[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.

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