Call to Action
Veterans deserve their benefits. They should not pay for them with a higher VA refinance fee.
H.R. 9237 and S. 4744, the Take Care of America's Veterans Act, would nearly triple the VA IRRRL funding fee through Section 104. NAMB supports the benefits in the bill. We oppose how Section 104 pays for them.
Where things stand
The clock matters. The Senate is scheduled to adjourn on January 3, 2027, and bills not acted on by the end of the session expire. Last updated November 15, 2026.
- June 10, 2026 Introduced in both chambers. Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL) introduced H.R. 9237. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS) introduced S. 4744.
- June 11, 2026 S. 4744 placed on the Senate calendar (Calendar No. 433), skipping committee.
- June 25, 2026 NAMB goes on record. NAMB issued a statement opposing the IRRRL fee increase.
- July 16, 2026 House vote stalls. A motion to recommit failed 210 to 211. Leadership then postponed the final vote.
- Nov. 11, 2026 House passes H.R. 9237 by voice vote on Veterans Day.
- Nov. 12, 2026 House passes the standalone Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102), 392 to 18. Both measures now go to the Senate.
What this means for you
The Senate is the next and likely last stop for this Congress. Nothing is law yet, and the Senate can take up S. 4744, take up the House-passed bill, or change either one.
Your Senators are the priority right now. A short call or message from a constituent who works in the VA lending space carries real weight.
Contact Your SenatorsThe two bills
Same title, same package. Both bundle 62 bipartisan bills on veterans' benefits, health care, caregivers and VA operations.
H.R. 9237
Take Care of America's Veterans Act (House)
- Sponsor Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL), Chair, House Veterans' Affairs Committee
- Introduced June 10, 2026
- Status Passed the House by voice vote, Nov. 11, 2026
- Next Senate
S. 4744
Take Care of America's Veterans Act (Senate)
- Sponsor Sen. Jerry Moran (R-KS), Chair, Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
- Introduced June 10, 2026
- Status On the Senate calendar, Calendar No. 433
- Next Senate floor action, if leadership schedules it
NAMB's position in one line
The benefits
- The Major Richard Star Act for combat-injured retirees
- Survivor, caregiver and mental health provisions
- Better access to VA care
Section 104
- IRRRL funding fee from 0.50% to 1.42%
- VA assumption fee from 0.50% to 1.00%
- Higher home loan fees used as an offset to pay for the package
Section 104 by the numbers
Section 104 raises two VA home loan fees for borrowers who pay the funding fee. Veterans who receive VA disability compensation are generally exempt, so the burden falls on non-exempt veterans and some active-duty borrowers.
What the IRRRL fee change looks like on a real loan
| Loan amount | Fee today (0.50%) | Fee under Section 104 (1.42%) | Added cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| $200,000 | $1,000 | $2,840 | +$1,840 |
| $325,000 | $1,625 | $4,615 | +$2,990 |
| $400,000 | $2,000 | $5,680 | +$3,680 |
| $500,000 | $2,500 | $7,100 | +$4,600 |
Fee equals the funding fee rate times the loan amount. The $325,000 and $400,000 examples match figures published by Stars and Stripes and Military Times. Borrowers may finance the fee, which avoids cash at closing but raises the loan balance and the interest paid.
Why NAMB opposes it
It shrinks a program veterans use
VA reported 119,457 IRRRLs in 2025, up 135% from 50,825 in 2024. Veterans are using this tool to lower their payments. Pricing them out takes that relief away.
It sets a bad precedent
Asking one group of veteran homeowners to fund benefits for another group undercuts the purpose of the VA home loan program.
NAMB's ask: find a better way to pay
Remove the VA home loan fee increases from the package, and pay for the benefits with designated appropriations or unobligated program funds. Pass the standalone Major Richard Star Act (H.R. 2102 / S. 1032) so combat-injured veterans get relief without a fee hike on veteran homeowners.
Good to know: a separate debate is also underway
Section 104 is not the only funding fight. Other parts of the bill's financing, including changes to disability ratings for sleep apnea and tinnitus (Section 108), have drawn strong opposition from veterans service organizations and from Senate Democrats. NAMB's Call to Action focuses on Section 104 and the VA home loan program. Expect Senate debate to cover both.
Take action in five minutes
Every contact counts, especially from brokers, loan officers and veterans in the Senator's own state.
- Use NAMB's Call to Action.
Send your message to your Representative and Senators in a few clicks.
Open the Call to Action - Call your Senators. Dial the Capitol Switchboard at (202) 224-3121 and ask for your Senator's office, or find your Senators here.
- Share the tiles.
Post NAMB's social media tiles and tag your Senators.
Download Social Media Tiles - Forward the infographic to your team, your referral partners and your veteran clients.
- Tell NAMB what you hear. Email namb@namb.org if a staffer asks for more information.
30-second phone script
Ready-to-post social copy
Resources
Share these with members, partners and clients.
NAMB letter to House leadership
NAMB's formal opposition to the funding fee increases in Section 104.
Read the letter (PDF)Industry voices
The Mortgage Bankers Association has also said it cannot fully support the bill because of Section 104.
Read the MBA letterQuick answers
What is an IRRRL?
An Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan is the streamlined VA-to-VA refinance. It lets a veteran with an existing VA loan move to a lower rate with limited paperwork.
Who pays the VA funding fee?
Veterans who receive VA disability compensation, and some other groups, are exempt. Other borrowers pay the fee, and may finance it into the loan. Section 104 raises the fee for those non-exempt borrowers.
Does NAMB oppose the whole bill?
No. NAMB supports the benefits in the bill, including the Major Richard Star Act provisions. NAMB opposes Section 104 and asks Congress to pay for the benefits another way.
Is the fee increase law?
No. The House has passed H.R. 9237, but the Senate has not voted. Both chambers must pass the same text and the President must sign it before anything changes.
Why contact the Senate if the House already voted?
The Senate must act before either bill becomes law, and it can amend the text. Senators are the ones who can still remove or change Section 104.
Why is the Major Richard Star Act part of NAMB's ask?
It delivers relief to combat-injured retirees on its own. The House passed it as a standalone bill on Nov. 12, 392 to 18, which shows those benefits can move without a fee hike on veteran homeowners.
Fuel the fight: give to NAMBPAC
NAMBPAC is NAMB's voluntary, non-partisan political action committee. It raises money to support candidates who understand the issues facing mortgage brokers and who back our priorities. It is the only PAC that represents mortgage brokers' interests on Capitol Hill.
- Individuals give through NAMBPAC's multi-candidate account, made up of personal "hard dollar" contributions.
- Companies can give too. Corporate funds go into NAMBPAC's non-federal account.
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Questions? Contact NAMB
601 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 900, Washington, DC 20004 | (202) 434-8250 | namb@namb.org
Legislative status is current as of November 15, 2026 and may change quickly. Fee examples are illustrations at the stated rates.
