[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 160 (Tuesday, November 12, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H6971-H6972]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 2013
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (S. 893) to provide for an increase, effective December
1, 2013, in 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.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The text of the bill is as follows:
S. 893
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 the ``Veterans' Compensation Cost-
of-Living Adjustment Act of 2013''.
SEC. 2. INCREASE IN RATES OF DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND
DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION.
(a) Rate Adjustment.--Effective on December 1, 2013, the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall increase, in accordance
with subsection (c), the dollar amounts in effect on November
30, 2013, 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.--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, 2013, as a result
of a determination under section 215(i) of such Act (42
U.S.C. 415(i)).
(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.
(e) Publication of Adjusted Rates.--The Secretary of
Veterans Affairs shall publish in the Federal Register the
amounts specified in subsection (b), as increased under
subsection (a), 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 2014.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Florida (Mr. Miller) and the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Michaud) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida.
General Leave
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend
their remarks and include any extraneous material on S. 893.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Florida?
There was no objection.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
As chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I rise today
in support of S. 893, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living
Adjustment Act of 2013.
Mr. Speaker, it is entirely appropriate that we consider this
legislation today after we honored America's veterans yesterday.
This is critically important legislation that authorizes a cost-of-
living increase for disabled veterans in receipt of disability
compensation payments from VA, veterans' clothing allowance payments,
and other compensation for survivors of veterans who die as a result of
their service to this country. The amount of the increase is determined
by the consumer price index, which also controls the cost-of-living
adjustment for Social Security beneficiaries. That increase is
scheduled to be 1\1/2\ percent.
I want to thank Congressman Runyan of New Jersey, the chairman of the
Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, for
introducing H.R. 569, which was the companion bill to this piece of
legislation.
I urge all my colleagues to support S. 893, and I reserve the balance
of my time.
Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Yesterday was Veterans Day. Its origin began 95 years ago on the 11th
hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. The armistice was signed
marking the end of World War I. The next year we saw the first
commemoration of Armistice Day, which became Veterans Day in 1954.
Every Veterans Day since then has been a day of remembrance and
commemoration for all of our veterans.
Today, we have the opportunity to put the thoughts and feelings of
Veterans Day into practical action. Today, with the agreement of the
House, we will ensure that veterans continue to receive the support
they need.
On October 28, the Senate passed S. 893, the Veterans' Compensation
Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2013, which provides that veterans
receive a projected 1.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment beginning in
January.
This bill directs the VA to increase the rate of basic compensation
for disabled veterans and the rate of dependency and indemnity
compensation for their survivors and dependents.
Since 1976, Congress has acted annually to increase these benefits by
an amount estimated to keep pace with inflation. This year's increase
is the same as that provided to Social Security recipients.
Without this annual COLA increase, veterans, their families, and
survivors would see the value of their hard-earned benefits slowly
erode.
{time} 1745
Many of the millions of veterans and survivors who receive monthly
benefits depend upon these payments in order to make ends meet. For
some, it is their only source of income.
Providing for a cost-of-living increase is an important thing that we
[[Page H6972]]
all can do to help veterans and ensure that the value of their benefits
does not decrease over time due to inflation. It is a way that we can,
the day after Veterans Day, thank our veterans again for their service
and their sacrifice. I urge my colleagues to support S. 893.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Runyan), the chairman of
the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
Mr. RUNYAN. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Miller for yielding me this
time.
I rise today in strong support of S. 893, the Veterans' Compensation
Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2013. This bill is a companion bill to
H.R. 569, which I introduced earlier this year in the House of
Representatives. H.R. 569 was included in H.R. 357, which passed the
House Veterans' Affairs Committee earlier this year.
S. 893 provides a cost-of-living adjustment to veterans' disability
compensation, survivors' dependency and indemnity compensation, and
other benefits.
Mr. Speaker, many disabled veterans depend on these benefits to make
ends meet, and this bill will assist these veterans as the cost-of-
living continues to increase.
While I am very supportive of this bill, I would like to once again
state that it is unfortunate that we have to be here to pass this bill
each and every year. That is why I introduced H.R. 570, the American
Heroes COLA Act, which would authorize a COLA every year without
congressional action. This would ensure that the COLA for the most
deserving Americans is not tied to action or inaction in Washington.
The House passed H.R. 570 earlier this year, and I remain hopeful
that our colleagues in the Senate will follow suit so we can provide
this needed benefit to veterans and their families without having to
wait on Congress to act.
Once again, I thank Chairman Miller and the House leadership for
bringing this important legislation to the floor. I urge all of my
colleagues to fully support S. 893.
Mr. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as she may consume to the
gentlewoman from Nevada (Ms. Titus).
Ms. TITUS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Miller and thank Ranking
Member Michaud for yielding me this time.
As the ranking member of the Disability Assistance and Memorial
Affairs Subcommittee, I rise today in strong support of S. 893 to
provide a COLA increase for disabled veterans.
In the wake of Veterans Day, let us take a lesson from President
Kennedy's admonition that we should show our respect for our heroes not
just through words, but through actions. This legislation is an
opportunity for us to take such action. With its passage, Congress can
show tangible support for our Nation's heroes.
Unlike with Social Security recipients, Congress is required to
adjust veterans' COLAs every year. S. 893 would make that important
adjustment for next year. That's a good thing that I support, but I
would also urge the Senate in the meantime to pass H.R. 570, the
American Heroes COLA Act, that would allow for an automatic COLA
increase so that veterans' benefits are not subject to any
congressional delay. Making the adjustment automatic would remove this
important benefit from the capriciousness of partisan politics or
personal grandstanding.
This bill was introduced in a bipartisan fashion by our subcommittee
chairman, Jon Runyan, and me. It was unanimously approved by the House
in May and is awaiting action down the hall. So, while we await the
passage of that automatic increase, passing S. 893 is an important step
forward. I support it. It will ensure that our Nation's heroes receive
all the benefits they have earned, and I encourage my colleagues to
support it as well because this will be a true recognition of the
veterans whose service and sacrifice we honored yesterday.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Benishek), the chairman of
the Subcommittee on Health.
Mr. BENISHEK. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 893,
legislation to provide a 2014 cost-of-living adjustment to disabled
veterans and their survivors. With prices going up for groceries, gas,
and utilities, an increase is needed for our veterans and their
families in northern Michigan.
However, without this legislation, there would be no COLA. As a
doctor who served at the VA hospital in Iron Mountain for 20 years and
the father of a Navy veteran, I am disappointed that our veterans are
once again put at risk of being held hostage to Washington politics.
Those who serve our Nation should never have to wonder whether or not
Congress will provide them with the benefits they have earned.
In May, the House passed the American Heroes COLA Act, introduced by
the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Runyan). This legislation will
permanently tie the COLA to the consumer price index, the same as
Social Security disability.
I urge the Senate to immediately act on the American Heroes COLA Act
and join the House of Representatives in a clear statement that our
veterans must not be used as pawns in Washington political games. I
urge support of S. 893.
MR. MICHAUD. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers, so I urge my
colleagues to support S. 893 and send this important bill to the
President today.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. MILLER of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I too ask all of my colleagues to
support S. 893.
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, S. 893.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
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