[United States Statutes at Large, Volume 130, 114th Congress, 2nd Session]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


Public Law 114-197
114th Congress

An Act


 
To increase, effective as of December 1, 2016, 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, and for other purposes. <>

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 the ``Veterans' Compensation COLA Act of
2016''.
SEC. 2. <>  INCREASE IN RATES OF
DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND DEPENDENCY AND
INDEMNITY COMPENSATION.

(a) Rate Adjustment.--Effective on December 1, 2016, the Secretary
of Veterans Affairs shall increase, in accordance with subsection (c),
the dollar amounts in effect on November 30, 2016, 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 section 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.--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,
2016, as a result of a determination under section 215(i) of such Act
(42 U.S.C. 415(i)).
(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.

[[Page 694]]

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 2017.

Approved July 22, 2016.

LEGISLATIVE HISTORY--H.R. 5588 (S. 1493):
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SENATE REPORTS: No. 114-122 (Comm. on Veterans' Affairs) accompanying
S. 1493.
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 162 (2016):
July 11, considered and passed House.
July 13, considered and passed Senate.