[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.