[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 130 (Tuesday, October 17, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H9911-H9912]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 2000

  Mr. STUMP. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and concur in 
the Senate amendments to the bill (H.R. 4850) to provide a cost-of-
living adjustment in rates of compensation paid to veterans with 
service-connected disabilities, to enhance programs providing 
compensation and life insurance benefits for veterans, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

       Senate amendment:
       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 2000''.

     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, 2000, 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 sections 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 Increase.--(1) The increase under 
     subsection (a) shall be made in the dollar amounts specified 
     in subsection (b) as in effect on November 30, 2000.
       (2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), 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, 2000, as a result of a determination under 
     section 215(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)).
       (3) Each dollar amount increased pursuant to paragraph (2) 
     shall, if not a whole dollar amount, be rounded down to the 
     next lower whole dollar amount.
       (d) 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.

     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 2001, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     publish in the Federal Register the amounts specified in 
     subsection (b) of section 2, as increased pursuant to that 
     section.
       Amend the title so as to read: ``An Act to increase, 
     effective as of December 1, 2000, 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 SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Stump) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump).


                             General Leave

  Mr. STUMP. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4850.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. STUMP. Madam 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. H.R. 4850 is the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living 
Adjustment Act of 2000.
  This is a clean bill providing a cost-of-living adjustment to 
disabled veterans and their surviving spouses. Current estimates 
indicate that the increase will be about 3 percent, and veterans will 
see this increase in their January check.
  I urge my colleagues to support the passage of H.R. 4850.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4850, as amended. I 
thank the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump) once again for his 
leadership on this important legislation and for his continued efforts 
on behalf of this Nation's veterans.
  I also want to thank the gentleman from New York (Mr. Quinn), the 
chairman of the Subcommittee on Benefits, and the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner), the ranking Democratic member of the 
subcommittee for their hard work on this measure.
  The importance of this legislation cannot be overstated. It protects 
the purchasing power of service-connected disability benefits which our 
Nation's veterans have earned by virtue of their military service, and 
it affords similar protection for the recipients of dependency and 
indemnity compensation (DIC).
  Under the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 
2000, effective December 1, a cost-of-living adjustment will be 
provided for service-connected disability compensation and DIC 
benefits. This adjustment will be the same as that provided to Social 
Security recipients.
  I call on every Member of this body to support this important 
legislation.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. NEY. Madam Speaker, I commend the following article to my 
colleagues:
  On behalf of all the Veterans, I stand in support of H.R. 4850, the 
Veterans Cost of Living Adjustments Act of 2000 and urge all my 
colleagues to do the same. I thank Chairman Stump for introducing this 
piece of legislation and giving the House and Senate the opportunity to 
vote on such a bill.
  H.R. 4850 directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the 
rates of veterans disability compensation, dependency and indemnity 
compensation, additional compensation for dependents, and the clothing 
allowance for certain disabled veterans, effective December 1, 2000.
  Not only does the bill give veterans a cost of living adjustment, but 
this legislation includes a provision that will directly benefit 
veterans in Ohio attending Ohio University in Athens. The Department of 
Veterans Affairs (VA) decided to reverse itself on a long-standing 
policy issue and eliminate a December veterans educational benefit 
payment to approximately 360 eligible veterans who are students at Ohio 
University (OU).
  This problem now exists for veterans because of OU's extended break 
between the fall and winter quarter which runs from the day prior to 
Thanksgiving until the day after New Years, which averages about 40 
days or six weeks of down time. OU is one of only a few public 
universities that takes such a lengthy break from classes within its 
academic year. The VA has a policy which suspends benefits under the 
Montgomery GI Bill to veterans if they experience a break of more than 
30 days between enrollment periods.
  In years past, the VA approved an exemption from the policy for OU 
because the university uses the extended break to conserve energy by 
closing residence halls and academic buildings. Unfortunately, the VA 
recently ruled that OU will no longer qualify for an exemption. This 
means that if veterans are going to be paid for the month of December, 
they must be enrolled.
  In order to remedy this situation, H.R. 4850 includes a provision 
that will authorize the continued payment of monthly educational 
assistance benefits to veterans enrolled at educational institutions 
during periods between semesters or quarters if the interval does not 
exceed eight weeks. This legislation will also correct this problem for 
veterans around the country who attend other educational institutions 
that also have a break between classes of over 30 days.
  It is not reasonable to punish veterans by withholding their December 
benefits when they

[[Page H9912]]

do not have the option of enrolling in course work between the fall and 
winter quarters that is appropriate to their academic programs. The 
Veterans Cost of Living Adjustments Act of 2000 will right this wrong 
and help veterans who are trying to better their lives by completing 
college.
  I again thank the Chairman and urge my colleagues to support this 
legislation.
  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Stump, 
Ranking Member Evans and Mr. Quinn, Chairman of the Subcommittee on 
Benefits for once again assuring our country's veterans and their 
survivors that the value of their VA benefits will not be eroded by 
increases in the cost of living.
  This measure is important to the continued financial well-being of 
our disabled veterans and their survivors. H.R. 4850 will provide a 
cost-of-living increase comparable to the increase received by Social 
Security beneficiaries. Our veterans and their families deserve no 
less.
  I urge all members to support this bill.
  Mr. GILMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 
4850, The Veterans' Cost of Living Adjustments Act of 2000.
  H.R. 4850 authorizes a cost-of-living adjustment to veterans who 
receive disability compensation and dependency and indemnity 
compensation to surviving spouses of prisoners of war who received 
complete disability at time of death, due to service-related injuries. 
This will be effective December 1, 2000.
  Congress has approved an annual cost-of-living adjustment to these 
veterans and survivors since 1976.
  The bill also directs that strokes and heart attacks suffered by 
reserve component members in the performing of inactive duty training 
are to be considered service-connected.
  Additionally, the legislation requires that compensation be paid at 
the ``K'' rate for the service-connected loss of one or both breasts 
due to a radical mastectomy, and expands eligibility for service-
members group life insurance policies for certain members of the 
individual ready reserve.
  Madam 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. STUMP. Madam Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from Illinois 
(Mr. Evans) for his hard work and contribution to this bill.
  Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. EVANS. Madam Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump) that the House suspend the rules and 
concur in the Senate amendments to the bill, H.R. 4850.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate amendments were 
concurred in.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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