[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 75 (Tuesday, May 20, 2003)]
[House]
[Pages H4273-H4275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 2003

  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 1683) to increase, effective as of December 1, 2003, 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.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1683

       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 2003''.

     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, 2003, 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:

[[Page H4274]]

       (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, 2003.
       (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, 2003, 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 2004, 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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman).
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this is one of the most important bills the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs brings to the floor each year. H.R. 1683 would 
provide, effective December 1, 2003, a full cost-of-living adjustment 
to the compensation veterans receive for their service-connected 
disabilities. Survivors receiving dependency and indemnity 
compensation, DIC, would also receive this increase.
  The basic purpose of the disability compensation program is to 
provide a measure of relief from the impaired earning capacity of 
veterans disabled as a result of their military service. As of April, 
2003, more than 2.4 million veterans were receiving service-connected 
disability compensation. These benefits are paid monthly and range from 
$104 for a 10 percent disability to $2,193 for a 100 percent 
disability.
  Additional monetary benefits are available for our most severely 
disabled veterans as well as those with dependents. Spouses of veterans 
who died on active duty or as a result of a service-connected 
disability likewise are entitled to monetary compensation as the Nation 
assumes in part the legal and moral obligation of the veteran to 
support the spouse and children. Depending on their spouse's rank or 
grade in service, a spouse receives between $948 and $2,021 monthly.
  Currently, there are more than 295,000 surviving spouses and more 
than 29,900 children receiving dependency and indemnity compensation. 
At the end of 2003, VA will have paid approximately $14.2 billion for 
the year in compensation benefits. With the cost-of-living adjustments 
estimated at 2 percent, that number will rise to approximately $14.6 
billion for 2004, a $335 million increase.
  I would like to commend the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Brown) 
and the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud), the chairman and ranking 
member of the Subcommittee on Benefits, for considering this bill in a 
timely fashion, ensuring that veterans receive their COLA. As the new 
chairman of the subcommittee, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. 
Brown) has proven himself a leader and advocate for our Nation's 
veterans and their survivors. I appreciate his diligence and dedication 
to the committee.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the chairman of the full 
committee, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Smith), the Subcommittee 
on Benefits chairman, the gentleman from South Carolina (Mr. Brown), 
and the ranking member, the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud) for 
their spirit of bipartisanship in fashioning this legislation. Their 
work has resulted in an excellent bill, strongly supported by Members 
on both sides of the aisle.
  H.R. 1683, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act 
for 2003, will help our service-disabled veterans and their survivors 
to maintain the value of their compensation benefits despite any 
increase in the cost of living. Although we will not know the amount of 
the actual increase until the Consumer Price Index is computed this 
fall, the bill will provide for an appropriate increase in benefits for 
the year 2004.
  Our Nation's veterans and survivors have earned these benefits, and 
we must never allow them to erode by the simple passage of time. This 
is a bill which deserves the support of all Members of this House. I 
urge my fellow Members to support it.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Maine 
(Mr. Michaud).
  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I wish to thank the ranking member for 
yielding me this time; and I rise today in strong support of H.R. 1683, 
the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2003. I 
would like to thank the chairman of the committee, the gentleman from 
New Jersey (Mr. Smith) and the ranking member, the gentleman from 
Illinois (Mr. Evans) for their leadership on the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs.
  Mr. Speaker, I fully support H.R. 1683 and am proud to be an original 
cosponsor of this measure. This legislation would provide important 
cost-of-living adjustments to the rates of disabled compensation 
payments for veterans with service-connected disabilities.

                              {time}  1115

  Mr. Speaker, this bill would also increase the rate of dependency 
indemnity compensation for survivors of certain service-connected 
disabled veterans. As in the past, the percentage would be equal to the 
increase for benefits provided under the Social Security Act, which is 
calculated based upon the change in the Consumer Price Index.
  Mr. Speaker, our veterans and their survivors deserve the full and 
fair benefits of a grateful Nation. By providing this modest cost-of-
living adjustment, we take a small step in the right direction. But we 
must continue to ensure that our veterans' earned benefits remain at a 
respectable level. Our veterans and their families deserve more, and we 
must continue to fight for their well-being. This bill will help many 
veterans and their family members to keep pace with the rising cost of 
living.
  Mr. Speaker, I know that veterans and their survivors from my State 
of Maine will appreciate the efforts of our committee to bring forth 
this legislation. I fully support H.R. 1683 and urge my colleagues to 
pass this measure.
  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 
1683, the ``Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 
2003.''
  This legislation provides a financial boost to our deserving 
veterans. H.R. 1683 increases the disability compensation rates for 
veterans who have suffered injuries as a result of their service, and 
also increases the rates of compensation for dependency and indemnity 
compensation for the survivors of certain veterans. Specifically, H.R. 
1683 increases the compensation for veterans, their dependents, the 
clothing allowance, and dependency and indemnity for surviving spouses 
with minor children.
  Our veterans have made immeasurable sacrifices for all Americans. 
H.R. 1683 ensures that veterans get the cost-of-living adjustment

[[Page H4275]]

they need and deserve. This legislation will increase the compensation 
our veterans receive to offset the additional cost associated with 
inflation. This adjustment in compensation is very timely considering 
the present sluggishness of our economy.
  More than 2 million veterans receive disability compensation each 
month as a result of injuries suffered in the course of military 
service. Nearly 600,000 spouses, children, and parents of veterans will 
also receive additional compensation and benefits as a result of H.R. 
1683.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1683 is a bill that helps our heroic veterans live 
more comfortable lives. I support H.R. 1683 and I salute our veterans.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, I urge Members to support the Veterans' 
Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2003, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 1683.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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