[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 19]
[Senate]
[Pages 26236-26237]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 2005

  Mr. ISAKSON. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of Calendar No. 217, S. 1234.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 1234) to increase, effective as of December 1, 
     2005, 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.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. ISAKSON. I ask unanimous consent that the Craig amendment at the 
desk be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be read a third time and 
passed, the motions to reconsider be laid on the table, and any 
statements be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 2584) was agreed to, as follows:

                (Purpose: In the nature of 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 2005''.

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

       (a) Veterans' Disability Compensation.--Section 1114 of 
     title 38, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by striking ``$106'' and inserting 
     ``$112'';
       (2) in subsection (b), by striking ``$205'' and inserting 
     ``$218'';
       (3) in subsection (c), by striking ``$316'' and inserting 
     ``$337'';
       (4) in subsection (d), by striking ``$454'' and inserting 
     ``$485'';
       (5) in subsection (e), by striking ``$646'' and inserting 
     ``$690'';
       (6) in subsection (f), by striking ``$817'' and inserting 
     ``$873'';
       (7) in subsection (g), by striking ``$1,029'' and inserting 
     ``$1,099'';
       (8) in subsection (h), by striking ``$1,195'' and inserting 
     ``$1,277'';
       (9) in subsection (i), by striking ``$1,344'' and inserting 
     ``$1,436'';
       (10) in subsection (j), by striking ``$2,239'' and 
     inserting ``$2,393'';
       (11) in subsection (k)--
       (A) by striking ``$82'' both places it appears and 
     inserting ``$87''; and
       (B) by striking ``$2,785'' and ``$3,907'' and inserting 
     ``$2,977'' and ``$4,176'', respectively;
       (12) in subsection (l), by striking ``$2,785'' and 
     inserting ``$2,977'';
       (13) in subsection (m), by striking ``$3,073'' and 
     inserting ``$3,284'';
       (14) in subsection (n), by striking ``$3,496'' and 
     inserting ``$3,737'';
       (15) in subsections (o) and (p), by striking ``$3,907'' 
     each place it appears and inserting ``$4,176'';
       (16) in subsection (r), by striking ``$1,677'' and 
     ``$2,497'' and inserting ``$1,792'' and ``$2,669'', 
     respectively; and
       (17) in subsection (s), by striking ``$2,506'' and 
     inserting ``$2,678''.
       (b) Additional Compensation for Dependents.--Section 
     1115(1) of such title is amended--
       (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking ``$127'' and inserting 
     ``$135'';
       (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``$219'' and ``$65'' 
     and inserting ``$233'' and ``$68'', respectively;
       (3) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``$86'' and ``$65'' 
     and inserting ``$91'' and ``$68'', respectively;
       (4) in subparagraph (D), by striking ``$103'' and inserting 
     ``$109'';
       (5) in subparagraph (E), by striking ``$241'' and inserting 
     ``$257''; and
       (6) in subparagraph (F), by striking ``$202'' and inserting 
     ``$215''.
       (c) Clothing Allowance for Certain Disabled Veterans.--
     Section 1162 of such title is amended by striking ``$600'' 
     and inserting ``$641''.
       (d) Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for Surviving 
     Spouses.--
       (1) New law dic.--Section 1311(a) of such title is 
     amended--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$967'' and inserting 
     ``$1,033''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$208'' and inserting 
     ``$221''.
       (2) Old law dic.--The table in paragraph (3) of such 
     section is amended to read as follows:


 
                  ``Pay grade                    Monthly rate               Pay grade              Monthly rate
 
E-1...........................................          $1,033  W-4.............................          $1,236
E-2...........................................           1,033  O-1.............................           1,092
E-3...........................................           1,033  O-2.............................           1,128
E-4...........................................           1,033  O-3.............................           1,207
E-5...........................................           1,033  O-4.............................           1,277
E-6...........................................           1,033  O-5.............................           1,406
E-7...........................................           1,069  O-6.............................           1,585
E-8...........................................           1,128  O-7.............................           1,712
E-9...........................................          1,1771  O-8.............................           1,879
W-1...........................................           1,092  O-9.............................           2,010
W-2...........................................           1,135  O-10............................          2,2042
W-3...........................................           1,169  ................................  ..............
 
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
  $1,271.
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 $2,365.''.

       (3) Additional dic for children or disability.--Section 
     1311 of such title is amended--
       (A) in subsection (b), by striking ``$241'' and inserting 
     ``$257'';
       (B) in subsection (c), by striking ``$241'' and inserting 
     ``$257''; and
       (C) in subsection (d), by striking ``$115'' and inserting 
     ``$122''.
       (e) Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for Children.--
       (1) Dic when no surviving spouse.--Section 1313(a) of such 
     title is amended--
       (A) in paragraph (1), by striking ``$410'' and inserting 
     ``$438'';
       (B) in paragraph (2), by striking ``$590'' and inserting 
     ``$629'';
       (C) in paragraph (3), by striking ``$767'' and inserting 
     ``$819''; and
       (D) in paragraph (4), by striking ``$767'' and ``$148'' and 
     inserting ``$819'' and ``$157'', respectively.
       (2) Supplemental dic for certain children.--Section 1314 of 
     such title is amended--
       (A) in subsection (a), by striking ``$241'' and inserting 
     ``$257'';
       (B) in subsection (b), by striking ``$410'' and inserting 
     ``$438''; and
       (C) in subsection (c), by striking ``$205'' and inserting 
     ``$218''.
       (f) Effective Date.--The amendments made by this section 
     shall take effect on December 1, 2005.
       (g) 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.

  Mr. AKAKA. Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs, I am extremely pleased that the Senate will pass 
legislation that will authorize a cost-of-living adjustment, COLA, for 
veterans' compensation for next year.
  The Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2005 
directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase, as of December 
1, 2005, the rates of veterans' disability compensation,

[[Page 26237]]

additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for 
certain disabled adult children, and dependency and indemnity 
compensation for surviving spouses and children.
  This increase will be the same percentage as the increase provided to 
Social Security recipients. The increase this year is one of the 
largest in recent memory--4.1 percent. In my opinion, this increase 
could not have come at a more crucial time. 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, these people would be unable to afford the simple 
necessities of life. I note, it is well documented that home heating 
fuel costs will skyrocket this winter. The COLA increase goes a long 
way to ensuring no veterans are left out in the cold.
  Mr. President, in closing, I thank all Senators that voted to support 
this Nation's veterans.
  The bill (S. 1234), as amended, was read the third time and passed.

                          ____________________