    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1997, Book II)]
    [November 19, 1997]
    [Page 1614]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Signing the Veterans' Compensation Rate Amendments of 1997
    November 19, 1997

        Today I was pleased to sign into law H.R. 2367, the ``Veterans'
    Compensation Rate Amendments of 1997.''
        Our Nation provides compensation payments to veterans who were
    disabled in service and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC)
    benefits to the survivors of those who died in military service. By
    maintaining the real value of these payments, we honor their sacrifices.
        This Act provides a 2.1 percent increase in compensation and DIC
    benefits, effective December 1, 1997. This increase is the same
    percentage increase that Social Security beneficiaries and veterans'
    pension recipients will receive in January. Approximately 2.3 million
    veterans and over 300,000 surviving spouses and children will benefit
    from this increase.
        Time will never erode the supreme value of our veterans' and
    servicmembers' efforts in defending the Nation's freedom. We also must
    not allow it to erode the value of our commitments to them. This
    legislation ensures that the worth of their richly deserved benefits
    keeps pace with consumer prices. As such, it maintains our obligation to
    those individuals whose sacrifices we will always remember.

                                                          William J. Clinton

    The White House,

    November 19, 1997.

    Note: H.R. 2367, approved November 19, was assigned Public Law No. 105-
    98.