[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 104 (Tuesday, July 16, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H7545-H7546]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 1996

  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 3458) to increase, effective as of December 1, 1996, the rates of 
compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the 
rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of 
certain disabled veterans.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 3458

       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 1996''.

     SEC. 2. INCREASE IN RATES OF DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND 
                   DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION.

       (a) Rate Adjustment.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall, effective on December 1, 1996, increase the dollar 
     amounts in effect for the payment of disability compensation 
     and dependency and indemnity compensation by the Secretary, 
     as specified in subsection (b).
       (b) Amounts To Be Increased.--The dollar amounts to be 
     increased pursuant to subsection (a) are the following:
       (1) Compensation.--Each of the dollar amounts in effect 
     under section 1114 of title 38, United States Code.
       (2) Additional compensation for dependents.--Each of the 
     dollar amounts in effect under section 1115(1) of such title.
       (3) Clothing allowance.--The dollar amount in effect under 
     section 1162 of such title.
       (4) New dic rates.--The dollar amounts in effect under 
     paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 1311(a) of such title.
       (5) Old dic rates.--Each of the dollar amounts in effect 
     under section 1311(a)(3) of such title.
       (6) Additional dic for surviving spouses with minor 
     children.--The dollar amount in effect under section 1311(b) 
     of such title.
       (7) Additional dic for disability.--The dollar amounts in 
     effect under sections 1311(c) and 1311(d) of such title.
       (8) DIC for dependent children.--The dollar amounts in 
     effect under sections 1313(a) and 1314 of such title.
       (c) Determination of Percentage Increase.--(1) The increase 
     under subsection (a) shall be made in the dollar amounts 
     specified in subsection (b) as in effect on November 30, 
     1996. Each such amount shall be increased by the same 
     percentage as the percentage by which benefit amounts payable 
     under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et 
     seq.) are increased effective December 1, 1996, as a result 
     of a determination under section 215(i) of such Act (42 
     U.S.C. 415(i)).
       (2) In the computation of increased dollar amounts pursuant 
     to paragraph (1), any amount which as so computed is not an 
     even multiple of $1 shall be rounded to the next lower whole 
     dollar amount.
       (d) Special Rule.--The Secretary may adjust 
     administratively, consistent with the increased made under 
     subsection (a), the rates of disability compensation payable 
     to persons within the purview of section 10 of Public Law 85-
     857 (72 Stat. 1263) who are not in receipt of compensation 
     payable pursuant to chapter 11 of title 38, United States 
     Code.

     SEC. 3. PUBLICATION OF ADJUSTED RATES.

       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 1996, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     publish in the Federal Register the amounts specified in 
     section 2(b), as increased pursuant to section 2.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona [Mr. Stump] and the gentleman from Mississippi [Mr. Montgomery] 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Stump].


                             general leave

  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
on H.R. 3458.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. STUMP asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, this bill increases the rates of compensation 
for veterans with service connected disabilities and the rates of 
dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain 
disabled veterans.
  The increase would be effective on December 1, 1996, and would be the 
same percentage increase as applied to Social Security benefits.
  The bill also rounds down to the next lower dollar amount, all 
compensation and DIC benefit payments when not a whole dollar amount.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a clean COLA bill without any other provisions 
attached to it.
  In the past, additional provisions on veterans' COLA bills have 
become controversial, so we have avoided that potential and I urge all 
Members to support the bill.
  I want to thank my good friend, Sonny Montgomery, the ranking 
minority member of the full committee, for his hard work and guidance 
on this measure.
  Before yielding to him, I also want to thank Terry Everett, chairman 
of the Subcommittee on Compensation, Pension, Insurance and Memorial 
Affairs and Lane Evans, the ranking minority member on the 
subcommittee.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Alabama [Mr. Everett].
  Mr. EVERETT. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3458 will provide a cost of living 
allowance increase for those who receive compensation and pension as 
well as other related benefits. The COLA will be in an amount equal to 
the COLA given to Social Security recipients, and is currently 
estimated at 2.8 percent. The bill will also round the COLA down to the 
next lower dollar.
  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased we can give a full COLA this year to help 
our most deserving and neediest veterans and their survivors. I urge my 
colleagues to support the bill.
  Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a bill that increases the compensation for 
service-connected veterans, their survivors, and certain disabled 
veterans. This bill is one that millions of veterans and spouses of 
veterans who died of a service-connected cause depend on the Congress 
to enact. Each time we do so we reaffirm our commitment to disabled 
veterans and the survivors of veterans. Many of these beneficiaries 
depend on their monthly VA check, Mr. Speaker, to pay their rent and to 
feed their families.

                              {time}  1315

  The married veteran with no other dependents who is rated totally 
disabled, 100 percent disabled, is currently eligible for $1,975 per 
month in VA disability payments.
  In most cities and communities this amount is enough to allow the 
veteran and his family to live in some comfort, but it does not allow 
for many frills or luxuries. My colleagues can understand that even 
modest increases in food and housing costs must be addressed by 
providing cost of living increases to these veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Arizona, Chairman 
Stump, for his cooperation. I think we probably have the most 
nonpartisan committee in the Congress of the United States. We are very 
proud of that. I want to commend on my side of the aisle the gentleman 
from Illinois, Lane Evans, for his work on this subcommittee and also 
to the gentleman from Alabama, Mr. Everett, chairman of that 
subcommittee.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois [Mr. 
Evans].
  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this legislation and to 
commend Chairman Stump, Subcommittee Chairman Terry Everett, and all of 
the members who have supported providing adequate compensation to 
veterans with service-connected disabilities and to spouses of veterans 
who die of service-connected causes.
  This legislation which we are considering today is a small token of 
our esteem for those who left the service with disabilities. It 
provides for an increase estimated to be 2.8 percent for veterans 
drawing disability compensation as well as the spouses of veterans who 
die of a service-connected cause. There are other measures that we will

[[Page H7546]]

consider today that make improvements in veterans programs, but none 
will touch as many lives as this legislation.
  I urge my colleagues to pass this far-reaching and vital legislation.
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Arizona [Mr. Hayworth], a member of the committee.
  Mr. HAYWORTH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding time to 
me.
  I also stand to salute our chairman, the dean of the Arizona 
delegation, for the commonsense approach he brings to the challenges we 
face on the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, as does the ranking member, 
my good friend from Mississippi, Mr. Montgomery, who we share in the 
despair of him leaving this institution at the end of this term.
  My colleague from Illinois, Mr. Evans, said it quite succinctly. No 
other measure will affect more people who have worn the uniform of this 
Nation than this cost-of-living adjustment.
  Mr. Speaker, I stand in this well today simply to take note of the 
fact, as I have before, where on many different occasions we come here 
with profound philosophical differences and different approaches on how 
we should solve the problems, that today, once again, the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs serves as an example of what is possible when Members 
agree to rather commonsense, broad precepts such as a cost-of-living 
adjustment for deserving veterans with disabilities and their 
survivors. This is an outstanding piece of legislation. It is a 
commonsense approach that brings the concept of fairness to those who 
have worn this Nation's uniform. I endorse it wholeheartedly.
  I urge my colleagues to vote in the affirmative for the legislation. 
I thank those Members on both sides of the aisle for their meaningful 
participation in getting this work done, and I salute the subcommittee 
chairman.
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New 
York [Mr. Gilman] chairman of the Committee on International Relations.
  (Mr. GILMAN asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the distinguished ranking 
member of the subcommittee and the chairman of the committee for 
bringing this measure to the floor at this time. Mr. Stump and Mr. 
Montgomery have been continual advocates of our veterans' benefits.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3458, the 
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act.
  H.R. 3458 authorizes a full cost-of-living adjustment for veterans 
with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and 
indemnity compensation [DIC] for the survivors of certain disabled 
veterans, for fiscal year 1997.
  The Disability Compensation Program is intended to provide some 
relief for those veterans whose earning potential has been adversely 
impacted as a result of disabilities incurred during military service.
  The Survivors Benefit Program is intended to provide partial 
compensation to the appropriate survivors for a loss of financial 
support due to a service-connected death.
  Congress has provided an annual cost-of-living adjustment to these 
veterans and survivors since 1976.
  Mr. Speaker, I believe this is a worthy piece of legislation and an 
appropriate response of this legislative body to the sacrifices made by 
our Nation's veterans and their families.
  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 3458 
The Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act.
  As a cosponsor of this legislation, I believe that H.R. 3458 takes 
great strides in securing that our veterans are fairly and adequately 
compensated for their service to our country.
  The bill calls for an increased rate of compensation for the 2.2 
million veterans whose injuries are connected to their military 
service, as well as 300,000 survivors of veterans who died from 
service-connected injuries.
  We have an obligation to provide for those injured while serving to 
defend our country. This bill provides for a much needed increase in 
compensation, bringing it up to the same level as Social Security 
benefits. The current estimate of a 2.8-percent increase will provide 
relief from the impaired earning capacity of disabled veterans and 
their families.
  Mr. Chairman, it is time that we recognize the sacrifices of our 
Nation's disabled veterans and adjust their compensation fairly. This 
legislation serves our veterans, as they so selflessly and heroically 
served our Nation, and I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and 
I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Gutknecht). The question is on the 
motion offered by the gentleman from Arizona [Mr. Stump] that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 3458.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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