WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Jerry Moran (R-KS) recently co-introduced the Veteran Benefits Enhancement and Expansion Act of 2020, legislation to improve benefits for veterans in the areas of education, pensions, and survivor benefits, among others.

Included in the package is bipartisan legislation introduced by Senators Tillis, Moran, and Tester to expand VA home loan benefits to National Guard & Reserve members who have been activated by governors in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, recent civil disturbances, and natural disasters. Currently, members of the National Guard and Reserves are only eligible for the VA home loan program if they have had 90 consecutive days of active service or if they have been a member for six years.

“We’ve made great bipartisan progress to reform the VA and honor our promises to the brave men and women who served our nation, but there is more work to be done,” Senator Tillis said. “I’m proud to co-sponsor this legislation to improve education and survivor benefits for our veterans.”

Companion legislation was introduced by Representatives Phil Roe (R-TN), ranking member of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee and Mike Bost (R-IL), ranking member of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance & Memorial Affairs.

Click here to read the section-by-section summary and here for the full bill text. 

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