Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2018

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 4958) to increase, effective as of December 1, 2018, 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.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 4958.

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

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4958, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2018.

This bill was introduced by the subcommittee chairman, Mike Bost of Illinois, and I appreciate his leadership on this issue.

VA provides compensation to help fulfill our obligation to take care of the brave men and women who have been injured during their service to our Nation.

This money can be a lifeline for veterans who have service-connected disabilities that may affect their earning ability.

These veterans often have families to support, and they should not be worried about how they are going to pay their bills when prices go up.

This bill will help ensure that the value of veterans' benefits are not eroded by inflation by giving veterans a cost-of-living increase if Social Security recipients receive one this year.

The amount of the increase will be determined by the consumer price index, which establishes the COLA for Social Security beneficiaries.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support this measure, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost), our Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the subcommittee chairman and Marine veteran, Mike Bost, for bringing this up. It is a great piece of legislation. I encourage all Members to support H.R. 4958, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4958, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2018.

H.R. 4958 directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase, as of December 1, 2018, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children.

The bill increases 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.

For the brave military men and women serving our country, this will help offset the cost of living in higher cost areas of the country.

Our nation owes a great debt to these fearless men and women defending our nation.

Providing cost of living adjustments to keep up with inflation is an effective way to honor their sacrifice.

Many of our veterans rely on the disability benefits they receive from the Department of Veterans Affairs to merely make ends meet.

While Social Security benefits are automatically adjusted annually to keep pace with inflation, Congress must pass legislation every year to increase the rates of veteran disability compensation.

Unfortunately, it requires an act of Congress to make this same adjustment for our nation's veterans.

Passing H.R. 4958 ensures that our nation's veterans are able to receive the same annual cost of living adjustment of Social Security recipients.

The community-integrated rehabilitation treatment provided by the pilot program will serve as a vital resource to our veterans as they overcome burdensome health problems.

I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting H.R. 4958 to show their support and gratitude for the many sacrifices made by our service men and women.

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

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of H.R. 4958, the Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act.

As the chairman said, it is our responsibility to make sure the guarantee of these benefits is not eroded by inflation. It provides for a simple cost-of-living adjustment at the same rate as set for Social Security benefits. It may seem like a small amount in any one year, but without the adjustment for inflation, the impact on veterans' finances is significant when compounded over time.

Mr. Speaker, I want to commend the subcommittee chairman, Mike Bost, for his work, and Elizabeth Esty, both for cosponsoring the bill and bringing it to us today.

Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Roe and his staff for their work clearing this bill. It is an important one. Our veterans have been waiting for word on this. I think I am happy to report it looks like we have taken that step moving it forward. It will make a lot of folks happy.

I hear about this one a lot, so you know it is on their minds. It just makes sense, and doing it before Memorial Day sends a really strong message.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to support H.R. 4958, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, this is a good piece of legislation. I thank the gentleman for bringing it up. The taxpayers understand that this is exactly what we are supposed to be doing. I encourage a ``yes'' vote, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, this is a must-pass bill.

Many disabled veterans and their families depend on their veterans' benefits to pay for things like food and medicine.

For many of these veterans, these payments are a lifeline. In some cases, these benefits may even be the only income these veterans have. It is only

fair that we ensure that the benefits paid to veterans who were injured during their military service do not lose value because of inflation.

If we don't, it could become hard for people who were injured while serving this Nation in uniform to keep their heads above water.

H.R. 4958 would financially protect the veterans who protected us by providing a cost-of-living increase. The amount of the COLA will be the same increase that Social Security beneficiaries will receive.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs ranking member, Ms. Esty, for being the lead cosponsor of this bill with me. This bill has also enjoyed bipartisan support.

Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 4958 and help disabled veterans and their families keep up with the rising costs of basic necessities.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 4958 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.