[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 3]
[Senate]
[Page 3977]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




          STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

      By Mr. ROCKEFELLER:
  S. 2074. A bill to increase, effective as of December 1, 2002, 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; to the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs.
  Mr. ROCKEFELLER. Mr. President, as Chairman of the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs, I am tremendously pleased to introduce legislation 
that will authorize a cost-of-living adjustment, COLA, to veterans' 
compensation for next year.
  Every year, Congress fulfills its obligation to provide a cost-of-
living adjustment to veterans disability benefits. While we can never 
truly repay the debt that we owe to these individuals for their 
sacrifices to our country, what we can do is ensure that the benefits 
we provide for the men and women who are disabled while serving in 
places such as Afghanistan retain their value and are not eroded by 
inflation.
  The Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2002 
continues this tradition of fulfilling our obligation to America's 
veterans by directing the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase, as 
of December 1, 2002, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, as 
well as compensation for eligible dependents and surviving spouses. 
This increase would be the same percentage as the increase Social 
Security Act beneficiaries will receive.
  The COLA is enormously important to veterans and their families. It 
is critical that veterans' disability compensation rates keep pace with 
the increasing cost of living. Without it, many disabled veterans might 
not be able to afford the simple necessities of life--warm clothes, 
food, and shelter. I, therefore, encourage my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this very important bill.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the legislation be printed 
in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                S. 2074

       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 2002''.

     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, 2002, 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, 2002, 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 2003, 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.

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