[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 83 (Monday, May 21, 2018)]
[House]
[Pages H4258-H4259]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 2018
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and
pass the bill (H.R. 4958) to increase, effective as of December 1,
2018, 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:
H.R. 4958
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 2018''.
SEC. 2. INCREASE IN RATES OF DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND
DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION.
(a) Rate Adjustment.--Effective on December 1, 2018, the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall increase, in accordance
with subsection (c), the dollar amounts in effect on November
30, 2018, 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, 2018, 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.
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 2019.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from
Tennessee (Mr. Roe) and the gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Walz) each
will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee.
General Leave
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend
their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4958.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Tennessee?
There was no objection.
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4958, the Veterans'
Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2018.
This bill was introduced by the subcommittee chairman, Mike Bost of
Illinois, and I appreciate his leadership on this issue.
VA provides compensation to help fulfill our obligation to take care
of the brave men and women who have been injured during their service
to our Nation.
This money can be a lifeline for veterans who have service-connected
disabilities that may affect their earning ability.
These veterans often have families to support, and they should not be
worried about how they are going to pay their bills when prices go up.
This bill will help ensure that the value of veterans' benefits are
not eroded by inflation by giving veterans a cost-of-living increase if
Social Security recipients receive one this year.
The amount of the increase will be determined by the consumer price
index, which establishes the COLA for Social Security beneficiaries.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this measure, and I
reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4958, the Veterans
Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act.
As the chairman said, it is our responsibility to make sure the
guarantee of these benefits is not eroded by inflation. It provides for
a simple cost-of-living adjustment at the same rate as set for Social
Security benefits. It may seem like a small amount in any one year, but
without the adjustment for inflation, the impact on veterans' finances
is significant when compounded over time.
Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the subcommittee chairman, Mike Bost,
for his work, and Elizabeth Esty, both for cosponsoring the bill and
bringing it to us today.
Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Roe and his staff for their work
clearing this bill. It is an important one. Our veterans have been
waiting for word on this. I think I am happy to report it looks like we
have taken that step moving it forward. It will make a lot of folks
happy.
I hear about this one a lot, so you know it is on their minds. It
just makes sense, and doing it before Memorial Day sends a really
strong message.
Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 4958, and I reserve
the balance of my time.
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman
from Illinois (Mr. Bost), our Disability Assistance and Memorial
Affairs Subcommittee chairman.
Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, this is a must-pass bill.
Many disabled veterans and their families depend on their veterans'
benefits to pay for things like food and medicine.
For many of these veterans, these payments are a lifeline. In some
cases, these benefits may even be the only income these veterans have.
It is only
[[Page H4259]]
fair that we ensure that the benefits paid to veterans who were injured
during their military service do not lose value because of inflation.
If we don't, it could become hard for people who were injured while
serving this Nation in uniform to keep their heads above water.
H.R. 4958 would financially protect the veterans who protected us by
providing a cost-of-living increase. The amount of the COLA will be the
same increase that Social Security beneficiaries will receive.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Disability Assistance and Memorial
Affairs ranking member, Ms. Esty, for being the lead cosponsor of this
bill with me. This bill has also enjoyed bipartisan support.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4958 and help
disabled veterans and their families keep up with the rising costs of
basic necessities.
Mr. WALZ. Mr. Speaker, this is a good piece of legislation. I thank
the gentleman for bringing it up. The taxpayers understand that this is
exactly what we are supposed to be doing. I encourage a ``yes'' vote,
and I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the subcommittee
chairman and Marine veteran, Mike Bost, for bringing this up. It is a
great piece of legislation. I encourage all Members to support H.R.
4958, and I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4958,
the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2018.
H.R. 4958 directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase, as
of December 1, 2018, the rates of veterans' disability compensation,
additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for
certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation
for surviving spouses and children.
The bill increases 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.
For the brave military men and women serving our country, this will
help offset the cost of living in higher cost areas of the country.
Our nation owes a great debt to these fearless men and women
defending our nation.
Providing cost of living adjustments to keep up with inflation is an
effective way to honor their sacrifice.
Many of our veterans rely on the disability benefits they receive
from the Department of Veterans Affairs to merely make ends meet.
While Social Security benefits are automatically adjusted annually to
keep pace with inflation, Congress must pass legislation every year to
increase the rates of veteran disability compensation.
Unfortunately, it requires an act of Congress to make this same
adjustment for our nation's veterans.
Passing H.R. 4958 ensures that our nation's veterans are able to
receive the same annual cost of living adjustment of Social Security
recipients.
The community-integrated rehabilitation treatment provided by the
pilot program will serve as a vital resource to our veterans as they
overcome burdensome health problems.
I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4958 to show their
support and gratitude for the many sacrifices made by our service men
and women.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the
gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe) that the House suspend the rules and
pass the bill, H.R. 4958.
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.
____________________