[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 28 (Thursday, March 10, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E412]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   INTRODUCTION OF H.R. 1220, VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING 
                         ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 2005

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE BUYER

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 10, 2005

  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I am proud to introduce H.R. 1220, the 
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2005.
  Veterans' Affairs Committee Ranking Member Lane Evans, as well as 
Jeff Miller of Florida and Shelley Berkley, Chairman and Ranking Member 
of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, 
respectively, join me as original cosponsors of the bill.
  H.R. 1220 would provide a cost-of-living adjustment to veterans' 
benefits effective December 1, 2005. This would positively affect more 
than 2.9 million service-connected veterans and survivors of service-
connected veterans. Additionally, the bill codifies the current 
disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) 
rates.
  The VA Committee periodically reviews the service-connected 
disability compensation and DIC programs to ensure that the benefits 
provide reasonable and adequate compensation for disabled veterans and 
their families. Based on this review, Congress acts annually to provide 
a cost-of-living adjustment in compensation and DIC benefits.
  Mr. Speaker, Congress has consistently provided increases in these 
rates for every fiscal year since 1976. The adjustment in cost-of-
living is reflective of the economic changes annually. This is 
especially important to those veterans living on a fixed income. The 
Administration's fiscal year 2006 budget submission includes funding 
for a projected 2.3 percent increase.
  In support of our veterans, I urge my colleagues to support this 
bill.

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