[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 167 (Thursday, November 3, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1999-E2000]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 2011

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                        HON. SHEILA JACKSON LEE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, November 2, 2011

  Ms. JACKSON LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 
894, the Veterans' Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011. This

[[Page E2000]]

legislation increases the rate of disability compensation for veterans 
and their dependents. It also increases disability, old age, and 
survivor benefits provided under Title II of the Social Security Act. 
This bill will benefit many; there were more than 3.2 million veterans 
receiving total disability compensation in 2010.
  The Veterans' Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act provides a much needed 
cost of living adjustment for the courageous men and women who served 
in the Armed Forces. It is in a spirit of deep gratitude and 
appreciation that I fight to provide for our troops fighting abroad, 
and our veterans who have returned from deployment. It is the 
responsibility of Congress and the Administration to fulfill our moral 
obligation to those who have fought for freedom and democracy.
  In the State of Texas, we have nearly 1.7 million veterans, and the 
18th District is home to 32,000 of them. Of the 200,000 veterans of 
military service who live and work in Houston; more than 13,000 are 
veterans from Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan, and Operation 
Iraqi Freedom. Additionally, there are almost 34,000 soldiers from 
Texas currently deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. I am supporting this 
legislation to ensure that our men and women in uniform are taken care 
of when they return from combat.
  Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom have presented 
unanticipated challenges, greater threats, and higher stakes than ever 
before. The men and women who have served in these operations during 
the course of the past decade were tasked with the enormous 
responsibility of protecting America from a new enemy, one that does 
not identify itself with uniforms, or declare war, or invade by driving 
tanks over a border. The Veterans' Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act 
ensures that disabled veterans are properly compensated for their 
sacrifices.
  Throughout my tenure in Congress, I have remained committed to 
meeting both the needs of veterans of previous wars, and to those who 
are now serving. Veterans have kept their promise to serve our Nation; 
they have willingly risked their lives to protect the country we all 
love. We must now ensure that we keep our promises to our veterans.
  We promise to leave no soldier or veteran behind. Politics and 
partisanship should never be a factor in our support for American 
veterans or troops. On the battlefield, the military pledges to leave 
no soldier behind. As a Nation, let it be our pledge that when they 
return home, we leave no veteran behind. I am pleased at the bipartisan 
nature with which my colleagues have approached this legislation. We 
must resolve together that we will provide returning veterans with the 
welcome, services, care, and compassion that they deserve. Let us all 
remember that one of the things that makes our Nation truly great are 
the young men and women willing to fight to defend it, to defend us, 
and to defend our way of life.
  I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting S. 894, the Veterans' 
Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011.

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