[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 51 (Friday, March 23, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E621]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




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

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                               speech of

                         HON. ZACHARY T. SPACE

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 21, 2007

  Mr. SPACE. Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 1284, a bill that will 
increase the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected 
disabilities and also increase the rates of dependency and indenmity 
compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans.
  As a member of the Veterans' Affairs Committee, and as the son and 
grandson of American veterans, I fully support the implementation of 
this bill. Passing H.R. 1284 is a matter of fairness to our veterans. 
These brave men and women sacrificed the best years of their lives in 
service to our nation, and they deserve all the resources they were 
promised and have earned.
  As the cost of living increases each year, so should the funds set 
aside for our nation's wounded warriors. It is unreasonable to ask our 
veterans to pay out of pocket for the services that they were promised, 
but that is unfortunately what happens when day-to-day living costs 
exceed veterans' disability compensation. For many veterans living on 
fixed incomes, they need the annual cost of living adjustment. Congress 
has an obligation to pass a cost of living adjustment measure to ensure 
that these veterans can continue their current standards of living and 
cover the costs of their basic needs.
  H.R. 1284 also makes certain that the rates of dependency and 
indemnity compensation for the survivors of disabled veterans keep pace 
with annual inflation. The spouses and children of veterans often 
suffer silently on the sidelines as their loved ones struggle with 
combat-related disabilities. We owe it to veterans' strongest support 
network--the families of veterans--to meet their needs when addressing 
a cost of living adjustment.
  I believe that Members on both sides of the aisle can and should 
rally behind this bill, as well as H.R. 327, the Joshua Omvig Veterans 
Suicide Prevention Act, and H.R. 797, a bill to improve vision 
compensation benefits for veterans.
  I urge the speedy passage of all three of these bills on behalf of 
Ohio 18's 66,000 veterans and all of America's veterans,

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