This week, Congressman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) voted for important legislation to increase veterans’ disability compensation from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Veterans’ Compensation COLA Act of 2016 (H.R. 5588) passed the House of Representatives with unanimous support.
“Our veterans put their lives on the line for us all. It’s our responsibility to ensure they get the care and benefits they deserve. Unfortunately, the rising cost of living, especially here in Southern California, has made it hard for our disabled veterans to make ends meet. We owe it to these heroes to ensure that, at the very least, their compensation keeps pace with rising costs. This important, bipartisan legislation should pass the Senate swiftly so that Congress can consider other changes to veteran’s services that are long overdue.”
The bill would increase the rates of VA disability compensation, dependency compensation for surviving children and spouses, and the clothing allowance for veterans based on rising costs of living.
Under the legislation, the cost-of-living adjustment will be equal to the amount of the adjustment given to Social Security recipients and determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index on a yearly basis. The alteration would take effect on December 1, 2016.
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