[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 20]
[House]
[Pages 29196-29197]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



    CONCURRING IN SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R. 2280, VETERANS BENEFITS 
                IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 1999, WITH AMENDMENTS

  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
resolution (H. Res. 368) providing for the concurrence by the House 
with amendments in the amendment of the Senate to H.R. 2280.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 368

       Resolved, That, upon the adoption of this resolution, the 
     House shall be considered to have taken from the Speaker's 
     table the bill H.R. 2280, with the Senate amendment thereto, 
     and to have concurred in the Senate amendment with the 
     following amendments:
       (1) Amend the title so as to read: ``An Act to amend title 
     38, United States Code, to provide a cost-of-living 
     adjustment in the rates of disability compensation for 
     veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of 
     dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of such 
     veterans.''.
       (2) In lieu of the matter proposed to be inserted by the 
     amendment of the Senate, insert the following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; REFERENCES TO TITLE 38, UNITED STATES 
                   CODE.

       (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' 
     Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 1999''.
       (b) References to Title 38, United States Code.--Except as 
     otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an 
     amendment or repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, 
     or repeal of, a section or other provision, the reference 
     shall be considered to be made to a section or other 
     provision of title 38, United States Code.

     SEC. 2. DISABILITY COMPENSATION.

       (a) Increase in Rates.--Section 1114 is amended--
       (1) by striking ``$95'' in subsection (a) and inserting 
     ``$98'';
       (2) by striking ``$182'' in subsection (b) and inserting 
     ``$188'';
       (3) by striking ``$279'' in subsection (c) and inserting 
     ``$288'';
       (4) by striking ``$399'' in subsection (d) and inserting 
     ``$413'';
       (5) by striking ``$569'' in subsection (e) and inserting 
     ``$589'';
       (6) by striking ``$717'' in subsection (f) and inserting 
     ``$743'';
       (7) by striking ``$905'' in subsection (g) and inserting 
     ``$937'';
       (8) by striking ``$1,049'' in subsection (h) and inserting 
     ``$1,087'';
       (9) by striking ``$1,181'' in subsection (i) and inserting 
     ``$1,224'';
       (10) by striking ``$1,964'' in subsection (j) and inserting 
     ``$2,036'';
       (11) in subsection (k)--
       (A) by striking ``$75'' both places it appears and 
     inserting ``$76''; and
       (B) by striking ``$2,443'' and ``$3,426'' and inserting 
     ``$2,533'' and ``$3,553'', respectively;
       (12) by striking ``$2,443'' in subsection (l) and inserting 
     ``$2,533'';
       (13) by striking ``$2,694'' in subsection (m) and inserting 
     ``$2,794'';
       (14) by striking ``$3,066'' in subsection (n) and inserting 
     ``$3,179'';
       (15) by striking ``$3,426'' each place it appears in 
     subsections (o) and (p) and inserting ``$3,553'';
       (16) by striking ``$1,471'' and ``$2,190'' in subsection 
     (r) and inserting ``$1,525'' and ``$2,271'', respectively; 
     and
       (17) by striking ``$2,199'' in subsection (s) and inserting 
     ``$2,280''.
       (b) Special Rule.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
     authorize administratively, consistent with the increases 
     authorized by this section, the rates of disability 
     compensation payable to persons within the purview of section 
     10 of Public Law 85-857 who are not in receipt of 
     compensation payable pursuant to chapter 11 of title 38, 
     United States Code.

     SEC. 3. ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR DEPENDENTS.

       Section 1115(1) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``$114'' in clause (A) and inserting 
     ``$117'';
       (2) by striking ``$195'' and ``$60'' in clause (B) and 
     inserting ``$201'' and ``$61'', respectively;
       (3) by striking ``$78'' and ``$60'' in clause (C) and 
     inserting ``$80'' and ``$61'', respectively;
       (4) by striking ``$92'' in clause (D) and inserting 
     ``$95'';
       (5) by striking ``$215'' in clause (E) and inserting 
     ``$222''; and
       (6) by striking ``$180'' in clause (F) and inserting 
     ``$186''.

     SEC. 4. CLOTHING ALLOWANCE FOR CERTAIN DISABLED VETERANS.

       Section 1162 is amended by striking ``$528'' and inserting 
     ``$546''.

     SEC. 5. DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION FOR SURVIVING 
                   SPOUSES.

       (a) New Law Rates.--Section 1311(a) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``$850'' in paragraph (1) and inserting 
     ``$881''; and
       (2) by striking ``$185'' in paragraph (2) and inserting 
     ``$191''.
       (b) Old Law Rates.--The table in section 1311(a)(3) is 
     amended to read as follows:

``Pay grade rate                                                Monthly
  E-1..............................................................$881
  E-2...............................................................881
  E-3...............................................................881
  E-4...............................................................881
  E-5...............................................................881
  E-6...............................................................881
  E-7...............................................................911
  E-8...............................................................962
  E-9..........................................................\1\1,003
  W-1...............................................................930
  W-2...............................................................968
  W-3...............................................................997
  W-4.............................................................1,054
  O-1...............................................................930
  O-2...............................................................962
  O-3.............................................................1,028
  O-4.............................................................1,087
  O-5.............................................................1,198
  O-6.............................................................1,349
  O-7.............................................................1,458
  O-8.............................................................1,598
  O-9.............................................................1,712

[[Page 29197]]

  O-10........................................................\2\71,878

``\1\If the veteran served as sergeant major of the Army, senior 
enlisted advisor of the Navy, chief master sergeant of the Air Force, 
sergeant major of the Marine Corps, or master chief petty officer of 
the Coast Guard, at the applicable time designated by section 1302 of 
this title, the surviving spouse's rate shall be $1,082.
``\2\If the veteran served as Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Joint 
Chiefs of Staff, Chief of Staff of the Army, Chief of Naval Operations, 
Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Commandant of the Marine Corps, or 
Commandant of the Coast Guard, at the applicable time designated by 
section 1302 of this title, the surviving spouse's rate shall be 
$2,013.''.

       (c) Additional DIC for Children.--Section 1311(b) is 
     amended by striking ``$215'' and inserting ``$222''.
       (d) Aid and Attendance Allowance.--Section 1311(c) is 
     amended by striking ``$215'' and inserting ``$222''.
       (e) Housebound Rate.--Section 1311(d) is amended by 
     striking ``$104'' and inserting ``$107''.

     SEC. 6. DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION FOR CHILDREN.

       (a) DIC for Orphan Children.--Section 1313(a) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``$361'' in paragraph (1) and inserting 
     ``$373'';
       (2) by striking ``$520'' in paragraph (2) and inserting 
     ``$538'';
       (3) by striking ``$675'' in paragraph (3) and inserting 
     ``$699''; and
       (4) by striking ``$675'' and ``$132'' in paragraph (4) and 
     inserting ``$699'' and ``$136'', respectively.
       (b) Supplemental DIC for Disabled Adult Children.--Section 
     1314 is amended--
       (1) by striking ``$215'' in subsection (a) and inserting 
     ``$222'';
       (2) by striking ``$361'' in subsection (b) and inserting 
     ``$373''; and
       (3) by striking ``$182'' in subsection (c) and inserting 
     ``$188''.

     SEC. 7. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       The amendments made by this Act shall take effect on 
     December 1, 1999.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Arizona (Mr. Stump) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Evans) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump).


                             General Leave

  Mr. STUMP. 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 this measure.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Arizona?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a clean bill providing a cost-of-living 
adjustment to disabled veterans and surviving spouses. The other 
provisions in the House-passed bill are part of an ongoing conference 
between the House and the Senate and we hope to have a report on that 
by tomorrow.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. EVANS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I salute the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump), the 
chairman of the committee, for his efforts to ensure a timely and 
accurate cost-of-living adjustment of 2.4 percent which will be 
provided to our Nation's service-connected disabled veterans and their 
dependents and survivors who are in receipt of compensation and DIC 
benefits. This increase in benefits will be reflected in payments 
beginning January, 2000. Mr. Speaker, this measure deserves the support 
of every Member of the House. I urge my colleagues to support the bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I want to thank the ranking member of the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs for all his work on this provision as well as the gentleman 
from New York (Mr. Quinn), the chairman of the subcommittee, and the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Filner), the ranking member, and urge 
all Members to support this COLA, cost-of-living increase, for our 
veterans.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman 
from Florida (Mr. Foley).
  Mr. FOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Arizona for his 
hard work on this issue and obviously for recognition of all veterans. 
We are getting ready certainly to celebrate Veterans Day this year. I 
think it is incumbent upon us when we are considering the needs of the 
United States of America, we prioritize those that have fought 
valiantly for the freedoms that we all enjoy.
  It is one of the unique things, having come to Congress and being 
able to speak on the floor and advocate for constituents from the 16th 
District, to realize many of those fundamental opportunities have been 
given to us because of the fight the veterans made in previous 
conflicts. I think it is incumbent especially as well to recognize that 
years and years ago I remember the veterans were told that they would 
have to wait for their cost-of-living, we have to make budgetary 
matters first and we have got to balance the books and do all these 
other things.
  I think the gentleman from Arizona prioritizes the fact that veterans 
should not be treated any differently than any other citizen, that if 
there are cost-of-living benefits going to employees of the Federal 
Government, to Social Security recipients, that they should also be 
included for those disabled, those veterans and other groups.
  I want to strongly urge obviously my colleagues' consideration of 
this measure but also once again to underscore the fact that very few 
of us would be able to speak freely in this Chamber had it not been for 
the valiant effort of men and women who have sacrificed, men and women 
who have gone to theaters around the globe to protect freedom here and 
abroad.
  Mr. STUMP. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for his remarks.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Stump) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution, House Resolution 368.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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