    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George H. W. Bush (1991, Book I)]
    [February 6, 1991]
    [Pages 113-114]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Veterans' Compensation Amendments of 1991

    February 6, 1991

        I am pleased today to sign into law H.R. 3, the ``Veterans'
    Compensation Amendments of 1991.''
        Our Nation provides compensation and other monetary benefits to
    service-disabled veterans and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation
    (DIC) benefits to the survivors of
    those who died as a result of military service
    to our country. My Administration is committed to ensuring that these
    payments

    [[Page 114]]

    keep pace with changes in the cost of living.
        H.R. 3 provides a 5.4 percent increase in compensation and DIC
    benefits effective January 1, 1991. Nearly 2.2 million Armed Forces
    veterans and their dependents will benefit from this increase. In
    addition, the same increase will be provided for some 275,000 surviving
    spouses and 38,000 children who receive DIC benefits. These are
    survivors of some 300,000 veterans who either died in service to our
    country or as a result of service-connected disabilities. This
    bipartisan legislation bears witness that Americans now and always will
    keep faith with those who have given the full measure of devotion in
    defense of our freedoms.
        Now more than ever, Americans are reminded that we owe a special
    debt to our veterans who have unselfishly placed their lives on the line
    and sacrificed so much in service to the Nation. Our existence as a
    Nation and the freedoms and liberties we enjoy, which are too often
    taken for granted, depend on the men and women in our Armed Forces. The
    measure I sign today demonstrates our gratitude and continuing
    commitment to those who have served our country.

                                                                 George Bush

    The White House,
    February 6, 1991.

                        Note: H.R. 3, approved February 6, was assigned
                            Public Law No. 102-3.