[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 52 (Wednesday, May 4, 1994)]
[Senate]
[Page S]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 4, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
      VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 1994

  Mr. LEVIN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar No. 418, S. 1927, a 
bill relating to veterans' compensation; that the committee amendment 
be agreed to; that the bill be read a third time and passed; that the 
motion to reconsider be laid upon the table; and that any statements 
appear at the appropriate place in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  So the bill (S. 1927) was deemed read the third time and passed, as 
amended as follows:

                                S. 1927

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Compensation Cost-
     of-Living Adjustment Act of 1994''.

     SEC. 2. DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY 
                   COMPENSATION RATE INCREASES.

       (a) In General.--(1) The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall, as provided in paragraph (2), increase, effective 
     December 1, 1994, the rates of and limitations on Department 
     of Veterans Affairs disability compensation and dependency 
     and indemnity compensation.
       (2)(A) The Secretary shall increase each of the rates and 
     limitations provided for in sections 1114, 1115(1), 1162, 
     1311, 1313, and 1314 of title 38, United States Code. The 
     increase shall be by the same percentage that benefit amounts 
     payable under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 
     401 et seq.) are increased effective December 1, 1994, as a 
     result of a determination under section 215(i) of such Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 415(i)).
       (B) In the computation of increased rates and limitations 
     pursuant to subparagraph (A), amounts of $0.50 or more shall 
     be rounded to the next higher dollar amount and amounts of 
     less than $0.50 shall be rounded to the next lower dollar 
     amount.
       (b) Special Rule.--The Secretary may adjust 
     administratively, consistent with the increases made under 
     subsection (a), the rates of disability compensation payable 
     to persons within the purview of section 10 of Public Law 85-
     857 (2 Stat. 1263) who are not in receipt of compensation 
     payable pursuant to chapter 11 of title 38, United States 
     Code.
       (c) Publication Requirement.--At the same time as the 
     matters specified in section 215(i)(2)(D) of the Social 
     Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)(2)(D)) are required to be 
     published by reason of a determination made under section 
     215(i) of such Act during fiscal year 1994, the Secretary 
     shall publish in the Federal Register the rates and 
     limitations referred to in subsection (a)(2)(A) as increased 
     under this section.

  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Madam President, as the chairman of the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs, I am delighted that the Senate is considering S. 
1927, the proposed Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act 
of 1994.
  Effective December 1, 1994, this bill would increase the rates of 
compensation paid to veterans with service-connected disabilities, and 
the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation [DIC] paid to the 
survivors of certain service-disabled veterans, by the same percentage 
as the increase in Social Security and VA pension benefits effective 
the same date. Currently, the Congressional Budget Office estimates 
that the fiscal year 1995 cost-of-living adjustment [COLA] will be 3 
percent. A 3-percent COLA increases the basic monthly compensation for 
a totally disabled veteran from $1,774 to $1,827 per month--a $53 
increase. S. 1927 also would increase the payments for all qualified 
recipients of DIC by $23 per month.
  There are 2.2 million service-disabled veterans and 345,000 survivors 
who depend on these compensation programs. These individuals have made 
enormous sacrifices on behalf of this Nation. As chairman of the 
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I am committed to ensuring that these 
veterans and veterans' survivors receive the benefits they deserve. I 
believe strongly that we have a fundamental obligation to meet the 
needs of those who became disabled as the result of military service, 
as well as the needs of their families. This measure fulfills one of 
the most important aspects of that obligation.
  Ever since I began my career in public service, I have worked closely 
with the veterans of my home State of West Virginia, and now, as 
chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I have had the 
opportunity to work with veterans all across the country. Consequently, 
I am keenly aware of the fact that the compensation payments that would 
be increased by this bill have a profound effect on the everyday lives 
of the veterans and veterans' survivors who receive them. It is our 
responsibility to continue to provide cost-of-living adjustments--
equally to all qualified recipients--in compensation and DIC benefits, 
in order to guarantee that the value of these essential, service-
connected VA benefits is not eroded by inflation.
  I am very proud that Congress consistently has fulfilled its 
obligation to make sure that the real value of these benefits is 
preserved by providing an annual COLA for compensation and DIC benefits 
every fiscal year since 1976. Most recently, on November 11, 1993, 
Veterans' Day, President Clinton signed Public Law 103-140 into law, 
providing a 2.6-percent increase in these benefits, effective December 
1, 1993.
  We cannot ever repay the debt we owe to the individuals who have 
sacrificed so much for our country. Service-disabled veterans and the 
survivors of those who died as the result of service-connected 
conditions are reminded daily of the price they have paid for the 
freedom we all enjoy. The very least we can do is protect the value of 
the benefits they have earned through their sacrifice.
  I strongly urge all of my colleagues to support this vitally 
important measure.

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