Barrett Introduces Legislation to Make Historic Investment in Benefits for Gold Star Families, Disabled Veterans

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Tom Barrett (MI-07) and Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Mike Bost (IL-12) today introduced legislation to make a historic investment in the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) that will increase survivor benefits for more than half a million military families and financial assistance for more than 7,000 severely disabled veterans.

The Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act (H.R. 6047) would increase payouts for the VA's Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) benefits program, as well as the Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) benefit program. The DIC provides survivor benefits to more than half a million military families who lost a parent, spouse, or child in the line of duty or as a result of injuries sustained while serving. The SMC provides extra financial assistance for more than 7,000 veterans who suffer from severe service-related disabilities. This would be the first significant increase to either of these programs in decades.

"We can never repay the debt we owe to the men and women who sacrificed life and limb to defend our country, but that should never stop us from trying. This bill is about following through on our promises and making one of the most significant increases to benefits in more than two decades," said Barrett. "Our disabled veterans and Gold Star families have already given more for our country than anyone should ever have to. We have an obligation to take care of them and to make sure survivors like Sharri Briley and veterans like Sgt. Eric Edmundson never again have to worry about their country showing up when they need it most."

H.R. 6047 is named after Sharri Briley and Sgt. Eric Edmundson. Sharri is the widow of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Donovan Lee 'Bull' Briley, an Army Special Operations Black Hawk helicopter pilot who lost his life in Mogadishu, Somalia, during the "Black Hawk Down" tragedy. Sgt. Edmundson is an Army veteran whose vehicle was hit by an improvised explosive device in Iraq in 2005, which left him unable to walk or speak.

This legislation would increase DIC payments for surviving family members by a total of 5% over the next five years. It would add $10,000 to annual SMC benefits for the most severely disabled veterans who need regular aid in their home under the supervision of a medical professional.

"Veteran families like the Brileys and the Edmundsons - and the thousands more like them - who have given so much in exchange for their service in uniform have not seen a meaningful increase to their benefits in over 20 years. It's time we changed that to grant this deserving group of American heroes the affordability they need to comfortably live their lives," said Chairman Bost. "The Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act, led by my friend, Rep. Barrett, would provide a needed increase in the benefits disabled veterans, veterans' survivors, and their families rely on to cover therapy costs, pay the bills, and make ends meet. This bill would answer the call to try and repay the debt we owe in exchange for the sacrifices thousands of military families have made. I look forward to moving this bill through the House swiftly on behalf of the hundreds of thousands of members of our veteran community who would benefit from it."

"This bill is more than legislation to me; it is a promise kept," said Sharri Briley, surviving spouse of CW3 Donovan 'Bull' Briley. "For thirty-two years, I have lived with the loss of my husband, Donovan, and I have seen firsthand how surviving families continue to bear the cost of war. The Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act honors that sacrifice by providing real, tangible support to survivors and catastrophically disabled veterans. It shows that our nation hears us, sees us, values us, and will stand by us just as our loved ones stood for their country."

"This Act is recognition of the veterans and families who wake up each morning adjusting to the long-term consequences of service," said Edgar Edmundson, father of Sgt. (Ret.) Eric Edmundson. "The increase in benefits provided by the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act are not optional - they are essential. Our veterans' needs evolve as they age, and our support must evolve with them. This legislation ensures that injured veterans and surviving families are not left struggling to meet changing realities alone."

Barrett and Bost were joined in introducing H.R. 6047 by Representatives Richard Hudson (NC-09), Derrick Van Orden (WI-03), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-06), Rob Wittman (VA-01), Jen Kiggins (VA-02), Morgan Luttrell (TX-08), and French Hill (AR-02), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01), Amata Coleman Radewagen (American Samoa), and Kimberlyn King-Hinds (Northern Mariana Islands).

This bill is endorsed by the American Legion, Wounded Warrior Project, Paralyzed Veterans of America, National Association of County Veterans Service Officers, Vietnam Veterans of America, AMVETS, Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Gold Star Spouses of America, Military Order of the Purple Heart USA, Independence Fund, Quality of Life Foundation, and Veterans MS Alliance.

Read the full bill text here.

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