[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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