108TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1683

AN ACT

To increase, effective as of December 1, 2003, the rates

of disablity compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain serviceconnected disabled veterans, and for other purposes.
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1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veterans’ Compensa5 tion Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2003’’.

6 SEC. 2. INCREASE IN RATES OF DISABILITY COMPENSA7 TION AND DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY

8 COMPENSATION.

9 (a) RATE ADJUSTMENT.—The Secretary of Veterans

10 Affairs shall, effective on December 1, 2003, increase the

11 dollar amounts in effect for the payment of disability com12 pensation and dependency and indemnity compensation by

13 the Secretary, as specified in subsection (b).

14 (b) AMOUNTS TO BE INCREASED.—The dollar

15 amounts to be increased pursuant to subsection (a) are

16 the following:

17 (1) COMPENSATION.—Each of the dollar

18 amounts in effect under section 1114 of title 38,

19 United States Code.

20 (2) ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR DEPEND21 ENTS.—Each of the dollar amounts in effect under

22 section 1115(1) of such title.

23 (3) CLOTHING ALLOWANCE.—The dollar

24 amount in effect under section 1162 of such title.
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1 (4) NEW DIC RATES.—The dollar amounts in

2 effect under paragraphs (1) and (2) of section

3 1311(a) of such title.

4 (5) OLD DIC RATES.—Each of the dollar

5 amounts in effect under section 1311(a)(3) of such

6 title.

7 (6) ADDITIONAL DIC FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES

8 WITH MINOR CHILDREN.—The dollar amount in ef9 fect under section 1311(b) of such title.

10 (7) ADDITIONAL DIC FOR DISABILITY.—The

11 dollar amounts in effect under sections 1311(c) and

12 1311(d) of such title.

13 (8) DIC FOR DEPENDENT CHILDREN.—The

14 dollar amounts in effect under sections 1313(a) and

15 1314 of such title.

16 (c) DETERMINATION OF INCREASE.—(1) The in17 crease under subsection (a) shall be made in the dollar

18 amounts specified in subsection (b) as in effect on Novem19 ber 30, 2003.

20 (2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), each such

21 amount shall be increased by the same percentage as the

22 percentage by which benefit amounts payable under title

23 II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) are

24 increased effective December 1, 2003, as a result of a de-
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1 termination under section 215(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C.

2 415(i)).

3 (3) Each dollar amount increased pursuant to para4 graph (2) shall, if not a whole dollar amount, be rounded

5 down to the next lower whole dollar amount.

6 (d) SPECIAL RULE.—The Secretary may adjust ad7 ministratively, consistent with the increases made under

8 subsection (a), the rates of disability compensation pay9 able to persons within the purview of section 10 of Public

10 Law 85–857 (72 Stat. 1263) who are not in receipt of

11 compensation payable pursuant to chapter 11 of title 38,

12 United States Code.

13 SEC. 3. PUBLICATION OF ADJUSTED RATES.

14 At the same time as the matters specified in section

15 215(i)(2)(D) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.

16 415(i)(2)(D)) are required to be published by reason of

17 a determination made under section 215(i) of such Act

18 during fiscal year 2004, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs

19 shall publish in the Federal Register the amounts specified
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1 in subsection (b) of section 2, as increased pursuant to

2 that section.

Passed the House of Representatives May 22, 2003.

Attest:

Clerk.

108TH CONGRESS

1ST SESSION H. R. 1683

AN ACT

To increase, effective as of December 1, 2003, the

erans, and for other purposes.vivors of certain service-connected disabled vetpendency and indemnity compensation for surservice-connected disabilities and the rates of derates of disablity compensation for veterans with