[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 25 (Thursday, February 6, 2025)]
[House]
[Page H538]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1715
       INCREASING DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION BENEFITS

  (Mrs. HAYES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. HAYES. Mr. Speaker, in 1993, the VA established the Dependency 
and Indemnity Compensation, or DIC, benefits which are paid to the 
survivors of servicemembers who died in the line of duty or to veterans 
who died from service-related injuries or conditions. Unfortunately, 
the DIC benefits have fallen drastically behind the cost of living, 
causing a financial hardship on veterans and military families.
  That is why I have led the introduction of the bipartisan Caring for 
Survivors Act, which would increase the DIC benefits from 43 percent to 
55 percent, amounting to an increase of approximately $454 per month 
for surviving family members. The legislation also fast-tracks DIC 
benefits to family members who currently have to wait a decade before 
receiving benefits.
  Honoring the sacrifices our servicemembers make on behalf of our 
Nation means caring for the loved ones they leave behind.

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