February 12, 2026
WASHINGTON—Today, House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA) released the following statement after today’s full committee markup.
“Several bills moved forward at today’s markup with bipartisan support. Committee Democrats supported four of the five bills considered, including legislation to strengthen veteran caregiver experiences, Fisher House access, improve VA patient scheduling experiences, and the quality of VA’s advisory committees,” said Ranking Member Takano. “However, we could not support H.R. 6047 because Republicans chose to fund the bill by taxing American veterans. We must increase benefits for surviving family members and catastrophically injured veterans; this is long overdue. However, we cannot charge other veterans thousands of dollars to pay for these benefits. But veterans should not be charged new mortgage fees to pay for the benefits of other veterans. The nation they served should bear the cost—not them.”
Regarding statements made by Chairman Mike Bost (R-IL), Takano said, “Let’s be clear: Committee Democrats did not vote against catastrophically disabled veterans or Gold Star families. What we opposed was tripling VA home loan fees on veterans who are simply trying to refinance their homes to lower their monthly payments. We stand ready to vote for a clean increase. Republicans control the House, Senate, and the White House. If they agree with us that this increase is long overdue, they have the power to fund it responsibly — without charging other veterans to pay for it.”
Five bills were considered by the committee at today’s markup. Committee Democrats helped pass these four bipartisan bills:
-
H.R. 2148, Veteran Caregiver Reeducation, Reemployment, and Retirement Act, led by Congressman Morelle (D-NY), with an amendment in the nature of a substitute (ANS) led by Ranking Member Mark Takano (D-CA), would provide VA and other agencies additional authorities to support veteran caregivers as they transition out of VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers when the veterans they are caring for die. These supports include bereavement counseling, funds to renew professional certifications, employment assistance programs, and an extension of CHAMPVA health insurance. This legislation will help alleviate the immense strain that veteran caregivers take on, often resulting in the loss of years of workforce experience, earning potential, contributions to retirement accounts, and enrollment in employer-sponsored health insurance programs.
-
H.R. 3726, Fisher House Availability Act of 2025, led by Congresswoman Miller-Meeks (R-IA), would expand the availability of lodging at Fisher Houses near VA facilities to allow servicemembers and their dependents who are receiving care at VA and non-VAfacilities. Fisher Houses provide a home away from home and a warm, welcoming place to stay when a family is experiencing a difficult time. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Democrats supported the bill.
-
H.R. 3482, Veterans Community Care Scheduling Improvement Act, led by Congressman Barrett (R-MI), with an ANS led by Congresswoman Budzinski (D-IL), would improve accountability and data collection during the implementation of the External Provider Scheduling (EPS) system. The amended bill will also set VA on the path to a streamlined patient scheduling experience. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Democrats supported the bill with the ANS.
-
H.R. 785, Representing our Seniors at VA Act of 2025, led by Congresswoman Kiggans (R-VA), would require VA to appoint at least one individual who represents the interests of State Veterans Homes to VA’s Geriatrics and Extended Care Advisory Committee. Given that State Veterans Homes are the largest provider of institutional long-term care for veterans, it is important to have the perspective of individuals who understand the needs of veterans who reside in these facilities. House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Democrats supported this bill.
One bill’s controversial funding provision led to a partisan split:
-
(A.N.S) to H.R. 6047 – Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2025, led by Congressman Barrett (R-MI), would increase Special Monthly Compensation (SMC) and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). Committee Democrats supported the intent, while advocating for increases larger than Mr. Barrett’s proposed $24 a month. However, Committee Democrats strongly opposed Chairman Bost’s plan to tax troops and veterans accessing their earned benefits by increasing fees on veteran homeowners looking to refinance their mortgages to lower monthly payments. The legislation would nearly triple the fee veteran homeowners pay to lower their monthly payments by refinancing their home loans and double the fee for a buyer to assume a VA Home Loan at their existing interest rate.
###
DIC is a tax-free monthly payment for surviving spouses, children, or parents of servicemembers who died in the line of duty, or veterans who died from a service-related injury or illness.
SMC is a tax-free benefit for veterans, spouses, surviving spouses, and parents needing more money due to severe service-connected disabilities.