OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Veterans' Compensation Cost-Of-Living Adjustment Act of 2023

Floor Speech

Date: May 22, 2023
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I thank Ranking Member Takano for yielding the time and Chairman Bost, as well, for his support of this legislation. It was an honor to be able to work with subcommittee Chair Luttrell on this important issue, S. 777, the Veterans' COLA Act of 2023.

We all know we have a sacred and solemn obligation to make sure that the needs of our veterans are met. My home State of New Hampshire is home to over 100,000 veterans from all branches, with service dating from the Second World War to today. Some of those veterans returned home with service-connected disabilities and required extra care and support.

As we all continue to feel the impact of inflation and higher costs, those pressures can be particularly challenging for our veteran community.

Our veterans swear to give everything, up to and including their lives, in service to our country. They shouldn't have to worry if they can afford groceries this week or pay their electric bill the next week.

Their VA benefits should keep pace with economic trends, and their financial and overall well-being should never be left to hang in the balance.

This legislation would increase the rates of VA benefits equal to the cost-of-living increase provided for Social Security benefits for veterans with service-connected disabilities, as well as the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for their survivors and families.

This will help ensure that veterans with service-connected disabilities and families and loved ones of veterans who have been lost can rest assured that their benefits will support them even as our economy changes.

We owe our veterans and their families a tremendous debt of gratitude, and the legislation we propose today is another way that we can all work to honor their sacrifice and work to pay down that debt that we all bear.

Mr. Speaker, I urge swift passage of this bipartisan bill so we can send it to the President's desk for his signature.

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