[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 165 (Friday, November 19, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Pages S14902-S14903]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 1999

  Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask the Chair lay before the Senate a 
message from the House of Representatives on the bill (H.R. 2280) to 
amend title 38, United States Code, to provide a cost-of-living 
adjustment in rates of compensation paid for service-connected 
disabilities, to enhance the compensation, memorial affairs, and 
housing programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to improve 
retirement authorities applicable to judges of the United States Court 
of Appeals for Veterans Claims, and for other purposes.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER laid before the Senate the following message 
from the House of Representatives:

       Resolved, That the House agree to the amendment of the 
     Senate to the bill (H.R. 2280) entitled ``An Act to amend 
     title 38, United States Code, to provide a cost-of-living 
     adjustment in rates of compensation paid for service-
     connected disabilities, to enhance the compensation, memorial 
     affairs, and housing programs of the Department of Veterans 
     Affairs, to improve retirement authorities applicable to 
     judges of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans 
     Claims, and for other purposes'', with the following 
     amendments:
       In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted by the 
     amendment of the Senate, insert the following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES 
                   CODE.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' 
     Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 1999''.
       (b) References to Title 38, United States Code.--Except as 
     otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an 
     amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, 
     or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference 
     shall be considered to be made to a section or other 
     provision of title 38, United States Code.

     SEC. 2. DISABILITY COMPENSATION.

       (a) Increase in Rates.--Section 1114 is amended--
       (1) by striking ``$95'' in subsection (a) and inserting 
     ``$98'';
       (2) by striking ``$182'' in subsection (b) and inserting 
     ``$188'';
       (3) by striking ``$279'' in subsection (c) and inserting 
     ``$288'';
       (4) by striking ``$399'' in subsection (d) and inserting 
     ``$413'';
       (5) by striking ``$569'' in subsection (e) and inserting 
     ``$589'';
       (6) by striking ``$717'' in subsection (f) and inserting 
     ``$743'';
       (7) by striking ``$905'' in subsection (g) and inserting 
     ``$937'';
       (8) by striking ``$1,049'' in subsection (h) and inserting 
     ``$1,087'';
       (9) by striking ``$1,181'' in subsection (i) and inserting 
     ``$1,224'';
       (10) by striking ``$1,964'' in subsection (j) and inserting 
     ``$2,036'';
       (11) in subsection (k)--
       (A) by striking ``$75'' both places it appears and 
     inserting ``$76''; and
       (B) by striking ``$2,443'' and ``$3,426'' and inserting 
     ``$2,533'' and ``$3,553'', respectively;

[[Page S14903]]

       (12) by striking ``$2,443'' in subsection (l) and inserting 
     ``$2,533'';
       (13) by striking ``$2,694'' in subsection (m) and inserting 
     ``$2,794'';
       (14) by striking ``$3,066'' in subsection (n) and inserting 
     ``$3,179'';
       (15) by striking ``$3,426'' each place it appears in 
     subsections (o) and (p) and inserting ``$3,553'';
       (16) by striking ``$1,471'' and ``$2,190'' in subsection 
     (r) and inserting ``$1,525'' and ``$2,271'', respectively; 
     and
       (17) by striking ``$2,199'' in subsection (s) and inserting 
     ``$2,280''.
       (b) Special Rule.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
     authorize administratively, consistent with the increases 
     authorized by this section, the rates of disability 
     compensation payable to persons within the purview of section 
     10 of Public Law 85-857 who are not in receipt of 
     compensation payable pursuant to chapter 11 of title 38, 
     United States Code.

     SEC. 3. ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR DEPENDENTS.

       Section 1115(1) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``$114'' in clause (A) and inserting 
     ``$117'';
       (2) by striking ``$195'' and ``$60'' in clause (B) and 
     inserting ``$201'' and ``$61'', respectively;
       (3) by striking ``$78'' and ``$60'' in clause (C) and 
     inserting ``$80'' and ``$61'', respectively;
       (4) by striking ``$92'' in clause (D) and inserting 
     ``$95'';
       (5) by striking ``$215'' in clause (E) and inserting 
     ``$222''; and
       (6) by striking ``$180'' in clause (F) and inserting 
     ``$186''.

     SEC. 4. CLOTHING ALLOWANCE FOR CERTAIN DISABLED VETERANS.

       Section 1162 is amended by striking ``$528'' and inserting 
     ``$546''.

     SEC. 5. DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION FOR SURVIVING 
                   SPOUSES.

       (a) New Law Rates.--Section 1311(a) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``$850'' in paragraph (1) and inserting 
     ``$881''; and
       (2) by striking ``$185'' in paragraph (2) and inserting 
     ``$191''.
       (b) Old Law Rates.--The table in section 1311(a)(3) is 
     amended to read as follows:

                                   Monthly                       Monthly
``Pay grade                           rate  Pay grade               rate
    E-1......................         $881    W-4..........       $1,054
    E-2......................          881    O-1..........          930
    E-3......................          881    O-2..........          962
    E-4......................          881    O-3..........        1,028
    E-5......................          881    O-4..........        1,087
    E-6......................          881    O-5..........        1,198
    E-7......................          911    O-6..........        1,349
    E-8......................          962    O-7..........        1,458
    E-9......................    \1\ 1,003    O-8..........        1,598
    W-1......................          930    O-9..........        1,712
    W-2......................          968    O-10.........    \2\ 1,878
    W-3......................          997
 
``\1\If the veteran served as sergeant major of the Army, senior
  enlisted advisor of the Navy, chief master sergeant of the Air Force,
  sergeant major of the Marine Corps, or master chief petty officer of
  the Coast Guard, at the applicable time designated by section 1302 of
  this title, the surviving spouse's rate shall be $1,082.
``\2\If the veteran served as Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Joint
  Chiefs of Staff, Chief of Staff of the Army, Chief of Naval
  Operations, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Commandant of the Marine
  Corps, or Commandant of the Coast Guard, at the applicable time
  designated by section 1302 of this title, the surviving spouse's rate
  shall be $2,013.''.

       (c) Additional DIC for Children.--Section 1311(b) is 
     amended by striking ``$215'' and inserting ``$222''.
       (d) Aid and Attendance Allowance.--Section 1311(c) is 
     amended by striking ``$215'' and inserting ``$222''.
       (e) Housebound Rate.--Section 1311(d) is amended by 
     striking ``$104'' and inserting ``$107''.

     SEC. 6. DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION FOR CHILDREN.

       (a) DIC for Orphan Children.--Section 1313(a) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``$361'' in paragraph (1) and inserting 
     ``$373'';
       (2) by striking ``$520'' in paragraph (2) and inserting 
     ``$538'';
       (3) by striking ``$675'' in paragraph (3) and inserting 
     ``$699''; and
       (4) by striking ``$675'' and ``$132'' in paragraph (4) and 
     inserting ``$699'' and ``$136'', respectively.
       (b) Supplemental DIC for Disabled Adult Children.--Section 
     1314 is amended--
       (1) by striking ``$215'' in subsection (a) and inserting 
     ``$222'';
       (2) by striking ``$361'' in subsection (b) and inserting 
     ``$373''; and
       (3) by striking ``$182'' in subsection (c) and inserting 
     ``$188''.

     SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on 
     December 1, 1999.
       Amend the title so as to read ``An Act to amend title 38, 
     United States Code, to provide a cost-of-living adjustment in 
     the rates of disability compensation for veterans with 
     service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency 
     and indemnity compensation for survivors of such veterans.''.

  Ms. COLLINS. I ask unanimous consent the Senate agree to the 
amendments of the House.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                          ____________________