[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 83 (Tuesday, May 20, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H4198-H4199]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 2008

  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5826) to increase, effective as of December 1, 2008, 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.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 5826

       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 2008''.

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

       (a) Rate Adjustment.--Effective on December 1, 2008, the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall increase, in accordance 
     with subsection (c), the dollar amounts in effect on November 
     30, 2008, 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, 2008, 
     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 2009.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Filner) and the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Buyer) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  This bill is called the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living 
Adjustment Act, which was introduced by myself and Mr. Rodriguez of 
Texas. And I want to thank our ranking member, Mr. Buyer, who, of 
course, supported this legislation and helped us to get here with 
unanimous support from our committee.
  The fact that we were able to get this bill to the floor only a month 
after its introduction shows the House leadership's commitment to our 
Nation's veterans and their survivors.
  Since 1976 Congress has passed a measure to direct the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to increase the rates of basic compensation for 
disabled veterans and the rates of dependency and indemnity 
compensation, so-called DIC, to their survivors and dependents, along 
with other benefits, in order to keep pace with the rising cost of 
living. The disability COLA here would be effective on December 1 of 
this year and will be equal to that provided on an annual basis to 
Social Security recipients.
  Madam Speaker, this bill will provide over 3 million disabled 
veterans from the World War I era through the current conflicts in Iraq 
and Afghanistan that VA estimates will be receiving disability 
compensation for the coming fiscal year. It will help over 300,000 of 
their survivors during the same period.
  Many of the nearly 3.5 million recipients of these benefits depend on 
these tax-free payments not only to provide for their own basic needs 
but those of their spouses, children, and parents as well. Without an 
annual COLA increase, these veterans and their families would see the 
value of their hard-earned benefits slowly erode.

                              {time}  1430

  We would be derelict in our duty if we failed to guarantee that those 
who sacrifice so much for this country receive benefits and services 
that don't keep pace with their necessities. I know we have had some 
disagreement over the past weeks over what, and how, our priorities for 
veterans should be funded. But on this bill, there is no disagreement. 
The veterans compensation COLA is included in the CBO baseline. In 
layman's terms, that means we have already paid for this.
  Regardless of whether or not you agree or disagree with the funding 
of the war in Iraq, our young men and women who have served in our 
Armed

[[Page H4199]]

Forces deserve to be adequately compensated for injuries due to their 
military service. We fund the war, we must fund the warrior, and their 
families and their survivors, by ensuring their benefits will keep pace 
with their living expenses. Let's ensure that these benefits make ends 
meet at the end of the month.
  Madam Speaker, as we approach our country's 140th Memorial Day 
commemoration, I ask all my colleagues to support this bill and send a 
clear message of support to our troops: You will be taken care of when 
you return, and we will not forget your sacrifice.
  No action by a Member of Congress is more irritating to many 
Americans than those who say they support the troops but then turn a 
cold shoulder when those same troops come home, become veterans, and 
need our help to become whole again. That costs money; money we should 
not hesitate to spend, just like our military men and women did not 
hesitate to offer to lay down their lives to defend our freedom and the 
way of life that we cherish.
  I ask my colleagues to consider these facts when voting on the full 
portfolio of veterans' legislation that is under consideration on the 
floor today, and of course to support passage of this bill, the 
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2008.
  I would reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BUYER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 5826, the Veterans' 
Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2008. I would like to 
thank my colleagues, Mr. Hall of New York, chairman of the Disability 
Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee, and Mr. Lamborn of 
California, the ranking member of the subcommittee, as well as the 
bill's sponsor, Mr. Rodriguez of Texas, for the leadership on this 
bill.
  This veterans' COLA would increase the rates of compensation for 
veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of 
dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain disabled 
veterans. The COLA adjustment includes wartime disability compensation, 
additional compensation for dependents, clothing allowance, dependency 
and indemnity to surviving spouse, and dependency and indemnity 
compensation to children.
  Madam Speaker, this is an important annual authorization, which 
provides much-needed assistance to our Nation's veterans, and every 
year receives unanimous support from the House.
  With that, I yield back my time.
  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I would yield such time as he may consume 
to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Rodriguez) who authored this bill.
  Mr. RODRIGUEZ. Let me also once again thank Chairman Bob Filner and 
Ranking Member Buyer. Thank you very much for the opportunity to speak 
regarding H.R. 5826, and thank you for allowing me the opportunity, Mr. 
Chairman, to sponsor this piece of legislation.
  I want to also just take this opportunity on this bill to thank the 
chairman because I have had the opportunity to serve on the VA 
Committee for, prior to being gone for 2 years, 8 years, and I know we 
had a series of things that occurred and we were not able to make 
things happen during that period of time, and there was a great deal of 
frustration. But I do want to thank the chairman because this past year 
and a half has been one of the highlights, at least in my career 
serving on the VA committee, having the opportunity to not only hear 
and be able to make something happen for our veterans and be able to do 
the right thing. We have been able to make some significant pieces of 
legislation. So I wanted to take this opportunity to thank the chairman 
for his leadership in allowing us to make that happen.
  We are all keenly aware of the burden our current economy places upon 
our American families. The same difficulties are magnified with the 
veterans and the families who rely on disability compensation provided 
through the VA. H.R. 5826, the Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living 
Adjustment Act of 2008, seeks to address these challenges by increasing 
the compensation rates in line with the Consumer Price Index Social 
Security COLA.
  We all know the difficulty that we are hearing back home with the 
cost of gasoline, the cost of food, and people losing their homes. This 
is essential, this cost of living. It's minimal, but yet it's extremely 
critical and important. I want to thank you for allowing me this 
opportunity once again to speak today, and for the considering of H.R. 
5826, and I ask your support and I ask the possibility of a vote on 
this particular legislation, Mr. Chairman.


                             General Leave

  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members 
may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on H.R. 5826.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. FILNER. Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to support H.R. 
5826 and would yield back 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. 5826.
  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. Madam 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 motion will be 
postponed.

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