[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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