IIA

104TH CONGRESS

2D SESSION H. R. 3458

To increase, effective as of December 1, 1996, 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.

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

JULY 17, 1996

Received; read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs

AN ACT

To increase, effective as of December 1, 1996, 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.

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 1996’’.
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1 SEC. 2. INCREASE IN RATES OF DISABILITY COMPENSA2 TION AND DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY

3 COMPENSATION.

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

5 Affairs shall, effective on December 1, 1996, increase the

6 dollar amounts in effect for the payment of disability com7 pensation and dependency and indemnity compensation by

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

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

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

11 the following:

12 (1) COMPENSATION.—Each of the dollar

13 amounts in effect under section 1114 of title 38,

14 United States Code.

15 (2) ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR DEPEND16 ENTS.—Each of the dollar amounts in effect under

17 section 1115(1) of such title.

18 (3) CLOTHING ALLOWANCE.—The dollar

19 amount in effect under section 1162 of such title.

20 (4) NEW DIC RATES.—The dollar amounts in

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

22 1311(a) of such title.

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

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

25 title.
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1 (6) ADDITIONAL DIC FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES

2 WITH MINOR CHILDREN.—The dollar amount in ef3 fect under section 1311(b) of such title.

4 (7) ADDITIONAL DIC FOR DISABILITY.—The

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

6 1311(d) of such title.

7 (8) DIC FOR DEPENDENT CHILDREN.—The

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

9 1314 of such title.

10 (c) DETERMINATION OF PERCENTAGE INCREASE.—

11 (1) The increase under subsection (a) shall be made in

12 the dollar amounts specified in subsection (b) as in effect

13 on November 30, 1996. Each such amount shall be in14 creased by the same percentage as the percentage by

15 which benefit amounts payable under title II of the Social

16 Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) are increased effec17 tive December 1, 1996, as a result of a determination

18 under section 215(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)).

19 (2) In the computation of increased dollar amounts

20 pursuant to paragraph (1), any amount which as so com21 puted is not an even multiple of $1 shall be rounded to

22 the next lower whole dollar amount.

23 (d) SPECIAL RULE.—The Secretary may adjust ad24 ministratively, consistent with the increases made under

25 subsection (a), the rates of disability compensation pay-
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1 able to persons within the purview of section 10 of Public

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

3 compensation payable pursuant to chapter 11 of title 38,

4 United States Code.

5 SEC. 3. PUBLICATION OF ADJUSTED RATES.

6 At the same time as the matters specified in section

7 215(i)(2)(D) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C.

8 415(i)(2)(D)) are required to be published by reason of

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

10 during fiscal year 1996, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs

11 shall publish in the Federal Register the amounts specified

12 in section 2(b), as increased pursuant to section 2.

Passed the House of Representatives July 16, 1996.

Attest: ROBIN H. CARLE,

Clerk.