[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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