[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 120, 109th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

120 STAT. 2062

Public Law 109-361
109th Congress

An Act


 
To increase, effective as of December 1, 2006, 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. NOTE: Oct. 16, 2006 -  [S. 2562]

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress NOTE: Veterans' Compensation
Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2006. assembled,

SECTION 1. NOTE: 38 USC 101 note. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living
Adjustment Act of 2006''.

SEC. 2. NOTE: 38 USC 1114 note. INCREASE IN RATES OF DISABILITY
COMPENSATION AND DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION.

(a) Rate Adjustment.--Effective on December 1, 2006, the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs shall increase, in accordance with subsection (c),
the dollar amounts in effect on November 30, 2006, 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, 2006, 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.

[[Page 2063]]
120 STAT. 2063

(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. NOTE: Federal Register, publication. 38 USC 1114
note. 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 2007.

SEC. 4. TECHNICAL AMENDMENT.

Section 1311 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by
redesignating the second subsection (e) (as added by section 301(a) of
the Veterans Benefits Improvement Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-454; 118
Stat. 3610)) as subsection (f).

Approved October 16, 2006.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--S. 2562 (H.R. 4843):
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HOUSE REPORTS: No. 109-521 accompanying H.R. 4843 (Comm. on Veterans'
Affairs).
SENATE REPORTS: No. 109-296 (Comm. on Veterans' Affairs).
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 152 (2006):
Sept. 21, considered and passed Senate.
Sept. 29, considered and passed House.