22-year U.S. Army Veteran Tom Barrett Delivers for Veterans and Michigan
In case you missed it, 22-year U.S. Army veteran Tom Barrett introduced legislation to boost compensation benefits for catastrophically disabled veterans and their families for the first time since 1993.
“Congressman Tom Barrett delivers commonsense results for Michigan and stands up for his fellow veterans, earning the continued trust of Michiganders who are excited to send him back to Washington.” – NRCC Spokesman Zach Bannon
Read more from the Detroit News here or see excerpts below:
Barrett bill would boost injured veteran, survivor benefits for first time in decades
Detroit News
Melissa Nann Burke
November 17, 2025
U.S. Rep. Tom Barrett on Monday introduced legislation that would boost the monthly compensation benefits for catastrophically disabled veterans, as well benefits for the surviving family members of 100% disabled or deceased veterans.
Barrett, an Iraq veteran from Charlotte, noted the benefits haven’t been updated in decades ― in the case of the survivors’ benefit, not since 1993.
“That was one of the reasons behind doing this,” Barrett told The Detroit News.
“These are working in that direction of really increasing the benefit amounts for people, either who have lost their lives and their surviving family members are eligible for a benefit, or for people that are so severely injured that they require quite substantial aid and attendant care.”
The legislation, which Barrett introduced with other GOP members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, would increase payouts for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation benefits ― currently $1,650 per month ― by an additional 1% on top of inflation for the next five years. The committee said this change would assist more than 500,000 families with their living expenses.
The bill would also boost raise the monthly benefits rate for veterans with a service-connected disability such as a traumatic brain injury or other severe disabilities requiring 24-7, in-home medical care, offering an additional $10,000 annually, according to a bill summary.
Barrett said he learned of the need to update the benefit amounts through his work on the panel.
[…]
The legislation is supported by the American Legion, Wounded Warrior Project, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Vietnam Veterans of America, Elizabeth Dole Foundation, Gold Star Spouses of America and Military Order of the Purple Heart USA.
It’s named in part for Sharri Briley, the surviving wife of Army veteran Donovan “Bull” Briley, a Special Operations Blackhawk helicopter pilot killed in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 1993 during the operation known as the Black Hawk Down incident.
The bill is also named after Army veteran Sgt. Eric Edmundson, who suffered an anoxic brain injury when his Humvee was hit by an IED in October 2005 in Iraq, leaving him unable to speak or walk.
Briley, in a statement, said it is a “promise kept” that “shows that our nation hears us, sees us, values us, and will stand by us just as our loved ones stood for their country.”