[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 22688]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[[Page 22688]]

      VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 2000

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
Veterans' Affairs Committee be discharged from further consideration of 
H.R. 4850 and the Senate then proceed to its immediate consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (H.R. 4850) to provide a cost-of-living adjustment 
     in rates of compensation paid to veterans with service-
     connected disabilities, to enhance programs providing 
     compensation and life insurance benefits for veterans, and 
     for other purposes.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.

                          ____________________


                 Amendments Nos. 4315 and 4316, En Bloc

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Senator Specter and Senator Rockefeller have 
amendments at the desk, and I ask for their consideration.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       The Senator from Alaska [Mr. Murkowski], for Mr. Specter, 
     proposes amendments numbered 4315 and 4316, en bloc.

  The amendments are as follows:


                           AMENDMENT NO. 4315

                   (Purpose: To provide a substitute)

       Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the 
     following:

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Compensation Cost-
     of-Living Adjustment Act of 2000''.

     SEC. 2. INCREASE IN RATES OF DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND 
                   DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION.

       (a) Rate Adjustment.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
     shall, effective on December 1, 2000, increase the dollar 
     amounts in effect for the payment of disability compensation 
     and dependency and indemnity compensation by the Secretary, 
     as specified in subsection (b).
       (b) Amounts To Be Increased.--The dollar amounts to be 
     increased pursuant to subsection (a) are the following:
       (1) Compensation.--Each of the dollar amounts in effect 
     under section 1114 of title 38, United States Code.
       (2) Additional compensation for dependents.--Each of the 
     dollar amounts in effect under sections 1115(1) of such 
     title.
       (3) Clothing allowance.--The dollar amount in effect under 
     section 1162 of such title.
       (4) New dic rates.--The dollar amounts in effect under 
     paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 1311(a) of such title.
       (5) Old dic rates.--Each of the dollar amounts in effect 
     under section 1311(a)(3) of such title.
       (6) Additional dic for surviving spouses with minor 
     children.--The dollar amount in effect under section 1311(b) 
     of such title.
       (7) Additional dic for disability.--The dollar amounts in 
     effect under sections 1311(c) and 1311(d) of such title.
       (8) DIC for dependent children.--The dollar amounts in 
     effect under sections 1313(a) and 1314 of such title.
       (c) Determination of Increase.--(1) The increase under 
     subsection (a) shall be made in the dollar amounts specified 
     in subsection (b) as in effect on November 30, 2000.
       (2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), each such amount 
     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, 2000, as a result of a determination under 
     section 215(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)).
       (3) Each dollar amount increased pursuant to paragraph (2) 
     shall, if not a whole dollar amount, be rounded down to the 
     next lower whole dollar amount.
       (d) Special Rule.--The Secretary may adjust 
     administratively, consistent with the increases made under 
     subsection (a), the rates of disability compensation payable 
     to persons within the purview of section 10 of Public Law 85-
     857 (72 Stat. 1263) who are not in receipt of compensation 
     payable pursuant to chapter 11 of title 38, United States 
     Code.

     SEC. 3. PUBLICATION OF ADJUSTED RATES.

       At the same time as 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 2001, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 
     publish in the Federal Register the amounts specified in 
     subsection (b) of section 2, as increased pursuant to that 
     section.
                                  ____



                           AMENDMENT NO. 4316

                   (Purpose: To amend the the title)

       Amend the title so as to read: ``An Act to increase, 
     effective as of December 1, 2000, 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.''.

  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the amendments 
be agreed to.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendments (Nos. 4315 and 4316) were agreed to.
  Mr. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the bill, as 
amended, be read the third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be 
laid upon the table, and any statements relating to the bill be printed 
in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (H.R. 4850), as amended, was considered read the third time 
and passed.

                          ____________________