Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act of 2026

Floor Speech

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Mr. HILL of Arkansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Sharri Briley and Eric Edmundson Veterans Benefits Expansion Act.

Central Arkansas is home to many of our brave veterans and Active- Duty servicemembers stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base and the Arkansas National Guard headquarters at Camp Robinson.

It is also home to Sharri Briley, the devoted surviving spouse of Donovan Lee ``Bull'' Briley, an Army Special Operations Black Hawk helicopter pilot tragically lost in Operation Gothic Serpent, known to all Americans as ``Black Hawk Down.''

Sharri is our Gold Star family voice for the people of Arkansas.

Central Arkansas and our Nation have benefited significantly from Sharri Briley's work, which helps families of deceased servicemembers. This bill is partially named after her because of that leadership.

I am proud to be an original cosponsor of this bill, which increases benefits for catastrophically injured veterans, their families, their survivors; raises survivor benefits by an extra 1.5 percent over 2 years; and expands VA home loan program eligibility requirements, importantly, Mr. Speaker, for the Guard and Reserves from 90 days of Active-Duty service to 14 days of Active-Duty service.

This bill is fiscally sensible and supported by over 20 veterans groups across this land, including the VFW and The American Legion.

This bill honors our Nation's promise to care for our veterans, their survivors, and their families. I urge support on both sides of the aisle.

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