On Veterans Day, a bipartisan bill aimed squarely at the VA home loan picked up a Senate version, and since so many of my clients are Cannon AFB families and veterans here in Clovis and Portales, I wanted to break down what it would and wouldn't do.

What happened

  • The Senate now has its own version. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced S. 5703, the VA Home Loan Navigator Act, on November 10, 2026. It was referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  • The House version has been around since summer. Rep. Veronica Escobar (D-TX) and Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI) introduced H.R. 9404 on July 1, 2026.
  • It's still just a bill. Neither version has passed, so nothing changes for VA borrowers today.

What the bill would create

The idea is a voluntary, no-cost support program inside the VA that connects veterans with trained, independent housing counselors. According to the sponsors and the bill text, those counselors could help with:

  • Understanding your VA home loan benefit
  • Getting or fixing problems with your Certificate of Eligibility (COE)
  • Homebuying, refinancing, and the closing process
  • Appraisal requirements, property standards, and loan paperwork
  • Servicing issues after you close, including coordination between you, your servicer, and the VA
  • Loss mitigation and foreclosure prevention if you hit a rough patch
  • Understanding housing costs, fees, and commissions

The bill says counselors would have to stay neutral and could not act on behalf of any lender, servicer, or real estate agent. Counselors would be certified by the VA and recertified at least every three years, and the VA would prioritize nonprofits with experience serving the military community.

What this means for Cannon AFB families and local veterans

Honestly, I think this is a good idea. The VA loan is one of the best benefits our service members earn, but I still meet families who think they can only use it once, who aren't sure how their entitlement works after a PCS, or who got bad advice from a scam call. A free, independent second set of eyes is a win for everyone, including lenders who do this the right way.

A few practical takeaways while Congress works on it:

  • You don't have to wait for a new program to get answers. Your COE, entitlement, and appraisal questions can be sorted out now, and the VA's own website has solid free information.
  • Be wary of unsolicited offers. If someone calls or mails you pushing a quick VA refinance, slow down and ask questions. The sponsors specifically cited scams and misinformation as a reason for the bill.
  • If you're behind on payments, call your servicer early. VA loans have loss-mitigation options, and the sooner you ask, the more choices you usually have.

I'll keep an eye on this bill and post an update if it moves. In the meantime, if you're stationed at Cannon, PCSing in, or a veteran anywhere in eastern New Mexico and want help understanding your VA benefit, reach out. I'm happy to walk through it with you, no pressure.