[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 94 (Wednesday, July 13, 2005)]
[House]
[Pages H5749-H5754]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


.


      VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 2005

  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 1220) to increase, effective as of December 1, 2005, 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, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 1220

       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 ``Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-
     Living Adjustment Act of 2005''.

     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, 2005, 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 amounts in effect under section 1311(b) 
     of such title and paragraph (1) of section 1311(f) of such 
     title (as redesignated by subsection (e) of this section).
       (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) Base for increase.--The increase under subsection (a) 
     shall be made in the dollar amounts specified in subsection 
     (b) as in effect on November 30, 2005.
       (2) Percentage of increase.--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, 2005, as a 
     result of a determination under section 215(i) of such Act 
     (42 U.S.C. 415(i)).
       (3) Rounding.--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.
       (e) Designation Correction.--Section 1311 of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended by redesignating the second 
     subsection (e) (added by section 301(a) of the Veterans 
     Benefits Improvement Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-454; 118 
     Stat. 3610)) as subsection (f).

     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 2006, 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.

     SEC. 4. CODIFICATION OF FISCAL YEAR 2005 COST-OF-LIVING 
                   ADJUSTMENT PROVIDED IN PUBLIC LAW 108-363.

       (a) Veterans' Disability Compensation.--Section 1114 of 
     title 38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``$106'' and inserting 
     ``$108'';
       (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``$205'' and inserting 
     ``$210'';
       (3) in subsection (c), by striking ``$316'' and inserting 
     ``$324'';
       (4) in subsection (d), by striking ``$454'' and inserting 
     ``$466'';
       (5) in subsection (e), by striking ``$646'' and inserting 
     ``$663'';
       (6) in subsection (f), by striking ``$817'' and inserting 
     ``$839'';
       (7) in subsection (g), by striking ``$1,029'' and inserting 
     ``$1,056'';
       (8) in subsection (h), by striking ``$1,195'' and inserting 
     ``$1,227'';
       (9) in subsection (i), by striking ``$1,344'' and inserting 
     ``$1,380'';
       (10) in subsection (j), by striking ``$2,239'' and 
     inserting ``$2,299'';
       (11) in subsection (k)--
       (A) by striking ``$82'' both places it appears and 
     inserting ``$84''; and
       (B) by striking ``$2,785'' and ``$3,907'' and inserting 
     ``$2,860'' and ``$4,012'', respectively;
       (12) in subsection (l), by striking ``$2,785'' and 
     inserting ``$2,860'';
       (13) in subsection (m), by striking ``$3,073'' and 
     inserting ``$3,155'';
       (14) in subsection (n), by striking ``$3,496'' and 
     inserting ``$3,590'';
       (15) in subsections (o) and (p), by striking ``$3,907'' 
     each place it appears and inserting ``$4,012'';
       (16) in subsection (r), by striking ``$1,677'' and 
     ``$2,497'' and inserting ``$1,722'' and ``$2,564'', 
     respectively; and
       (17) in subsection (s), by striking ``$2,506'' and 
     inserting ``$2,573''.
       (b) Additional Compensation for Dependents.--Section 
     1115(1) of such title is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``$127'' and inserting 
     ``$130'';
       (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``$219'' and ``$65'' 
     and inserting ``$224'' and ``$66'', respectively;
       (3) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``$86'' and ``$65'' 
     and inserting ``$88'' and ``$66'', respectively;
       (4) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``$103'' and inserting 
     ``$105'';

[[Page H5750]]

       (5) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``$241''and inserting 
     ``$247''; and
       (6) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``$202'' and inserting 
     ``$207''.
       (c) Clothing Allowance for Certain Disabled Veterans.--
     Section 1162 of such title is amended by striking ``$600'' 
     and inserting ``$616''.
       (d) Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for Surviving 
     Spouses.--
       (1) New law dic.--Section 1311(a) of such title is 
     amended--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$967'' and inserting 
     ``$993''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$208'' and inserting 
     ``$213''.
       (2) Old law dic.--The table in paragraph (3) of such 
     section is amended to read as follows:

``Pay grade                                                Monthly rate
E-1................................................................$993
E-2................................................................$993
E-3................................................................$993
E-4................................................................$993
E-5................................................................$993
E-6................................................................$993
E-7..............................................................$1,027
E-8..............................................................$1,084
E-9.............................................................1$1,131
W-1..............................................................$1,049
W-2..............................................................$1,091
W-3..............................................................$1,123
W-4..............................................................$1,188
O-1..............................................................$1,049
O-2..............................................................$1,084
O-3..............................................................$1,160
O-4..............................................................$1,227
O-5..............................................................$1,351
O-6..............................................................$1,523
O-7..............................................................$1,645
O-8..............................................................$1,805
O-9..............................................................$1,931
O-10............................................................2$2,118

     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 $1,221.
     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 $2,272.''.

       (3) Additional dic for children or disability.--Section 
     1311 of such title is amended--
       (A) in subsection (b), by striking ``$241'' and inserting 
     ``$247'';
       (B) in subsection (c), by striking ``$241'' and inserting 
     ``$247''; and
       (C) in subsection (d), by striking ``$115'' and inserting 
     ``$118''.
       (e) Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for Children.--
       (1) Dic when no surviving spouse.--Section 1313(a) of such 
     title is amended--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$410'' and inserting 
     ``$421'';
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$590'' and inserting 
     ``$605'';
       (C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``$767'' and inserting 
     ``$787''; and
       (D) in paragraph (4), by striking ``$767'' and ``$148'' and 
     inserting ``$787'' and ``$151'', respectively.
       (2) Supplemental dic for certain children.--Section 1314 of 
     such title is amended--
       (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``$241'' and inserting 
     ``$247'';
       (B) in subsection (b), by striking ``$410'' and inserting 
     ``$421''; and
       (C) in subsection (c), by striking ``$205'' and inserting 
     ``$210''.

     SEC. 5. DEMONSTRATION PROJECT TO IMPROVE BUSINESS PRACTICES 
                   OF VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION.

       (a) Demonstration Project Required.--
       (1) In general.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     conduct a demonstration project under this section for the 
     improvement of business practices of the Veterans Health 
     Administration.
       (2) Performance-based contract.-- To carry out the 
     demonstration project, the Secretary shall enter into a 
     performance-based contract for a contractor to carry out the 
     functions specified in subsection (e).
       (3) Cost limitation.--The total amount paid to the 
     contractor under the contract may not exceed $10,000,000.
       (b) Commencement and Duration of Project.--The 
     demonstration project shall be conducted during the two-year 
     period beginning on the first day of the first month 
     beginning more than 120 days after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act.
       (c) Sites for Conduct of Project.--The Secretary shall 
     conduct the demonstration project at two facilities, at least 
     one of which shall be a medical center, of the Veterans 
     Health Administration within the same service area (referred 
     to as a Veterans Integrated Service Network) of the Veterans 
     Health Administration. The two facilities at which the 
     project is conducted shall be selected by the Secretary from 
     among facilities that the Secretary determines have 
     relatively low performance for recovery or collection of 
     indebtedness from third-party payors under section 1729 of 
     title 38, United States Code.
       (d) Selection of Contractor.--The Secretary shall carry out 
     the process for selection of the contractor for the 
     demonstration project so that the contractor to perform the 
     contract is selected, and the contract is awarded, not later 
     than three months after the date of the enactment of this 
     Act. The contractor shall be an entity or organization that 
     has significant experience in the administrative processing 
     of health care charges and claims.
       (e) Functions of Contractor.--The Secretary shall provide 
     in the contract for the following functions of the contractor 
     with respect to each facility at which the demonstration 
     project is conducted:
       (1) Detailed specification of existing business processes 
     that the contractor determines are relevant to the capability 
     of the facility to recover or collect indebtedness from 
     third-party payors under section 1729 of title 38, United 
     States Code.
       (2) Reengineering of the business processes identified 
     under paragraph (1), including provision for standardized 
     application of such reengineered processes throughout the 
     facility.
       (3) Establish and implement a plan to transition from the 
     business processes identified under paragraph (1) to the 
     reengineered and standardized businesses established pursuant 
     to paragraph (2).
       (4) Establishment of a comprehensive database containing 
     third-party payor information for veterans receiving health 
     care and services at the facility.
       (f) VHA Project Manager.--As part of the demonstration 
     project, the Secretary shall ensure that a Veterans Health 
     Administration employee is designated to be the full-time 
     project manager for the project and that such employee's duty 
     station is at one of the facilities at which the project is 
     conducted, with provision for visits as needed to the other 
     facility at which the project is conducted.
       (g) Employee Protection.--The Secretary shall administer 
     the demonstration project so that during the period of the 
     conduct of the demonstration project there is no reduction in 
     active full-time equivalent employees of the Department of 
     Veterans Affairs at the facilities at which the project is 
     conducted that is attributable to the conduct of the 
     demonstration project.
       (h) Reports to Congress.--
       (1) Periodic progress reports on project implementation.--
       (A) Reports required.--The Secretary shall submit to 
     Congress progress reports on the implementation of the 
     demonstration project.
       (B) Time for progress reports.-- Such reports shall be 
     submitted as expeditiously as feasible after the end of--
       (i) the 60-day period and the 90-day period beginning on 
     the date of the enactment of this Act; and
       (ii) the 60-day period, the 90-day period, and the 180-day 
     period beginning on the date of the award of the contract 
     under subsection (d).
       (C) Matter to be included.--Each report under this 
     paragraph shall set out the progress to date of the 
     demonstration project, including--
       (i) before the contractor has been selected, progress 
     toward selection of the contractor (identified by the steps 
     in the acquisition process that have been accomplished and 
     that remain to be accomplished); and
       (ii) after the contractor has been selected--

       (I) the contractor's progress in initiating and carrying 
     out the demonstration project in accordance with the 
     requirements of this section; and
       (II) a copy of each contract under the demonstration 
     project and any change order or modification to any such 
     contract.

       (2) Interim reports on project operation.--After the 
     completion of the first 12 months, and after the completion 
     of the first 18 months, of the demonstration project, the 
     Secretary shall submit to Congress an interim report on the 
     operation of the demonstration project to that date. Each 
     such report shall include the following:
       (A) The assessment of the Secretary as to whether the rate 
     of recovery or collection of indebtedness owed the United 
     States from third-party payors has improved by reason of the 
     project.
       (B) The assessment of the Secretary as to the performance 
     of the contractor.
       (3) Final report.--
       (A) Requirement.--After the conclusion of the demonstration 
     project, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a final 
     report on the project.
       (B) Content.--The Secretary shall include in that report--
       (i) the matters specified in paragraph (2);
       (ii) the Secretary's estimate of cost savings to the 
     Department attributable to the reengineered business 
     processes implemented under the demonstration project, with 
     supporting evidence and documentation for such estimate; and
       (iii) the Secretary's recommendation for implementing on a 
     permanent basis the recovery or collection system 
     demonstrated in the project and expanding the project to 
     other facilities of the Veterans Health Administration.
       (C) Submission.--The final report shall be submitted not 
     later than 90 days after the conclusion of the demonstration 
     project.
       (i) Comptroller General Review and Reports.--
       (1) Review.--The Comptroller General shall review the 
     demonstration project on an ongoing basis.
       (2) Reports.--The Comptroller General shall submit to 
     Congress a report on the Comptroller General's findings and 
     recommendations concerning the demonstration project--
       (A) after the operation of the demonstration project for a 
     period of one year; and
       (B) after the operation of the demonstration project for a 
     period of two years.
       (j) Authorization of Appropriations.--There is authorized 
     to be appropriated to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for 
     the conduct of the demonstration project under this section 
     the sum of $10,000,000.

     SEC. 6. PARKINSON'S DISEASE RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND CLINICAL 
                   CENTERS.

       (a) Requirement for Establishment of Centers.--
       (1) In general.--Subchapter II of chapter 73 of title 38, 
     United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the 
     following new section:

[[Page H5751]]

     ``Sec. 7329. Parkinson's Disease research, education, and 
       clinical centers

       ``(a) The Secretary, upon the recommendation of the Under 
     Secretary for Health and pursuant to the provisions of this 
     section, shall designate six Department health-care 
     facilities as the locations for centers of Parkinson's 
     Disease research, education, and clinical activities and 
     (subject to the appropriation of sufficient funds for such 
     purpose) shall establish and operate such centers at such 
     locations in accordance with this section.
       ``(b) In designating locations for centers under subsection 
     (a), the Secretary, upon the recommendation of the Under 
     Secretary for Health, shall--
       ``(1) designate each Department health-care facility that 
     as of January 1, 2005, was operating a Parkinson's Disease 
     research, education, and clinical center unless (on the 
     recommendation of the Under Secretary for Health) the 
     Secretary determines that such facility does not meet the 
     requirements of subsection (c) or has not demonstrated 
     effectiveness in carrying out the established purposes of 
     such center or the potential to carry out such purposes 
     effectively in the reasonably foreseeable future; and
       ``(2) assure appropriate geographic distribution of such 
     facilities.
       ``(c) The Secretary may not designate a health-care 
     facility as a location for a center under subsection (a) 
     unless the peer review panel established under subsection (d) 
     has determined under that subsection that the proposal 
     submitted by such facility as a location for a new center 
     under subsection (a) is among those proposals which have met 
     the highest competitive standards of scientific and clinical 
     merit, and the Secretary (upon the recommendation of the 
     Under Secretary for Health) determines that the facility has 
     (or may reasonably be anticipated to develop) each of the 
     following:
       ``(1) An arrangement with an accredited medical school 
     which provides education and training in neurology and with 
     which such facility is affiliated under which residents 
     receive education and training in innovative diagnosis and 
     treatment of chronic neurodegenerative diseases and movement 
     disorders, including Parkinson's disease.
       ``(2) The ability to attract the participation of 
     scientists who are capable of ingenuity and creativity in 
     health-care research efforts.
       ``(3) A policymaking advisory committee composed of 
     appropriate health-care and research representatives of the 
     facility and of the affiliated school or schools to advise 
     the directors of such facility and such center on policy 
     matters pertaining to the activities of such center during 
     the period of the operation of such center.
       ``(4) The capability to conduct effectively evaluations of 
     the activities of such center.
       ``(5) The capability to coordinate, as part of an 
     integrated national system, education, clinical, and research 
     activities within all facilities with such centers.
       ``(6) The capability to jointly develop a consortium of 
     providers with interest in treating neurodegenerative 
     diseases, including Parkinson's Disease, and other movement 
     disorders, at facilities without such centers in order to 
     ensure better access to state-of-the-art diagnosis, care, and 
     education for neurodegenerative disorders throughout the 
     health care system.
       ``(7) The capability to develop a national repository for 
     the collection of data on health services delivered to 
     veterans seeking care for neurodegenerative diseases, 
     including Parkinson's Disease, and other movement disorders 
     in the health care system.
       ``(d)(1) The Under Secretary for Health shall establish a 
     panel to assess the scientific and clinical merit of 
     proposals that are submitted to the Secretary for the 
     establishment of new centers under this section.
       ``(2)(A) The membership of the panel shall consist of 
     experts in neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's 
     Disease, and other movement disorders.
       ``(B) Members of the panel shall serve as consultants to 
     the Department for a period of no longer than two years 
     except in the case of panelists asked to serve on the initial 
     panel as specified in subparagraph (C).
       ``(C) In order to ensure panel continuity, half of the 
     members of the first panel shall be appointed for a period of 
     three years and half for a period of two years.
       ``(3) The panel shall review each proposal submitted to the 
     panel by the Under Secretary and shall submit its views on 
     the relative scientific and clinical merit of each such 
     proposal to the Under Secretary.
       ``(4) The panel shall not be subject to the Federal 
     Advisory Committee Act.
       ``(e) Before providing funds for the operation of any such 
     center at a health-care facility other than a health-care 
     facility designated under subsection (b)(1), the Secretary 
     shall assure that the center at each facility designated 
     under such subsection is receiving adequate funding to enable 
     such center to function effectively in the areas of 
     Parkinson's Disease research, education, and clinical 
     activities.
       ``(f) There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as 
     may be necessary for the support of the research and 
     education activities of the centers established pursuant to 
     subsection (a). The Under Secretary for Health shall allocate 
     to such centers from other funds appropriated generally for 
     the Department medical services account and medical and 
     prosthetics research account, as appropriate, such amounts as 
     the Under Secretary for Health determines appropriate.
       ``(g) Activities of clinical and scientific investigation 
     at each center established under subsection (a) shall be 
     eligible to compete for the award of funding from funds 
     appropriated for the Department medical and prosthetics 
     research account and shall receive priority in the award of 
     funding from such account insofar as funds are awarded to 
     projects for research in Parkinson's disease and other 
     movement disorders.''.
       (2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of such chapter is amended by inserting after the 
     item relating to section 7328 the following new item:

``7329. Parkinson's Disease research, education, and clinical 
              centers.''.
       (b) Effective Date.--Section 7329 of title 38, United 
     States Code, as added by subsection (a), shall take effect on 
     October 1, 2005.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Indiana (Mr. Buyer) and the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer).
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 1220, as amended, is one of the more important 
bills the committee brings to the floor each year. This bill, as 
amended, would authorize the cost-of-living adjustment effective 
December 1, 2005 for veterans with service-connected disabilities and 
their survivors.
  The projected increase is 2.3 percent, but may be higher or lower 
depending on changes in the consumer price index. After our ranking 
member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), speaks, the 
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite), a member of the 
Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, will 
provide a more detailed description of this provision.
  H.R. 1220, as amended, will also authorize a demonstration project to 
improve the ability of the Veterans Health Administration to collect 
funds from third party insurance companies. Under certain 
circumstances, the VA may bill insurance companies for the treatment of 
conditions that are not a result of injuries or illnesses incurred or 
aggravated during military service. Despite improvements, weaknesses in 
VA's billing and collection process still exist. Every dollar 
rightfully owed to the VA and not collected is a dollar less to 
veterans care.
  We are working to ensure the VA can accurately forecast health care 
demand. We must also ensure that the system is able to collect a just 
debt. I expect that all revenue collected from the project will be 
returned to the VA medical center where the pilot occurs and not be 
subjected to appropriations offsets.
  Finally, the bill would permanently authorize six Parkinson's disease 
research, education and clinical centers. Parkinson's disease affects 
as many as 1.5 million Americans. While treatment exists, we are still 
in search of a cure.
  Currently, the VA has six of these centers. They provide researchers 
the ability to see results rapidly and put their knowledge to use in 
helping patients. These centers, working with other VA clinicians, 
treat tens of thousands of veterans with Parkinson's disease. This 
section will ensure that the VA continues this invaluable research and 
treatment.
  I want to thank my ranking member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Evans), for his work on this part of the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. 
Buyer) for his help and his work on this; the ranking member, the 
gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), as always; and subcommittee 
chairman, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller), for their continued 
efforts to ensure the value of veterans benefits does not erode as the 
cost of living increases.
  H.R. 1220, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act 
of 2005 will help our service-disabled veterans and their survivors 
maintain the purchasing power of their benefits in 2006. Although we do 
not know at this time the amount of the increase until the consumer 
price index is calculated in October, I believe this bill will help VA 
beneficiaries keep the value of their benefits. No amount of money can 
adequately compensate our veterans for the loss of their health and 
families for the loss of loved ones. It is important that the benefits 
which our Nation provides to partially compensate for such losses do 
not lose their value over time.
  In 2004, over 28,000 veterans in Nevada received disability benefits 
compensation or pension payments from the VA,

[[Page H5752]]

and thousands of Nevada family members and survivors received VA cash 
benefits. The actions we are taking here today will help Nevada 
veterans and families who depends on these VA benefits.
  I am particularly pleased that the bill contains an amendment that I 
was pleased to offer to include the transitional DIC benefit in the 
COLA. Without the amendment, the value of the $250 transitional benefit 
paid to surviving spouses with minor children for their first 2 years 
of eligibility would have eroded in value by 2006.
  Mr. Speaker, this is the least we can do for our Gold Star wives and 
their children.
  I am also pleased to note that the bill contains authority for six VA 
Parkinson's disease centers. I believe that the research conducted at 
those centers will improve the lives not only of the veterans with 
Parkinson's, but of many thousands of other Americans.
  Veterans in Las Vegas are already reaping the benefits of the local 
VA's affiliation with the Southwest Center in West Los Angeles. I want 
to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) in particular for 
bringing this to our attention and making sure that it was a top 
priority for the VA committee.
  The bill also contains provisions for a demonstration project to 
improve VA's procedure for collecting money owed by third parties such 
as insurance companies when VA provides medical care for veterans with 
nonservice-connected conditions.
  H.R. 1220 will receive my full support. It deserves the full support 
of all Members of this House.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Evans), the ranking member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I am proud that H.R. 1220, in addition to 
providing veterans with needed health care, includes the cost-of-living 
adjustment as well. This will permanently authorize VA Parkinson's 
centers as well. Some 42,000 veterans with Parkinson's receive care at 
the VA.
  In 5 years, an estimated 39,000 older veterans will have the 
disorder. Treatments exist for Parkinson's, but research continues to 
improve treatments and to search for a cure.
  VA is on the cutting edge of research and treatment because of these 
centers. Veterans service organizations and Parkinson's advocates all 
support the permanent authorization of these centers.
  While the bill does not also authorize VA's two multiple sclerosis 
centers, I continue to support the centers and hope they can work so we 
can get them properly authorized.
  Authorizing the centers will make sure that the VA will continue to 
be a model of innovation in the delivery of health care and research 
for this chronic disease. This bill offers hope to veterans and others 
with Parkinson's. I ask my colleagues for their support.
  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from 
Maine (Mr. Michaud).
  Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me 
time and for her leadership in this effort.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1220, the Veterans' 
Compensation Cost-of-Living Act of 2005. I believe that this is a good 
bipartisan bill. Each year we pass the COLA for veterans. This ensures 
that veterans benefits maintain their value as the cost of living goes 
up. These benefits were earned by the men and women who have served our 
country and their families, and they should not be allowed to diminish.
  These benefits are critical to helping many veterans and their 
families make ends meet. I would also like to thank the gentlewoman 
from Nevada (Ms. Berkley) for her efforts to include a provision to 
improve benefits that I have been working on since I became a Member of 
Congress.
  Last Congress in response to the VA evaluation, we passed legislation 
to provide an increase of $250 to the monthly DIC benefits for 
surviving spouses with children under 18 years of age for the first 2 
years of eligibility.
  While I believe that we should make this benefit permanent, 
especially in light of our brave men and women giving their lives in 
Afghanistan and Iraq, the provision in today's bill is extremely 
important and will ensure that this benefit maintains its value over 
time.
  Finally, I am pleased that this legislation will allow the VA to 
continue its important work on Parkinson's disease research. I would 
like to thank the chairman, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer), and 
the ranking member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), for their 
leadership in this very important legislation.
  This is a good bill to help veterans and their families across the 
country. I urge my colleagues to support it.
  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
South Dakota (Ms. Herseth).
  Ms. HERSETH. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me 
time.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1220, the Veterans' 
Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, which authorizes the annual 
cost-of-living adjustment for disabled veterans and their survivors.
  I would like to thank the chairman, the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. 
Buyer), and the ranking member, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. 
Evans), for their leadership on the full committee and for their good 
work in shepherding this bill to the floor today. I would like to thank 
the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller) and the ranking member, the 
gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley) of the Subcommittee on Disability 
Assistance and Memorial Affairs, for their hard work and bipartisan 
leadership.

                              {time}  1100

  Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation and am a proud cosponsor of 
the bill because it is an important way we can keep our Nation's 
promise to the veterans who have served. This legislation is aimed at 
improving the quality of life for disabled veterans and their families 
whose sacrifices and contributions to our great country should not be 
forgotten. I believe the way we treat our veterans is a moral issue and 
we need to do the right, moral, honorable thing with respect to 
disabled veterans and their families.
  There are more than 3,000 veterans in my home State of South Dakota 
who received disability compensation last year, and tens of thousands 
more nationwide who rely on this annual cost of living increase to help 
support a dignified quality of life. With wounded young servicemen and 
women returning home by the thousands from battlefields in Iraq and 
Afghanistan, we know there is a new and growing generation that is 
equally deserving of this modest increase to reflect a rising cost of 
living. It is imperative we work to provide this newest generation of 
veterans and their families with the benefits they have earned and 
deserve.
  This bill will provide continuing assistance for these brave men and 
women who will forever live with the scars of their sacrifice. We must 
honor their service by considering veterans' care to be an ongoing cost 
of war.
  I would like to thank the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley) for 
an amendment she offered in committee, which was passed and included in 
this bill to provide a cost of living adjustment in fiscal year 2006 
for the additional payment of $250 per month for the first 2 years of 
dependency indemnity compensation eligibility to surviving spouses with 
minor children.
  I also would like to thank the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) 
for his work to include a provision to provide for the establishment of 
Parkinson's Disease Research Education Clinical Centers in the Veterans 
Health Administration of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
  Again, I am proud to support H.R. 1220, the Veterans' Compensation 
Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, and urge my colleagues to do the same.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentlewoman from 
Florida (Ms. Ginny Brown-Waite), a member of the committee.
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of 
the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2005. H.R. 
1220, as amended, would provide a cost-of-living adjustment, in the 
same amount as given to Social Security recipients, to disabled 
veterans and their surviving spouses. Veterans who receive disability 
compensation and survivors of certain veterans would receive a full 
COLA beginning on December 1 of this year. Congress has provided for 
these increases every fiscal year since 1976.

[[Page H5753]]

  This bill would also codify the current amounts of disability 
compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation. More than 2.6 
million American veterans are receiving service-connected disability 
compensation. Many of them reside in my Congressional District. These 
benefits are paid monthly and range from $108 per month for a 10 
percent disability to $2,299 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. Additional 
amounts are paid to survivors who are housebound or in need of aid and 
attendance or who have minor children.
  Currently, more than 336,000 surviving spouses and children are 
receiving survivor benefits. The administration's fiscal year 2006 
budget projects a 2.3 percent cost-of-living increase, but it may be 
higher or lower, depending on changes in the Consumer Price Index. The 
exact percentage will be calculated as of September 30 of this year.
  I certainly want to thank the subcommittee's chairman and ranking 
member, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller), and the gentlewoman 
from Nevada (Ms. Berkley), respectively, for their work on H.R. 1220, 
as amended. I also want to commend the chairman of the committee, the 
gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer), and ranking member, the gentleman 
from Illinois (Mr. Evans) for their leadership in bringing the bill to 
the floor today, as well as the subcommittee staff on both sides of the 
aisle for their hard work on this issue.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1220, as amended.
  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, may I inquire how much time I have 
remaining?
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). The gentlewoman from Nevada 
has 12 minutes remaining.
  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from 
New York (Mrs. Maloney).
  (Mrs. MALONEY of New York asked and was given permission to revise 
and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. MALONEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me 
this time and for her outstanding, consistent leadership on behalf of 
our veterans. It is incredibly important.
  I rise in full support of this increase of benefits of an across-the-
board cost-of-living adjustment, but I rise particularly to speak about 
the authorization for the permanent Parkinson's disease research 
education. As the founder and co-chair of the Parkinson's Task Force, 
this is critically important. Many of our veterans, because of exposure 
to toxic elements, suffer from Parkinson's. This research is important. 
Some of their breakthroughs in these veterans' research facilities have 
led to cures.
  I rise in strong support of the overall bill and for this particular 
aspect that will help many veterans and many Americans across our 
Nation.
  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner).
  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentlewoman for yielding me this 
time and for her leadership on veterans' issues.
  I too rise in support of H.R. 1220, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-
of-Living Adjustment Act, and I would just like to speak briefly about 
two provisions in it.
  This bill will, in December, provide a cost-of-living adjustment to 
the disability compensation received by our Nation's veterans, and to 
compensation received by their widows. A transitional benefit to widows 
with minor children, who will receive an extra $250 per month for 2 
years, is specifically included in this cost-of-living increase.
  The compensation that veterans and their widows receive does not 
adequately compensate them for their losses, but we hope it will ease 
their burden and let them know our Nation is grateful. It is important 
this compensation keep abreast of the rising cost of living.
  Another provision of the bill establishes, subject to appropriations, 
a Parkinson's Disease Research Educational and Clinical Center in six 
VA health care facilities, with appropriate geographical distribution 
of these centers. These centers would cooperate with an accredited 
medical school, one that provides education and training in neurology 
and attracts the participation of scientists who are capable of 
ingenuity and creativity in their research efforts.
  The centers would provide the opportunity for VA clinicians to more 
fully understand Parkinson's Disease and collaborate on innovative 
treatments. The findings would be shared with facilities without 
research centers in order to ensure access to state-of-the-art 
information through our VA health care system. I am especially 
supportive of the provision which would advance our knowledge of 
Parkinson's Disease and would provide new treatments to those who are 
suffering.
  So let us support H.R. 1220, but let us not get too self-
congratulatory about this bill. It is a necessary bill. It is already 
provided for in the appropriations process, but the amount of money we 
are talking about in this bill is very, very small compared to the 
shortfall in the health care budget of the VA that we have been 
informed about by our new Secretary of VA.
  Mr. Speaker, we are being irresponsible by not approving an adequate 
health care budget for our veterans. While today we approve the 
Disability Compensation COLA, we are still leaving our veterans health 
care short by billions of dollars, both in this year's and next year's 
budget.
  And for those who say, well, we did not know about it, or it was a 
bad mathematical model that was used, these are rather ridiculous 
statements. The Independent Budget, which has been formulated by our 
veterans' service organizations in a very professional, a very detailed 
way, forecast the exact amount that we would need in the health care 
budget. While the chairman of our committee is going around searching 
for a right number, the number was right here in the independent 
budget.
  And, in fact, Mr. Speaker, the Democrats in this House tried to get 
this budget number into our budget. But were we allowed to? No, we were 
not allowed to vote on it in our committee. We were not allowed to vote 
on it on the floor. There were attempts to do that by the gentleman 
from Texas (Mr. Edwards) and the gentlewoman from Oregon (Ms. Hooley). 
I had an amendment on the floor to put the required money in the budget 
that we were lacking for our veterans, and I was ruled out of order. 
Out of order to help our veterans? I will tell you what was out of 
order, and that was the process that the majority party set up.
  Mr. Speaker, I have a thousand veterans in San Diego, California, who 
are on a waiting list to get into the VA health system. Does that sound 
like we were adequately funding our health care? We will have thousands 
of returning Veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan, many with PTSD, post-
traumatic stress disorder, who will not be able to get the required 
counseling at our VA centers. They will have to wait a year for a 
dental appointment. Is this supporting our troops? Is this showing how 
much we care about them?
  Mr. Speaker, the way to show that we support our troops is to treat 
them well when they return home. We already have unsettling reports of 
veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. We have reports of 
veterans who suffer from PTSD probably, who are committing domestic 
violence, who have not gotten help from the VA and who may be on the 
streets already. We know what happens to the troops when they do not 
get the proper help. Half of the homeless on the streets today are 
Vietnam vets.
  That is a tragedy, that is a disgrace, and an incredible immoral act 
that we have allowed this country to commit, to put our veterans on the 
streets. But the same thing is going to happen again. The same thing is 
going to happen again if we do not adequately fund this budget.
  This House voted a week ago to put $900 million into this year's 
budget. The Senate appropriated 1.5 billion. And the Veteran's 
Committee chairman said, oh, I do not know how they got their number. 
Well, that is the right number. We should vote for the Senate number. 
We can get this passed for veterans immediately, and then we can fix 
the 2006 budget in our regular appropriations process.

[[Page H5754]]

  Mr. Speaker, when the President says support our troops, support our 
troops, support our troops, and then does not provide the adequate 
funding when those troops come home, we are not doing the job that we 
should be doing to thank the veterans for their service. It is time to 
adequately fund the health care budget. It is time to listen to the 
Independent Budget. It is time for the chairman to listen to those who 
have been saying this for years. It is time to show proper respect for 
the veterans who have given us our freedom today.
  Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  Mr. Speaker, I would urge everybody to support H.R. 1220, everyone in 
this body. I do not think there is a reason why anybody should be 
voting against it. It is a very important piece of legislation. But I 
would like to echo what the gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) has 
so eloquently stated in his floor remarks.
  When I go home and talk to my veterans, they look to me for my help 
and my support in providing the health care that they so justly deserve 
and are entitled to. This Congress needs to step up to the plate and do 
what we know is right. We cannot continue shortchanging our veterans. 
We cannot continue low-balling them, taking the lowest number, when we 
know it is the highest number that will barely suffice to provide for 
the health care needs of our veterans.
  Our older veterans, Vietnam, Korea, World War II, some left in World 
War I, these men and women age, and they are continuing to age. We will 
have hundreds of thousands of veterans from our latest operations 
across the globe. Let us be farsighted. Let us be prepared for what is 
coming. And let none of us, none of us, have the temerity or the 
audacity to state that we did not know what the needs of the veterans 
were or what they will be confronted with in the near future. Let us 
all be on the same page, work in a bipartisan way, and let us do what 
is right for our veterans. And let us pass unanimously H.R. 1220.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
  (Mr. BUYER asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the ranking member of the 
committee, the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans), for his work and 
cooperation on this legislation. I also would like to say to him that 
he is a champion of Parkinson's Disease, and I am proud of his 
leadership by example and I am proud of his spirit to live and equally 
am proud to call him my friend.
  I also commend the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller) and the 
gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley), the chairman and ranking member 
on the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, for 
their timely work concerning H.R. 1220, ensuring that disabled veterans 
and their survivors receive their COLA.
  I would also like to thank the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) 
and the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Strickland), the chairman and ranking 
member of the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, for their 
hard work on reaching a compromise on the authorization of the 
demonstration project.
  I am equally appreciative of the hard work of the staff directors of 
the majority and the minority, Art Wu and Len Sistek for their work to 
improve the bill.

                              {time}  1115

  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Veterans Cost-of-
Living Adjustment Act of 2005.
  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1220, the 
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2005.
  All too often, our veterans and their dependents are forced to pay 
unexpected medical fees and sometimes forced to juggle their finances 
just to make ends meet. By increasing the COLA we would help ease these 
burdens forced upon our veterans and their dependents. Our veterans 
deserve and need this assistance now.
  This legislation is especially important to me because my 
Congressional District of El Paso, Texas is home to nearly 60,000 
veterans.
  These brave men and women have made tremendous sacrifices for our 
freedom, just as our servicemembers are currently doing in Iraq and 
Afghanistan. It is our responsibility as Members of Congress to take 
care of our Nation's heroes so that we can fulfill our promises to our 
veterans after their service to our country.
  Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I on the House Veterans' Affairs 
Committee favorably passed H.R. 1220 and I would urge all my colleagues 
to do the same on the House floor.
  Mr. BILIRAKIS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1220, 
the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, which will 
increase, effective December 1, 2005, the rates of disability 
compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the 
rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain 
disabled veterans. As in previous years, these deserving men and women 
will receive the same cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) that Social 
Security recipients are scheduled to receive, and as a cosponsor of 
H.R. 1220, I am pleased that we are acting to provide disabled veterans 
and their survivors with an annual COLA.
  In the 108th Congress, we created an additional Dependency and 
Indemnity Compensation (DIC) payment of $250 a month provided for the 
first two years of DIC eligibility to surviving spouses with minor 
children. This new benefit is aimed at easing the transition following 
the death of the servicemember or veteran. H.R. 1220, as amended, would 
also increase the amount of this additional assistance by the same 
COLA.
  I am pleased that the amended bill also includes the provisions from 
H.R. 2988, the Veterans Medical Care Revenue Enhancement Act of 2005. 
This is a bill that I introduced which authorizes a two-year 
demonstration project to improve business practices within the Veterans 
Health Administration (VHA) relating to third-party billing 
collections.
  When Congress gave the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) the 
authority to collect payment from insurance companies for the treatment 
of non-service connected conditions, the funds collected were returned 
to the U.S. Treasury. At one point, the VA acknowledged that it did a 
poor job of collecting payments from insurance companies because it had 
no real incentive to do so. As a result, in 1997 Congress gave VA the 
authority to retain any third party collections recovered.
  Despite improvements in VA's third-party collections, there continue 
to be weaknesses in the billing and collections processes that impair 
the VA's ability to maximize the amount of dollars paid by third-party 
insurance companies. In June, the VA briefed the staff of the Veterans' 
Affairs Committee that the Department has about $600 million in 
outstanding payments that have been billed but not collected from 
third-party insurers. Collecting these funds would be a significant 
revenue source for the Department which could improve its ability to 
provide health care services to our Nation's veterans.
  H.R. 1220 creates a modest $10 million demonstration project to 
improve the VA's business practices at two sites that have low 
collections rates. It is our hope that this demonstration project will 
lead to improved collection practices by the VA.
  Finally, H.R. 1220 would permanently authorize six Parkinson's 
Disease Research Education and Clinical Centers with the VA.
  I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1220.
  Mr. BUYER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Simpson). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1220, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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