[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 7009 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 7009

   To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for 
   housing loans guaranteed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
 members of the reserve components and the National Guard who perform 
                certain duties, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                            January 12, 2026

 Mr. Barrett introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
                     Committee on Veterans' Affairs

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand eligibility for 
   housing loans guaranteed by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to 
 members of the reserve components and the National Guard who perform 
                certain duties, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Home Affordability for Guard and 
Reserve Act''.

SEC. 2. ELIGIBILITY OF CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE RESERVE COMPONENTS AND 
              THE NATIONAL GUARD FOR GUARANTEED HOUSING LOANS.

    (a) Expanded Definition of ``Active Duty'' for Purposes of Housing 
Loans.--Section 3701(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(9) The term `active duty' has the meanings as follows:
                    ``(A) In the case of members of the regular 
                components of the Armed Forces, the meaning given such 
                term in section 101(21)(A).
                    ``(B) In the case of members of the reserve 
                components of the Armed Forces--
                            ``(i) service on active duty (as defined in 
                        section 101(d) of title 10), inactive-duty 
                        training (as defined in section 101(d) of title 
                        10), or annual training duty; or
                            ``(ii) service on active duty under a call 
                        or order to active duty under section 688, 
                        12301(a), 12301(d), 12301(g), 12301(h), 12302, 
                        12304, 12304a, or 12304b of title 10 or section 
                        713 of title 14, but not including inactive 
                        duty training (as defined in section 101(d) of 
                        title 10) or annual training duty.
                    ``(C) In the case of a member of the Army National 
                Guard of the United States or Air National Guard of the 
                United States, in addition to service described in 
                subparagraph (B), full-time service--
                            ``(i) in the National Guard of a State for 
                        the purpose of organizing, administering, 
                        recruiting, instructing, or training the 
                        National Guard;
                            ``(ii) in the National Guard when 
                        performing full-time National Guard duty (as 
                        defined in section 101 of title 32); or
                            ``(iii) in the National Guard when 
                        performing active duty (as defined in section 
                        101 of title 32).''.
    (b) Retroactive Applicability to Service Performed.--The amendments 
made by this section shall apply with respect to any service performed 
on or after September 11, 2001.

SEC. 3. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR GUARANTEED HOUSING LOANS TO 
              CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PERSONNEL UPON PAYMENT OF ADDITIONAL 
              LOAN FEE.

    (a) Expansion to Individuals With at Least 14 Days of Service.--
Section 3701(b) of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
inserting after paragraph (7) the following new paragraph:
            ``(8) The term `veteran' also includes, for purposes of 
        home loans (subject to the additional loan fee in section 
        3729(b)(4)(J) of this title), an individual who--
                    ``(A) is not otherwise eligible for the benefits of 
                this chapter;
                    ``(B) has completed a total service of at least 14 
                days on active duty under paragraph (B) or (C) of 
                paragraph (9); and
                    ``(C) following completion of such service, 
                continued to serve until the completion of entry level 
                and skill training (as defined in section 3301(3) of 
                this title).''.
    (b) Basic Entitlement.--Section 3702(a)(2) of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
            ``(H) Each individual described in section 3701(b)(8) of 
        this title.''.
    (c) Additional Loan Fee for Such Individuals.--Section 3729(b)(4) 
of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
following new subparagraph:
            ``(J) In the case of a housing loan in which the veteran 
        has eligibility under section 3701(b)(8) of this title and does 
        not otherwise have eligibility, the loan fee table in paragraph 
        (2) shall be applied to the veteran or other obligor (as 
        applicable) by adding 1.00 to the percentage in the table.''.
    (d) Notification to Personnel.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall ensure that each member of a reserve component or a member of the 
Army National Guard of the United States or Air National Guard of the 
United States who completes entry level and skill training (as defined 
in section 3301(3) of title 38, United States Code) after the date of 
the enactment of this Act is notified of their eligibility for housing 
loan benefits under chapter 37 of such title, including eligibility 
(subject to the additional loan fee) under section 3701(b)(8) of such 
title.
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