The Fisher House Availability Act of 2026 expands eligibility for VA temporary lodging — known as Fisher Houses, free or low-cost housing near VA medical centers built and donated by the Fisher House Foundation — to active-duty service members and their families who must travel a significant distance to receive medical care. Previously, this benefit primarily covered veterans and family members accompanying a veteran for treatment; the bill adds active-duty service members traveling for their own care, family members traveling for care at VA or non-VA facilities, and companions providing equivalent family support. All new groups are accommodated on a space-available basis, meaning open beds only, with no guaranteed reservation. The bill also extends an existing pension-payment protection provision for veterans in nursing care facilities by six months, moving the expiration date from January 31, 2033 to July 31, 2033.
Average Household Impact
- Fisher House lodging eligibility — expanded to active-duty service members and families traveling significant distances for medical care
- VA pension payment protection — extended six months to July 31, 2033 for veterans in nursing care facilities
Congressional Summary
Fisher House Availability Act of 2026This bill expands eligibility for temporary lodging at a Fisher House to additional individuals receiving medical care or treatment at a Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) or non-VA facility or those accompanying individuals receiving such treatment. (Fisher Houses are where the VA furnishes no-cost lodging to veterans and other eligible individuals when receiving treatment or accompanying an individual receiving treatment.)Specifically, the bill authorizes the VA to provide lodging at a Fisher House on a space-available basis tomembers of the uniformed services performing active duty (i.e., covered beneficiaries) who must travel a significant distance to receive care or services;family members and others accompanying such covered beneficiaries to receive care or services;veterans, members of a veteran's family, and others who must travel a significant distance for a member of a veteran's family to receive care or services; andcovered beneficiaries, members of a covered beneficiary’s family, and others who must travel a significant distance for a member of a beneficiary’s family to receive care or services.Finally, the bill extends the limitation on pension amounts for certain hospitalized or institutionalized veterans through July 31, 2033.
Legislative Subjects
Details
- Congress
- 119th
- Chamber
- House
- Status
- summarized
- Action
- Reported to House
- Action Date
- 2026-04-30
- Date Added
- 2026-05-16
- Source
- Congress.gov →
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