After passing the Senate earlier this week, legislation by Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler, R-Battle Ground, to make home loans more affordable for active-duty Purple Heart recipients is headed to the president’s desk, where it’s expected to become law.
Herrera Beutler’s provision, included in the Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act of 2019, will waive the funding fee for home loans under to Department of Veterans Affairs to active-duty recipients of the Purple Heart.
The waiver currently only applies to veterans — not active-duty members — who receive VA compensation for a service-connected disability. In a statement, Herrera Beutler said the waiver could save each veteran $4,000 to $10,000.
“Helping Purple Heart recipients and their families achieve the dream of home ownership is one thing we can do to repay them for their service,” her statement read. “I’m thrilled Congress passed this legislation to honor the tremendous sacrifice of those who continue to serve our country, even after being wounded in combat.”
About 8,000 military members would be eligible for the waiver, according to Herrera Beutler.
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© 2019 The Chronicle (Centralia, Wash.)
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