[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 137 (Saturday, September 28, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H12121-H12122]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  2230
      VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 1996

  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the 
Speaker's table 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, with 
Senate amendments thereto, and concur in the Senate amendments.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The Clerk read the Senate amendments, as follows:
       Senate amendments:
       Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Compensation Cost-
     of-Living Adjustment Act of 1996''.

     SEC. 2. INCREASE IN COMPENSATION RATES AND LIMITATIONS.

       (a) In General.--(1) the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall, as provided in paragraph (2), increase, effective 
     December 1, 1996, the rates of and limitations on Department 
     of Veterans Affairs disability compensation and dependency 
     and indemnity compensation.
       (2) The Secretary shall increase each of the rates and 
     limitations in sections 1114, 1115(1), 1162, 1311, 1313, and 
     1314 of title 38, United States Code, that were increased by 
     the amendments made by the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-
     Living Adjustment Act of 1995 (Public Law No. 104-57; 109 
     Stat. 555). This increase shall be made in such rates and 
     limitations as in effect on November 30, 1996, and 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, 1996, as a result of a 
     determination under section 215(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
     415(i)).
       (b) Special Rule.--The Secretary may adjust 
     administratively, consistent with the increases made under 
     subsection (a)(2), 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.
       (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 1996, the Secretary 
     shall publish in the Federal Register the rates and 
     limitations referred to in subsection (a)(2) as increased 
     under this section.

  Mr. STUMP (during the reading). Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent 
that the Senate amendments be considered as read and printed in the 
record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the original request 
of the gentleman from Arizona?
  Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, reserving the right to object, and I 
will not object, I yield to the gentleman from Arizona to explain the 
bill.
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding me time.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 3458, as amended, the COLA 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.
  I would like to take a minute to thank Chairman Simpson and Senator 
Rockefeller and their staff for all of the hard work done on this and 
the two veterans bills just passed.
  I also want to thank all our subcommittee chairman and ranking 
members on the VA Committee for their hard work and bipartisan approach 
on our legislation this Congress.
  In addition, I want to thank the staff members of the House Veterans' 
Affairs Committee for their support, hard work and willingness to do 
things in a bipartisan manner.
  The veterans' service organizations have worked well with us on these 
bills and we appreciate their assistance and cooperation as well. I 
must take just a moment to express my deep appreciation and sincere 
thanks to the gentleman from Mississippi and my good friend Sonny 
Montgomery, the ranking minority member of the full committee for his 
work on this measure, the final veterans bill to be passed during his 
career in the House. Without his efforts these bills would not be on 
the floor today.
  And Mr. Speaker, without his leadership on veterans' issues over the 
past 30 years this country would not have fulfilled its obligation to 
our veterans of military service the way we have.
  Sonny Montgomery's commitment and dedication to the men and women 
serving in our Armed Forces has rightfully earned him the title ``Mr. 
Veteran''.
  The members of the National Security Committee and the Veterans' 
Affairs Committee will miss his energetic support for those individuals 
wearing our country's uniform and those who have worn it.
  I will personally miss his friendship and counsel over the many years 
we have served together in this body.
  We wish this great legislator and champion of veterans the very best 
in all his future endeavors.
  I hope all Members will support this bill and I ask unanimous consent 
to revise and extend my remarks and that all members may have 5 
legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 3458, as 
amended.
  Mr. MONTGOMERY. Mr. Speaker, further reserving the right to object, 
Mr. Chairman, Bob Stump, thank you for the great ride. We have been 
together on a nonpartisan committee for

[[Page H12122]]

many years, and I thank the gentleman for his very, very kind words and 
wish him the best.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by thanking the chairman of the 
committee, Bob Stump, for working with the Senate to bring this bill to 
the floor today. I also want to recognize the hard work of the chairman 
and ranking member of the Subcommittee on Compensation, Pension, 
Insurance, and Memorial Affairs, Terry Everett and Lane Evans.
  I am pleased that the Senate has sent this very important bill over 
for final action.
  H.R. 3458, as amended, is a bill that millions of veterans and the 
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 
these disabled veterans and the survivors of veterans. Many of these 
beneficiaries depend on their monthly VA check to pay their rent and 
feed their families.
  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, who have earned our respect and assistance.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I withdraw my reservation of objection.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the original request 
of the gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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