[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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