[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 134 (Wednesday, September 30, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S11196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 1998

  Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
now proceed to the consideration of Calendar No. 593, S. 2273.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2273) to increase, effective as of December 1, 
     1998, the rates of disability compensation for veterans with 
     service-connected disabilities, and the rates of dependency 
     and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain service-
     connected disabled veterans, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the 
bill which had been reported from the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 
with an amendment; as follows:

       (The part of the bill intended to be stricken are shown in 
     boldface brackets and the part of the bill intended to be 
     inserted are shown in italic.)

                                S. 2273

       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 1998''.

     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, 1998, 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 Rate 
     Amendments of 1997 (Public Law 105-98; 111 Stat. 2155). This 
     increase shall be made in such rates and limitations as in 
     effect on November 30, 1998, 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, 1998, as a result of a determination 
     under section 215(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)).
       (3) In the computation of increased dollar amounts pursuant 
     to paragraph (2), any amount which as so computed is not an 
     even multiple of $1 shall be rounded to the next lower whole 
     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 (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 [1998] 1999, the 
     Secretary shall publish in the Federal Register the rates and 
     limitations referred to in subsection (a)(2) as increased 
     under this section.

  Mr. SHELBY. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee 
amendment be agreed to, the bill be considered read a third time, and 
the Veterans' Affairs Committee then be discharged from further 
consideration of H.R. 4110, and that the Senate then proceed to its 
consideration. I further ask unanimous consent that all after the 
enacting clause be stricken and the text of S. 2273, as amended, be 
inserted in lieu thereof, the bill be read a third time and passed, the 
motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that any statement 
relating to the bill be printed in the Record.
  I finally ask that S. 2273 be placed back on the calendar.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 4110), as amended, was read for a third time and 
passed.

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