[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 119 (Thursday, September 21, 2006)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10005-S10006]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 2006

  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 539, S. 2562.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2562) to increase, effective as of December 1, 
     2006, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-
     connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and 
     indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled 
     veterans.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  (At the request of Mr. Reid, the following statment was ordered to be 
printed in the Record.)
  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs, I am extremely pleased with Senate passage of 
legislation that will authorize a cost-of-living adjustment for 
veterans' compensation.
  The Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2006, S. 
2562, directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase, as of 
December 1, 2006, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, 
dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and 
children, and certain related benefits.

[[Page S10006]]

  The COLA will be the same as the increase provided to Social Security 
recipients, which is projected to be approximately 2.9 percent.
  It is vital that veterans' disability compensation rates keep pace 
with the increasing cost of living. Without an increase to offset the 
effects of inflation, veterans and their families would lose the value 
of this important benefit.
  Passage of the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act 
of 2006 is the least that Congress can do to help disabled veterans 
provide adequately for their families. Many times, VA disability 
compensation is a major, and in some cases the sole, source of income 
for a veteran and his or her family. For those who gave so much to this 
nation, we owe them this sign of gratitude.
  In closing, I thank all of my colleagues for their support for our 
Nation's veterans. I anticipate swift passage of this important 
legislation by the House of Representatives.
  Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the amendment 
at the desk be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time 
and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, and that 
any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 5034) was agreed to, as follows:

  (Purpose: To make a technical correction to title 38, United States 
                                 Code)

       On page 4, after line 8, add the following:

     SEC. 4. TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.

       Section 1311 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
     redesignating the second subsection (e) (as added by section 
     301(a) of the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004 
     (Public Law 108-454; 118 Stat. 3610)) as subsection (f).

  The bill (S. 2562), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a 
third reading, was read the third time, and passed, as follows:

                                S. 2562

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Compensation Cost-
     of-Living Adjustment Act of 2006''.

     SEC. 2. INCREASE IN RATES OF DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND 
                   DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION.

       (a) Rate Adjustment.--Effective on December 1, 2006, the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall increase, in accordance 
     with subsection (c), the dollar amounts in effect on November 
     30, 2006, for the payment of disability compensation and 
     dependency and indemnity compensation under the provisions 
     specified in subsection (b).
       (b) Amounts To Be Increased.--The dollar amounts to be 
     increased pursuant to subsection (a) are the following:
       (1) Wartime disability compensation.--Each of the dollar 
     amounts under section 1114 of title 38, United States Code.
       (2) Additional compensation for dependents.--Each of the 
     dollar amounts under sections 1115(1) of such title.
       (3) Clothing allowance.--The dollar amount under section 
     1162 of such title.
       (4) Dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving 
     spouse.--Each of the dollar amounts under subsections (a) 
     through (d) of section 1311 of such title.
       (5) Dependency and indemnity compensation to children.--
     Each of the dollar amounts under sections 1313(a) and 1314 of 
     such title.
       (c) Determination of Increase.--
       (1) Percentage.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), each 
     dollar amount described in subsection (b) 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, 2006, 
     as a result of a determination under section 215(i) of such 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)).
       (2) Rounding.--Each dollar amount increased under paragraph 
     (1), if not a whole dollar amount, shall be rounded to the 
     next lower whole dollar amount.
       (d) Special Rule.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
     adjust administratively, consistent with the increases made 
     under subsection (a), the rates of disability compensation 
     payable to persons under section 10 of Public Law 85-857 (72 
     Stat. 1263) who have not received compensation under chapter 
     11 of title 38, United States Code.

     SEC. 3. PUBLICATION OF ADJUSTED RATES.

       The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall publish in the 
     Federal Register the amounts specified in section 2(b), as 
     increased under that section, not later than the date on 
     which 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 2007.

     SEC. 4. TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.

       Section 1311 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by 
     redesignating the second subsection (e) (as added by section 
     301(a) of the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004 
     (Public Law 108-454; 118 Stat. 3610)) as subsection (f).

                          ____________________