam Veterans of America and Paralyzed Veterans of America.
Why the Senate Hasn't Moved Forward
As far as the bill’s stalling in the Senate, the problem is likely not the benefit increase itself.
Most of the controversy instead centers on the legislation's funding. Lawmakers attempted to offset the cost of the new benefits through changes affecting some veterans using VA home loan programs. But critics have been vocal in saying that means the proposal essentially asks one group of veterans to help pay for benefits received by another group.
“Issues in any congressional body almost always come down to one key element: cost,” Kevin Thompson, the CEO of 9i Capital Group and the host of the 9innings podcast, told Newsweek. “Who is going to pay for the benefit increases, and which groups will be impacted positively or negatively by those increases? That is ultimately where the debate tends to stall.”
Ultimately, the bill is currently stuck in committee in the Senate because of ongoing disagreements over who should pay for it.
Newsweek reached out to the Senate VA Committee via email for comment.
Who Supports It in the Senate?
The benefit increases proposed under the law have substantial support among veterans groups and many lawmakers, but there is still not broad Senate agreement on the funding.
That means lawmakers are hesitant to come out in support, and this could have lingering effects on overall military recruitment, Thompson said.
“You have members of Congress arguing over compensation for people who have put their lives on the line for this country,” Thompson said. “Many people will see that as an affront to what it means to serve, and over time, debates like this could have an impact on recruitment and overall military enlistment.”
Is the Bill Permanently Stalled?
While there’s no indication that the legislation is dead, there is also no sign that Senate leaders have reached an agreement that would move the bill toward final passage.
“The passing in the House is a positive sign that once some alterations are made in the Senate, the final version will provide some much-needed financial relief to these veterans and their families,” Beene said.
Who Would Benefit Most?
The bill targets a relatively small but heavily impacted group of veterans.
Eligible recipients would generally be veterans with catastrophic service-connected disabilities such as severe traumatic brain injuries, paralysis, or multiple limb loss who require extensive in-home care and supervision. Many families caring for these veterans face significant ongoing costs related to daily caregiving and medical equipment.
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The legislation would also benefit surviving spouses and dependents receiving DIC payments.
What Happens Next
For now, veterans hoping to receive the additional $833 monthly payment remain in limbo.
The House has approved the measure and veterans groups continue to lobby for its passage, but Senate lawmakers need to resolve the dispute over how to finance the law.
“It has already passed the House, so I do believe this will eventually pass. As to when, only time will tell,” Thompson said. “The bigger question is whether the Senate can agree on the cost and how the benefit increases will ultimately be funded.”
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Jason Lemon and Gray R. Thomas
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