Veterans' Compensation Cost-Of-Living Adjustment Act of 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, H.R. 1200, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2019 would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the rates of disability compensation for service-connected veterans and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of veterans, effective December 1, 2019.

Now, this bill would also increase these rates by the same percentage as the percentage by which Social Security benefits are increased effective December 1, 2019, and require that VA publish the increased rates in the Federal Register.

To me, the actual cost-of-living adjustment to veterans' benefits, otherwise known as COLA, is much more than a rate adjustment tied to inflation. In reality, it is a quality-of-life guarantee in retirement years, especially for veterans suffering with service-connected disabilities and ailments.

It also comes with the assurance for veterans that their survivors will not see a steady decline in benefits if the economy changes and costs rise after they are gone. This guarantee is a great source of comfort for veterans as they age. I know this because they tell me this everywhere I go.

The yearly COLA increase is a recognition and appreciation of a grateful nation of the service and sacrifice of those who volunteer to wear the uniform of our country.

Participating in this gesture of appreciation is one of the most rewarding responsibilities of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. As chairman, I am honored to be leading this effort to say thank you.

I want to recognize the work of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee chair, Elaine Luria, and ranking member, Mike Bost, for sponsoring H.R. 1200 and for bringing this bill to the floor today.

I am pleased that we are considering this bill early this year so veterans will not be concerned about its passage by the December 1 deadline.

I wholeheartedly support H.R. 1200 and urge all my colleagues to do so as well.

Mr. DAVID P. ROE of Tennessee. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1200, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2019.

In keeping with the traditions of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, this bill was introduced by Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee Chair Elaine Luria and Ranking Member Mike Bost. I appreciate their commitment to ensuring that veterans and their families can afford living expenses when prices go up.

H.R. 1200 authorizes a cost-of-living increase for veterans and their families next year if Social Security recipients receive an increase.

To put this in perspective, in 1975, a veteran who was rated totally disabled would receive at least $655 in monthly disability compensation. Because of the COLAs that Congress has passed for decades, totally disabled veterans now receive $2,907 in tax-free monthly disability compensation, an increase of 443 percent over the years. As you can see, H.R. 1200 is necessary to prevent inflation from eroding the value of veteran and survivor benefits.

Madam Speaker, I encourage all Members to support H.R. 1200, and I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentlewoman from Virginia (Mrs. Luria), who is my good friend and the chairwoman of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee and also a cosponsor of H.R. 1200.

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Mr. TAKANO. Madam Speaker, I, too, join my ranking member in asking all of our colleagues to pass H.R. 1200.

I thank Chairwoman Luria and Ranking Member Bost of the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs for their hard work.

Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 1200, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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