[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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