The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 2004” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Labor was published in the Senate section on pages S10458-S10459 on Oct. 5, 2004.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 2004
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 705, S. 2483.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
The legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 2483) to increase, effective as of December 1, 2004, 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.
There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, I have sought recognition to comment briefly on legislation which was reported, after a unanimous affirmative vote, by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs on July 20, 2004, and which is the subject of my request today that the bill be unanimously approved by the Senate. S. 2483 would grant to nearly 3 million beneficiaries who receive certain ``cash-transfer'' payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, a cost-of-living adjustment, COLA, increase in their benefits effective with checks received on or after January 1, 2005, and thereafter.
An annual cost-of-living adjustment in veterans benefits is an important tool which protects veterans' cash- transfer benefits against the corrosive effects of inflation. The principal programs affected by the adjustment that would be made by S. 2483 would be compensation paid to disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation, so-called ``DIC,'' payments made to the surviving spouses, minor children and other dependents of service members who died in service and to the survivors of former service members who died after service as a result of service-connected injuries or disease.
The impact of the COLA which would be enacted here is outlined in detail in Report 108-351 which accompanied the Committee on Veterans' Affairs approval of the bill on July 20, 2004. In summary, this legislation would grant to VA compensation and DIC beneficiaries the same percentage increase in benefits that will be granted to recipients of Social Security benefits in 2005--that is, an increase equal to the percentage increase in the consumer price index, CPI, for fiscal year 2004 as measured and reported by the Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics later this year. The President's proposed budget for fiscal year 2005 requested such an increase, then estimated to be 1.3 percent, and the Senate has already concurred with the committee's judgment that such an increase is appropriate with its approval earlier this year of a budget resolution which assumes that such an increase will be enacted and which sets aside the funds necessary to finance the COLA increase envisioned by this legislation.
I urge my colleagues to support enactment of this vital legislation and that they ``clear'' the bill for passage today. The bill still must clear the House of Representatives before it is presented to the President. As my colleagues fully understand, the days remaining for the House to take this action are dwindling.
Mr. GRAHAM of Florida. Mr. President, as ranking member of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I urge my colleagues to continue to support our veterans and their families by passing H.R. 4175, the proposed Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2004.
The Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act would increase the rate of disability compensation for veterans with service-
connected disabilities and the rate of dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses with minor children. This bill requires, effective December 1, 2004, that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs increase the rates of compensation by the same percentage provided to Social Security recipients.
In keeping with the commitment to care for the brave men and women who have served this great Nation, we must make every effort to continue to meet their needs. This legislation ensures that veterans and their families will be able to adjust their incomes to keep pace with inflation and is vital to the financial stability of many veterans and their families who are struggling with the rising costs of goods and services. Our veterans and their families depend on the cost-of-
living increase for their livelihood, therefore, it is important that we swiftly move this legislation.
We must demonstrate our commitment to those who have already paid a great price through their selfless service to our Nation. At a time when our airmen, soldiers, sailors, and marines are in harm's way, we must remember the sacrifices that those before them have made on behalf of this grateful Nation by providing this cost-of-living adjustment.
Mr. FRIST. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be read a third time and the Committee on Veterans' Affairs then be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 4175 and the Senate proceed to its consideration; provided that all after enacting clause be stricken and the text of S. 2483 be inserted in lieu thereof; the bill, as amended, be read a third time and passed, the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table, en bloc, and that any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record. I further ask unanimous consent that S. 2483 be returned to the calendar.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
The bill (S. 2483) was read the third time.
The bill (H.R. 4175), as amended, was read the third time and passed.
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