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Van Hollen Bills to Improve Homebuying Process for Veterans Included in Bipartisan Housing Package Approved by Key Committee

Today, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, announced the Committee’s approval of two of his bills to help more veterans achieve homeownership as part of the ROAD to Housing Act – a bipartisan legislative package to increase the nation’s housing supply, improve housing affordability, and help reduce homelessness, among other priorities. Senator Van Hollen fought to include in this package his bipartisan VA Home Loan Awareness Act, which he introduced with Senator Tim Sheehy (R-Mont.), and the Veterans Affairs Loan Informed Disclosure (VALID) Act, which he introduced with Senator John Boozman (R-Ark.). Taken together, these bills will better inform veterans of VA Home Loan Program and ensure they are presented with the option to use it when they apply for a mortgage.

“Whether they’re renting or buying, too many Americans are faced with housing costs that are too high. The ROAD to Housing Act makes some important investments in tackling our nation’s housing challenges, from boosting the supply of homes to reducing homelessness. Within this legislation, I also worked to ensure we’re better upholding our duty to support our veterans when they return from their service – by including my bipartisan bills to help more veterans and their families secure affordable home loans. This package is a bipartisan step forward on some needed investments and reforms, but it is only a modest first step. It is critical that we do much more to deliver affordable housing to the American people,” said Senator Van Hollen.

Background on Senator Van Hollen’s VA Home Loan Awareness Act and VALID Act

Research has shown that 1 in 10 veterans have experienced homelessness, often years after completing service and returning home. At the same time, rising housing costs are making homeownership increasingly out of reach. Programs like the VA Home Loan are more important than ever, offering a path to homeownership that can save veterans thousands of dollars and help them build lasting financial security. This program offers veterans no down payment, no private mortgage insurance mandate, and interest rates that are often lower than rates for conventional FHA loans. Despite these benefits, only about 13 percent of veterans access the VA Home Loan Program. Among veterans who don’t use the VA Home Loan program, 33 percent say they are not aware of it.

The provisions of Senator Van Hollen’s bills included in the ROAD to Housing Act will help better inform veterans of the VA Home Loan benefits by adding a disclosure to the Uniform Residential Loan Application (URLA) and making the military service question mandatory. This will ensure that veterans are notified that they may be eligible for a VA Home Loan, directing applicants to consult their lender for more information about the VA Home Loan program. Lenders will also receive information regarding applicants’ military service, so they can provide information about VA Home Loans early in the homebuying process. Additionally, they require updates to Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage disclosures to include VA Home Loans alongside FHA and conventional loan options so veterans can easily compare terms and find the best deal.

Broadly, the ROAD to Housing Act of 2025 is a comprehensive proposal that will:

  • Expand and Preserve Housing Supply:
    • Remove regulatory barriers to housing development
    • Increase and preserve existing housing
    • Promote innovative construction methods, including to expand access to modular and manufactured housing
    • Addresses neighborhood blight and supports communities recovering from natural disasters
  • Improve Housing Affordability and Access:
    • Expand access to homeownership
    • Improve housing affordability
    • Promote housing opportunities for veterans
    • Reduce homelessness
    • Reduce appraisal shortages while addressing inaccurate appraisals
  • Advance Accountability and Fiscal Responsibility:
    • Ensure taxpayer dollars are used efficiently
    • Promote evidence-based policy solutions
  • Improve Oversight and Program Integrity:
    • Strengthen oversight of housing regulators
    • Streamline program coordination
    • Ensure performance, transparency, and accountability across housing programs

A section-by-section outline of the bill is here. The full legislative text can be viewed here.