[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 71 (Monday, May 23, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H3308-H3310]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 2011
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 1407) to increase, effective as of December 1,
2011, 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, and for other purposes, as
amended.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 1407
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 2011''.
SEC. 2. INCREASE IN RATES OF DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND
DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION.
(a) Rate Adjustment.--Effective on December 1, 2011, the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall increase, in accordance
with subsection (c), the dollar amounts in effect on November
30, 2011, 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 section 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, 2011,
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 2012.
[[Page H3309]]
SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY OF THE SECRETARY OF VETERANS
AFFAIRS TO PROVIDE SPECIALLY ADAPTED HOUSING
ASSISTANCE TO INDIVIDUALS RESIDING TEMPORARILY
IN HOUSING OWNED BY A FAMILY MEMBER.
(a) Short Title.--This section may be cited as the ``Andrew
Connolly Veterans' Housing Act''.
(b) Extension.--Section 2102A(e) of title 38, United States
Code, is amended by striking ``December 31, 2011'' and
inserting ``December 31, 2016''.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Miller) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Walz) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
I rise today in support of H.R. 1407, as amended, the Veterans'
Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011.
This is an annual bill that authorizes a cost-of-living increase in
veterans' disability compensation, veterans' clothing allowance, and
dependency and indemnity compensation for veterans' survivors. This
increase is tied to the increase in the cost-of-living adjustment for
Social Security beneficiaries. I'm also glad that the committee was
able to include H.R. 1671, the Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing Act,
to the end of this bill at the full committee markup.
This amendment was introduced by the gentleman from Iowa (Mr.
Braley). It provides a 5-year extension for the VA to provide specially
adapted housing assistance to individuals residing temporarily in
housing owned by a family member. Unless it is extended, this program
will expire on September 30 of this year.
I urge all of my colleagues to support H.R. 1407, as amended.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WALZ of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
I would like to thank the chairman, the gentleman from Minnesota, for
bringing this bill and the others to the floor today. It's appropriate,
as we are approaching Memorial Day, that we are working to fight for
our veterans. But I think that all of us who get the opportunity to
work in that VA Committee know that the chairman's focus on veterans is
every day of the year, not just Memorial Day, and this is certainly a
good one.
I rise in wholehearted support of the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-
Living Act of 2011, as amended. While we don't control the COLA, the
chairman and everyone in the committee understood how important it was
to get this forward, get there with Social Security when that's
enacted. It is important that these payments are made on time. This
Nation has a solemn and moral responsibility to our veterans, and this
is just one more way to make sure that we do what's right.
I also would like to thank the chairman for including Mr. Braley's
bill, the Andrew Connolly Act. It's really important. I think all of us
who heard the testimony of Mr. Connolly and his family--a true American
hero, someone who is doing everything right--want to make sure that we
share that pain with him and his family for the costs that he has given
going to war.
That grant is intended to assist eligible veterans to adapt a family
member's home to provide a barrier-free living environment, to make
sure that they have the highest level of independent living as
possible. And so, again, I thank you for that.
I would, if I could, for just a moment, Mr. Chairman, just put in a
slight plug, if I may, for a bill I'd like to see moved with this: H.R.
1025, the bill recognizing our reservists for their service and then
being able to call themselves ``veterans.'' And I want to thank the
majority and minority staff working on that; keep moving that in the
future if at all possible. But your unwavering support of this piece of
legislation, this bill, has been absolutely necessary. We worked on it
together in committee the way it should be, and your leadership in
bringing it to the floor is certainly appreciated.
Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. I thank the gentleman for his kind words. I
look forward to working with him on his issues and other bills that
will come before our committee in the future.
At this time, Madam Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to
the chairman of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial
Affairs, the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Runyan).
Mr. RUNYAN. Thank you, Chairman Miller.
Today I rise in support of H.R. 1407, as amended, the Veterans'
Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011.
H.R. 1407, as amended, which I introduced in April, puts veterans on
equal footing with Social Security beneficiaries by increasing the
amount provided for disabled veterans' compensation, veterans' clothing
allowance, and dependency and indemnity compensation for veterans'
survivors by the amount of the Social Security cost-of-living
adjustment.
This annual and noncontroversial bill, which has been scored by CBO
as having no budgetary impact, is a crucial part of ensuring benefits
for disabled veterans and their families are sufficient to meet their
needs.
H.R. 1407, as amended, also includes H.R. 1671, introduced by the
gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Braley), the Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing
Act, which provides a 5-year extension to the current program set to
expire on September 30.
Mr. Connolly's story demonstrates the beneficial impact specially
adapted housing can have on a disabled veteran temporarily living in
the house of a family member. It is important that we extend this
program and continue to allow disabled veterans in similar situations
adapted housing.
I urge all Members to support H.R. 1407, as amended.
Mr. WALZ of Minnesota. Madam Speaker, I would like to also thank the
distinguished gentleman from New Jersey, the chairman of the
subcommittee. Thank you for your work on this. You're absolutely right.
This is one that's supported; it is the work for our veterans.
Together, you did a fine job of moving this through, Mr. Chairman. And
we are certainly proud to support it.
I'm sorry, Mr. Miller. I tried to move you north from Florida. I just
had Minnesota on my mind. This time of year, it's not bad, though.
Thank you for your work on this. It's a great bill.
I have no further requests for time, Madam Speaker, and I yield back
the balance of my time.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. I would invite my good friend to visit
Florida's great northwest sometime in the winter, where thousands of
people live like millions wish they could. So you're welcome any time.
General Leave
Mr. MILLER of Florida. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have
5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks on H.R. 1407, as
amended.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. STUTZMAN. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of Chairman
Runyan's H.R. 1407, as amended, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-
Living Adjustment Act of 2011.
In addition to authorizing a cost of living increase for VA
disability compensation for FY 2012, which I support, the bill contains
provisions introduced by my Ranking Member Braley of the Subcommittee
on Economic Opportunity, as the Andrew Connolly Veterans' Housing Act.
These provisions would extend the Temporary Residence Grant commonly
called the TRA grant program for five years.
The TRA program offers severely disabled veterans the opportunity to
use a small portion of their Specially Adapted Housing grant to
renovate the home of a family member to assist the veteran while the
veteran is residing in the home on a temporary basis.
This program is needed because many severely injured veterans need
temporary housing while their long-term home is adapted to meet their
disabilities. For some veterans that temporary residence is that of a
parent or sibling.
Anyone who attended the Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity's
hearing on Mr. Braley's bill could not be impressed by the courage
shown by Mr. Connolly and his wife, Jennifer. Mr. Connolly is a former
member of the Iowa National Guard unit that had the longest tour of
duty in Iraq of any Guard unit.
Unfortunately, he has been diagnosed with cancer of the spine and is
confined to a
[[Page H3310]]
wheelchair. His young son is also wheelchair-bound and is afflicted
with a disease that requires the child to be on a respirator around-
the-clock for life. That we would not extend a benefit that would make
life better for Mr. and Mrs. Connolly is unthinkable and I applaud Mr.
Braley for his work.
I also thank Chairman Miller, Ranking Member Filner, and Chairman
Runyan for including the provisions of the Andrew Connolly Veterans'
Housing Act in this must-pass legislation. I urge all Members to
support H.R. 1407 as amended.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Madam Speaker, I once again urge all Members
to support H.R. 1407, as amended.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Miller) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the bill, H.R. 1407, as amended.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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