Congressional Record, Volume 153 Issue 49 (Wednesday, March 21, 2007)

[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 21, 2007)]
[House]
[Pages H2782-H2785]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 2007

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
bill (H.R. 1284) to increase, effective as of December 1, 2007, 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.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows

H.R. 1284

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 2007''.

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

(a) Rate Adjustment.--Effective on December 1, 2007, the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall increase, in accordance
with subsection (c), the dollar amounts in effect on November
30, 2007, 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, 2007,
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 2008.

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
California (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller)
each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.

General Leave

Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include
extraneous material on H.R. 1284.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from California?
There was no objection
Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, we all urge passage of H.R. 1284, the so-called
Veterans' Compensation, COLA, Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act. It would
direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase, effective
December 1 of this year, the rates of veterans' compensation to keep
pace with the rising cost of living in our Nation. The rate adjustment
is equal to that provided on an annual basis to Social Security
recipients and is based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer
Price Index.
Regardless, Mr. Speaker, of where any of us are on the current war in
Iraq, we all believe that our returning young men and women who have
served this Nation so courageously get all the attention, care, respect
and love that we can give as a Nation. Nothing bothers any of us more
than to see returning troops, whether it be at Walter Reed or any of
our VA hospitals, have to face the bureaucracy that seems indifferent,
and does not provide the services they need.
The cost of serving these veterans, which includes this annual COLA,
is a continuing cost of war. We will have from Iraq and Afghanistan an
increase in injuries and disabilities that will yield an increase in
claims for compensation. Over 1.5 million servicemembers have been
deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan without any end, it looks like, in
sight, and the President calls for more troops. Therefore, the Veterans
Administration, as well as the military hospitals, can expect a
significant increase in the number of new claims for compensation and
new demands on the health care system. I think that recent events have
shown that neither system is adequately prepared for that onslaught,
and, in fact, the systems are stretched to the breaking point.
We as a Congress, we as a Nation, have got to give our veterans all
the care that they need, all the resources they need, and we as
Congress have to provide accountability for the spending of those
resources.
Let me say that certainly we on the Democratic side, and I am sure
supported on the Republican side, have made major increases in the
resources to our veterans care that is now demanded from our Nation. I
am told that the budget resolution will have an additional $6.6 billion
over what we appropriated last year for the Veterans Administration.
You know that we appropriated an additional $3.6 billion for fiscal
year 2007, the year that we are in now, in the so-called continuing
resolution, the biggest increase of any department in that continuing
resolution.
The supplemental that we will be considering at the end of this week
has $3.5 billion for military and veterans health care: we say if you
are going to deal with the cost of war, deal with the costs of the
warrior.
So just in 60 days, Mr. Speaker, the new majority in the Congress has
provided an additional $13.5 billion for the care of our Nation's
veterans, and that is a bigger increase than was totaled in the last 5
years combined.
So I think we are responding to the Walter Reed scandal. We are
responding to the tragic suicides that came from indifference from the
bureaucracy. We are responding to the needs of traumatic brain injury
that have so increased in this war. We are responding to the needs of
those who have post-traumatic stress disorder. We are responding to the
needs of a Veterans Administration that is backlogged 600,000
disability claims.
So we are going to respond with the dollars. We also need to make
sure we have accountability, and we will have more to say on that in
the future.
Congress regularly enacts an annual cost-of-living adjustment for
veterans compensation to make sure that inflation does not erode the
purchasing power of veterans and their families who depend upon this
income to meet their daily needs. This bill before us, in

[[Page H2783]]

fact, will benefit all veterans from the World War I era through the
current conflicts.
So I hope that we will have support for this. I would like to add my
thanks for the increases that I talked about just a second ago in this
budget for 2008 and the continuing resolution for 2007 and the
supplemental that we will be considering to our Speaker, Nancy Pelosi,
who insisted that we care for our Nation's veterans; also, the chairman
of the Appropriations Committee, Mr. Obey of Wisconsin; to his chairman
of the subcommittee that looks at veterans affairs, Mr. Edwards from
Texas; and the chairman of our Budget Committee, Mr. Spratt, all of
whom said we are not going to fail this test that America is faced with
today, the test of whether we are going to make sure that our veterans
get the care they need
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I would like to yield just a minute for a question to the chairman,
if he might. By your comments, am I to take it that the majority does
now have the votes necessary to pass the supplemental later this week?
Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. MILLER of Florida. I yield to the gentleman from California.
Mr. FILNER. You are asking that of me? The lowest level of person in
the House? No, I hope we will take up that supplemental at the end of
the week.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. I thank the chairman.

{time} 1630

I do rise in strong support also of this piece of legislation,
thanking my colleagues, the new chairman of the subcommittee which I
chaired last year, Mr. Hall, and also Mr. Lamborn, the new ranking
member; also, again, thanking Chairman Filner and Ranking Member Buyer
for helping move this important legislation to the floor as quickly as
it has.
In this piece of legislation we increased, effective as of December 1
of this year, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-
connected disabilities, the rates of dependency and indemnity
compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans. Also, the
COLA adjustment includes wartime disability compensation, additional
compensation for dependents, clothing allowance, dependency and
indemnity compensation to a surviving spouse, dependency and indemnity
compensation for children.
Mr. Speaker, this is an important annual authorization bill which
provides much-needed assistance to our Nation's veterans. I encourage
and expect all of my colleagues to support this piece of legislation.
Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he may consume to
the new chairman of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
Subcommittee of the Veterans Affairs Committee, Mr. Hall of New York.
Mr. HALL of New York. Thank you, Congressman, for yielding to me.
Mr. Speaker, I introduced H.R. 1284 earlier this month with the
Chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Congressman Filner.
Chairman Filner has been instrumental in moving this bill forward. I
thank him for that. I also want to thank the ranking member of the
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Steve Buyer, and our ranking member of
the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, Doug
Lamborn, who were both helpful in getting this bill moved
expeditiously. The fact that we got this bill to the floor within the
month shows the House leadership's commitment to our Nation's veterans.
As chairman of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial
Affairs, I believe that America must uphold its promise to care for our
veterans and their families, and I strongly support efforts to
alleviate unjust financial burdens imposed upon our Nation's veterans
and their survivors. This is why I am so pleased that H.R. 1284 is on
the floor today.
H.R. 1284 would provide a cost-of-living adjustment to the rates of
disability compensation provided to our Nation's disabled veterans and
to the compensation provided to the survivors of veterans and
servicemembers who died or who will die as a result of military
service.
Every year since 1976, Congress has enacted an annual COLA adjustment
for veterans with disabilities and their survivors. The regularity of
Congress' action on COLA legislation underscores its importance.
Without it, inflation would diminish and erode the purchasing power of
millions of beneficiaries. According to VA, as set forth in its fiscal
year 2008 budget, the Department estimates that it will provide
disability compensation to 3,220,031 veterans with service-related
disabilities in fiscal year 2008.
In summary, this legislation is critical to the lives of over 3
million beneficiaries who have served our country well and faithfully.
I ask for your continued support for our Nation's veterans, and I ask
for your support of the bipartisan Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-
Living-Adjustment Act of 2007.
I would just like to say a few words also about another bill that is
on the floor today and falls under the jurisdiction of my subcommittee,
H.R. 797, the Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act. As with H.R.
1284, I am proud of the speed and fashion in which this bill has come
to the floor.
H.R. 797, which has the backing of the Blind Veterans Association,
would put the Veterans Administration on a par with the Social Security
Administration, the World Health Organization, and all 50 States in
defining a visual impairment.
Furthermore, this bill allows certain veterans to receive a ``V'' on
their gravestone and reauthorizes the VA's popular work/study program.
Mr. Speaker, this Congress faces a substantial task in dealing with
the difficulties our veterans face. Currently there are more than
570,000 veterans claims pending before the VA, literally hundreds of
thousands of veterans waiting on decisions that can substantially
affect their financial situation.
On top of this, we have a new generation of veterans returning from
Iraq and Afghanistan. The subcommittee I chair, the Disability
Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee, recently held a hearing
where we heard from experts and Iraq war veterans. They all agree that
the VA is critically unprepared to deal with these new commitments and
will be overwhelmed.
One witness privately compared the VA's current position to that of a
person standing on a beach while a tsunami comes rushing towards the
shore. These men and women deserve our support, and it is incumbent
upon this Congress to act.
In the coming month, I plan to hold hearings on several pieces of
legislation that will address this backlog. I have introduced one bill
which would provide interim benefits to veterans who have waited over 6
months for a decision on their appeal.
While this will not fix the entire problem, it will help veterans pay
their bills and buy their medicine while they wait for a decision from
the VA. I look forward to working with colleagues on both sides of the
aisle on these important issues, and I trust they share my sense of
urgency on these matters.
It is my hope that H.R. 797 and H.R. 1284 are the first of many steps
this Congress takes to ensure that those who have sacrificed so much
for this country receive the benefits they have earned.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure now to yield 4
minutes to the gentleman from Washington, who although not on the VA
Committee, is an active participant in much of the legislation that
comes to that committee, and an Air Force veteran, Mr. Reichert.
Mr. REICHERT. I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, we are here to, and I am honored to be here to support
H.R. 1284, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of
2007. It sounds awful cold and mechanical when you rattle it off in
that way, but it means a lot to the people who serve this country.
I was, as my good friend Mr. Miller said, I was in the Air Force. I
served 33 years in the King County Sheriff's Office in Seattle,
Washington, and I had friends who were wounded in the line of duty,
partners who were wounded, partners who were killed and sacrificed

[[Page H2784]]

their lives to protect their communities. I, myself, was nearly
mortally wounded in serving our community as a sheriff's deputy.
I know what it means to have a community come behind you. I know what
it means to have a family stand with you. I know what it means to have
your friends, your relatives, and your local government to be there
with you.
Our veterans deserve to know what that feeling is. They need to know
the United States Government and Members of Congress are standing with
them. We are soldiers here fighting with them, providing them with the
benefits they need, the tools they need, the things they need to do
their job, the things they need to do to protect their families, the
things they need to have to provide for their families.
Two weeks ago I stopped and visited a marine in a Seattle VA
hospital. This marine was wounded in the neck with a .22 caliber
bullet. I stood in awe at his courage as he lay paralyzed from the
waist down, and I asked him what his plans were for the future, and
that I was honored to meet him, and sorry that he was wounded in
battle.
He looked at me and smiled and said, Why feel sorry for me? Don't. I
volunteered for this work. I want to protect America. You know what he
said his plans for the future was? To go back to Iraq. He said, I will
walk again and fight next to my brothers and sisters on the front
lines.
I met another soldier at Madigan Hospital, the Army hospital in
Tacoma, Washington, a soldier who was standing near someone who blew
themselves up, a suicide bomber. He is now suffering from a blood viral
infection. He has been treated for over a year at Madigan Hospital. I
said the same thing to him. I am honored to meet you. What are your
plans for the future?
He said, I will heal. Don't feel sorry for me. I am going back to
fight with my fellow soldiers.
This cost-of-living increase seems mechanical to us as we sit here in
this House floor. It means a lot to the soldiers that are fighting and
dying for this freedom of our citizens, of all of us here today.
I am so proud to be here to stand before you and support this
legislation.
One of the other things that we must do, not only pass legislation
that helps them provide for their families and for themselves and their
future, you must reach out and make sure that those veterans who are
out in our community, 624,000 veterans in the State of Washington, know
what benefits are available to them.
On March 31, we would hold a veterans fair just across the water from
Seattle, Washington, and invite every veteran in the State to be there
so they can learn how we can help them and we can honor them.
Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as she may consume to
the gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Berkley).
Ms. BERKLEY. Mr. Speaker, I also would like to thank Chairman Filner,
Ranking Member Buyer, and subcommittee chairman, John Hall, and ranking
subcommittee chairman, Mr. Miller, for their continued efforts to
ensure the value of veterans benefits does not erode as the cost living
increases.
H.R. 1284, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act,
will help our service-disabled veterans and their survivors maintain
the purchasing power of their benefits in 2008.
Now, everyone that has spoken before me has been quite eloquent, and
you don't need for me to reinforce all of the statements that they have
already made. But I would like to let you know how this affects the
people that I represent.
Last year, over 31,000 veterans and survivors received disability
compensation or pension payments from the VA in the State of Nevada.
The action we are taking here today will help the Nevada veterans and
families who depend on these VA benefits. No amount of money can
adequately compensate our veterans for the loss of their health, or
families for the loss of a loved one. It is important, though, that
these benefits do not lose their value over time, and that we
demonstrate our genuine appreciation for the sacrifices they have made
on behalf of our Nation.
Mr. Speaker, I ask that everybody vote in favor this measure
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Dent).
Mr. DENT. Thank you, Congressman Miller, for your leadership, as well
as Congresswoman Berkley. I appreciate all of your leadership on this
very important issue.
Mr. Speaker, I too rise today to speak in favor of H.R. 1284, the
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2007.
I think we all are indeed grateful for the services of our Nation's
veterans. They have answered this country's call time and time again.
As a matter of fact, just last week I visited a VA outpatient clinic in
my own district of Allentown, Pennsylvania. I continue to be amazed by
the spirit of our veterans. Many of whom I met with there were in the
Vietnam War, and some of whom were still struggling with the issues
that affected them since their return. But I am nevertheless amazed by
their spirit.
I also recently visited the Walter Reed Army Hospital in the wake of
events. But as a Nation, we are indebted to these veterans. We are
indebted to them for their contributions to our freedom. We need to
take every opportunity to let those veterans know that they are
appreciated and that their needs will be met by a grateful government
and a grateful Nation.
H.R. 1284 is an opportunity for us to help meet those needs. This
bill provides for an increase in the rate of compensation for disabled
veterans and in the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for
their families effective December 1.
The percentage increase in these rates would be equal to the increase
for Social Security benefits, which would be calculated later this
year. Veterans benefits must keep up with inflation. Veterans should
not have to worry about losing their standard of living just because
they may be living on a fixed income.
This bill will help to accomplish that particular objective. I
strongly urge the Members of this House to show their support for
America's veterans by voting in favor of the Veterans' Compensation
Cost-of-Living and Adjustment Act of 2007.
Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, but I would like
to thank Mr. Miller for his commitment to our Nation's veterans, for
leading his side with civility, cooperation and friendship.
Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Mr. Speaker, veterans with service-related
disabilities deserve not only our admiration, but also our support.
This is why today I rise in strong support of H.R. 327, H.R. 797 and
H.R. 1284, a series of bills assisting our service men and women.
H.R. 327, The Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act will
require the Veterans' Affairs Department to develop and implement a
comprehensive program to reduce the incidence of suicide among
veterans. Last year a survey study conducted among Army and Marine
combat units returning from Iraq and Afghanistan found that one in
eight troops reported symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder
(PTSD). Moreover, less than half of these soldiers experiencing
symptoms sought professional help, primarily out of fear of being
stigmatized by peers or hurting their military careers. With PTSD comes
feelings of estrangement from others, loss of satisfaction in
previously satisfying activities, and the feeling of hopelessness about
the future. It is no wonder then, that veterans suffer a higher risk of
suicide. This bill, H.R. 327, is an important step in the right
direction to ending the soldiers' stigma for seeking help, and gives
hope to thousands of veterans and their families coping with the costs
of war.
Like H.R. 327, The Veterans Vision Equity Act (H.R. 797), is intended
to providing our patriots with the care they deserve. H.R. 797 would
change current law to provide veterans who receive disability
compensation because of blindness in one eye, additional benefits if
they are visually impaired in the second eye. This bill provides only a
small change to the current code, yet it would aid an estimated 13,200
veterans in getting proper compensation for their disability. We
blessed with vision often take our sight for granted, but the loss of
one's sight no doubt requires an altering of lifestyle. Indeed, the
sights that once filled eyes with beauty are regulated to memories and
perceived only in the imagination. Many of our veterans are coping with
such a change, and this bill is important in supporting their
transition.
Finally there is H.R. 1284, The Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living
Adjustment Act of 2007. This bill would provide an increase in the rate
of compensation for disabled veterans, as well as provide an increase
in rates

[[Page H2785]]

of dependency and indemnity compensation for these veterans' families.
The baby-boom generation understands why this bill is necessary: costs
are going up. When I was young five dollars could buy you dinner and
take you to the movies--now it can buy you a can of soda and chips.
Indeed, inflation is slowly but surely driving up costs for basic goods
and services. It is important that we meet our obligations to our
veterans by providing them with benefits commensurate to their service.
H.R. 1284 would achieve just that.
We are a nation at war. As such, now more than ever, maintaining the
well-being of our veterans is paramount. Already, we have asked for so
much from our service men and women, and now it is time that we return
the favor. I hope my colleagues will join me in supporting our troops
and vote ``yes'' on H.R. 327, H.R. 797 and H.R. 1284.
Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, we yield back the balance of our
time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from California (Mr. Filner) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1284.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this question will
be postponed.

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