[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 7]
[House]
[Pages 9064-9066]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1430
      VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 2009

  Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the bill (H.R. 1513) to increase, effective as of December 1, 2009, the 
rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected 
disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for 
survivors of certain service-connected disabled veterans, and for other 
purposes.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 1513

       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 ``Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-
     Living Adjustment Act of 2009''.

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

       (a) Rate Adjustment.--Effective on December 1, 2009, the 
     Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall increase, in accordance 
     with subsection (c), the dollar amounts in effect on November 
     30, 2009, for the payment of disability compensation and 
     dependency and indemnity compensation under the provisions 
     specified in subsection (b).
       (b) Amounts To Be Increased.--The dollar amounts to be 
     increased pursuant to subsection (a) are the following:
       (1) Wartime disability compensation.--Each of the dollar 
     amounts under section 1114 of title 38, United States Code.
       (2) Additional compensation for dependents.--Each of the 
     dollar amounts under sections 1115(1) of such title.
       (3) Clothing allowance.--The dollar amount under section 
     1162 of such title.
       (4) Dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving 
     spouse.--Each of the dollar amounts under subsections (a) 
     through (d) of section 1311 of such title.
       (5) Dependency and indemnity compensation to children.--
     Each of the dollar amounts under sections 1313(a) and 1314 of 
     such title.
       (c) Determination of Increase.--
       (1) Percentage.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), each 
     dollar amount described in subsection (b) 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, 2009, 
     as a result of a determination under section 215(i) of such 
     Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)).
       (2) Rounding.--Each dollar amount increased under paragraph 
     (1), if not a whole dollar amount, shall be rounded to the 
     next lower whole dollar amount.
       (d) Special Rule.--The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may 
     adjust administratively, consistent with the increases made 
     under subsection (a), the rates of disability compensation 
     payable to persons under section 10 of Public Law 85-857 (72 
     Stat. 1263) who have not received compensation under chapter 
     11 of title 38, United States Code.

     SEC. 3. PUBLICATION OF ADJUSTED RATES.

       The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall publish in the 
     Federal Register the amounts specified in section 2(b), as 
     increased under that section, not later than the date on 
     which 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 2010.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Mrs. Halvorson) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Illinois.

[[Page 9065]]


  Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of passage of the Veterans' 
Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009, H.R. 1513, which 
was introduced by one of the newer members of the Committee on 
Veterans' Affairs, and sure to be one of our body's most dynamic 
Members, Mrs. Kirkpatrick from Arizona. And I thank you for your 
leadership on the bill.
  I also want to thank the ranking member of the Committee on Veterans' 
Affairs, Mr. Buyer, who has been supportive of this noncontroversial 
bill and helped with its unanimous passage from our committee to allow 
consideration by the full House. The fact that we were able to get this 
bill to the floor within nearly a month of its introduction shows the 
House leadership's commitment to our Nation's veterans, their families, 
and their survivors.
  Like it has done since 1976, Congress, through the passage of this 
measure, would direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the 
rates of basic compensation for disabled veterans and the rates of 
dependency and indemnity compensation, the DIC, to their survivors and 
dependents, along with other benefits in order to keep pace with the 
rising cost of living.
  The disability COLA would become effective December 1, 2009, and will 
be equal to that provided on an annual basis to Social Security 
recipients. Last year, the COLA was set at 5.8 percent, an increase 
direly needed, as the financial crush of the recession from the 
previous administration closed in on many of our disabled veterans' 
households.
  Madam Speaker, this bill will benefit each disabled veteran and their 
survivors from the World War I era through the current conflicts in 
Iraq and Afghanistan.
  Many of the nearly 3 million veterans who receive these benefits 
depend upon these tax-free payments, not only to provide for their own 
basic needs, but for those of their spouses, children and parents as 
well. Without an annual COLA increase, these veterans and their 
families would see the value of their hard-earned benefits slowly 
erode. We would be derelict in our duty if we failed to guarantee that 
those who sacrifice so much for our country receive benefits and 
services that keep pace with their needs.
  We fund the war. Let's fund the warrior and his family and survivors 
by ensuring that their benefits keep pace with their living expenses. 
Let's ensure that their benefits make ends meet at the end of the 
month.
  Madam Speaker, as we approach our country's 141st Memorial Day 
commemoration, I ask my colleagues to support this bill and send a 
clear message to support our troops. ``You will be taken care of when 
you return. We will not forget your sacrifice.''
  Just like our military men and women did not hesitate to offer to lay 
down their lives to defend our freedom and the way of life that we 
cherish, we will not hesitate to defend the funds they need to support 
themselves and their families.
  I urge my colleagues to support passage of the Veterans' Compensation 
Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009, H.R. 1513, without delay. I urge 
my colleagues to support H.R. 1513.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 1513, the Veterans' 
Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009.
  I would like to thank my colleagues, Mr. Hall of New York and 
chairman of the Disabilities Assistance and Memorial Affairs 
Subcommittee, and Mr. Lamborn of Colorado, the ranking member of the 
subcommittee, as well as the bill's sponsor, Mrs. Kirkpatrick of 
Arizona, for their leadership on this bill.
  Madam Speaker, H.R. 1513 would increase, effective as of December 1, 
2009, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected 
disabilities, and the rates of dependents and indemnity compensation 
for the survivors of certain disabled veterans. The COLA adjustments 
include veterans disability compensation, additional compensation for 
dependents, clothing allowance, and dependents and indemnity 
compensation for surviving spouses and children.
  Madam Speaker, this is an important annual authorization which 
provides much-needed assistance to our Nation's veterans, and I 
encourage all of my colleagues to support this bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. I recognize Congresswoman Brown-Waite for as 
much time as she may consume.
  Ms. GINNY BROWN-WAITE of Florida. Madam Speaker, I rise today in 
support of H.R. 1513, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living 
Adjustment Act of 2009. Previously, I served on the Veterans' Committee 
for 6 years, and I'm very glad to see Chairman Filner and Ranking 
Member Buyer doing this fine work this year, as they did in the 2 years 
that I was on the last time.
  While all veterans made sacrifices for our Nation, those men and 
women who were disabled during their service must receive proper 
benefits in order to meet their care. Disabled veterans have given 
their blood, sweat and tears on battlefields from Germany to Japan, 
from Korea to Vietnam, from Iraq to Afghanistan.
  In this time of economic turmoil, it is vital that Congress preserve 
the cost-of-living adjustment to help disabled veterans. Indeed, with 
rising prices and falling home values, it's more important than ever 
that the needs of veterans be adequately funded.
  The cost-of-living adjustment means that veterans will be better 
armed with the resources that they need to survive in our communities.
  As President Lincoln said in his second inaugural address, 
government's obligation is, and I quote, ``to care for him who shall 
have borne the battle and for his widow and orphan.'' It is our sacred 
obligation to care for those injured while in the service.
  I thank my colleague from Arizona for introducing this bill. And I 
urge all of my colleagues to support its passage.
  Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, I continue to reserve the balance of 
my time.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I 
may consume.
  Again, I'd like to thank Chairman Filner, Ranking Member Buyer, 
Subcommittee Chairman Hall and ranking member of the subcommittee, Mr. 
Lamborn, for their leadership in bringing this much-needed legislation 
to the floor. And I urge my colleagues to support it.
  And I'd like to thank the gentlelady from Illinois (Mrs. Halvorson) 
for her help today. This is a great piece of legislation, and I urge 
tonight we vote unanimously for this bill.
  I yield back the balance of my time.


                             General Leave

  Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their 
remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 1513.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentlewoman from Illinois?
  There was no objection.
  Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam Speaker, I too want to thank my fellow freshman 
colleague, the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe) for his help today, 
as well as Chairman Filner and Ranking Member Buyer for the wonderful 
work we've been able to do this year.
  Madam Speaker, I urge all my colleagues to unanimously support H.R. 
1513.
  Ms. KIRKPATRICK of Arizona. Madam Speaker, I thank the Speaker for 
allowing me the opportunity to address the bill I sponsored--H.R. 1513, 
``The Veterans'' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009.''
  Many of my constituents in Greater Arizona are hurting, and the 
Nation's economy, while showing some signs of improvements, still has a 
long road to a full recovery.

[[Page 9066]]

  No one feels this pressure or deserves the support of a grateful 
Nation more than our disabled Veterans.
  Our Nation's veterans have made costly sacrifices to ensure the 
safety of America's families. For that reason, our country provides 
both compensation payments to service-disabled Veterans and Dependency 
and Indemnity Compensation benefits to the survivors of servicemembers 
who die in service to our Nation.
  However, without this bill, these payments would not keep up with 
rising prices for everyday items like gas and groceries.
  That's why, on behalf of the over 3 million veterans nationally--
including 65,000 in my home state of Arizona--who are currently 
receiving disability compensation, I am asking you to join me in 
support of this bill.
  This bill keeps the promise to our Nation's veterans to honor the 
sacrifice that these brave men and women have endured while serving our 
country in uniform.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Madam Speaker, I stand in support of our 
veterans and in support of H.R. 1513, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-
of-Living Adjustment Act by my colleague from Arizona, Representative 
Ann Kirkpatrick, and the Members of the Veterans' Affairs Committee.
  Congress annually reviews veterans' service-related disability 
compensation, and other compensation programs for surviving spouses and 
dependent children to ensure that such benefits provide reasonable and 
adequate compensation. This year, the Department of Veterans Affairs 
estimates that it will provide disability compensation to just over 
three million veterans with service-related disabilities.
  Importantly, H.R. 1513 would increase the amounts paid to veterans 
for disability compensation and to their survivors for dependency and 
other compensation by the same cost-of-living adjustment payable to 
Social Security recipients. The increase would take effect on December 
1, 2009.
  We, as Members of Congress, must stand together to support our 
veterans and their families. Our nation has a proud legacy of 
appreciation and commitment to the men and women who have worn the 
uniform in defense of our country. We must be united in seeing that 
every soldier, sailor, airman, and marine is welcomed back with all the 
care and compassion this grateful nation can bestow to them and to 
their supportive families.
  I firmly believe that we should celebrate our veterans after every 
conflict, and I remain committed, as a Member of Congress, to both more 
than 32,000 veterans living in my Congressional district alone. I hope 
we will all take the time to show appreciation to those who have 
answered the call to duty. As the former British Prime Minister Winston 
Churchill famously stated, ``Never in the field of human conflict was 
so much owed by so many to so few.''
  Madam Speaker, I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting our 
troops of yesteryear and of today, as well as their families, by 
providing for this cost-of-living increase.
  Mrs. HALVORSON. Madam 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 
gentlewoman from Illinois (Mrs. Halvorson) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the bill, H.R. 1513.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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