[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 124 (Thursday, September 26, 2002)]
[Senate]
[Page S9550]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        VETERANS' AND SURVIVORS' BENEFITS EXPANSION ACT OF 2002

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Veterans' 
Affairs Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 4085 
and the Senate proceed to its consideration.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 4085) to amend title 38, United States Code, 
     to provide a cost-of-living increase in the rates of 
     compensation for veterans with service-connected disability 
     and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving 
     spouses of such veterans, to expand certain benefits for 
     veterans and their survivors, and for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, as chairman of the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs, I thank my colleagues in the Senate for their 
support of this legislation that will provide a cost-of-living 
adjustment to veterans' compensation for next year. I thank my 
colleagues on the Veterans' Affairs Committee, ranking member Arlen 
Specter, for his commitment to our Nation's veterans.
  The Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2002 
directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase, as of December 
1, 2002, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, as well as 
compensation for eligible dependents and surviving spouses. The 
legislation raises compensation by the same percentage as the increase 
provided to Social Security recipients.
  It is particularly important that we move this legislation as soon as 
possible. Veterans and their families depend on the cost-of-living 
increase to ensure that their well-deserved benefits are not eroded by 
inflation. Veterans' disability compensation rates must keep pace with 
the increasing cost of living.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the legislation be printed 
in the Record following this statement.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Rockefeller 
substitute amendment at the desk be agreed to; the act, as amended, be 
read a third time, passed, and the motion to reconsider be laid on the 
table, with no intervening action or debate; and that any statements 
related thereto be printed in the Record.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  The amendment (No. 4837) was agreed to, as follows:


                           Amendment No. 4837

                   (Purpose: To propose a substitute)

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Compensation Cost-
     of-Living Adjustment Act of 2002''.

     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, 2002, 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 section 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, 2002.
       (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, 2002, 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 2003, 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 to read: ``An Act to increase, effective as 
     of December 1, 2002, 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 bill (H.R. 4085), as amended, was read the third time and passed.
  The amendment to the title was agreed to.

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