[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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