II 

118TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. 777 

To increase, effective as of December 1, 2023, 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. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 14, 2023 

Mr. TESTER (for himself, Mr. MORAN, Ms. HIRONO, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. 

BLUMENTHAL, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. CASSIDY, Mr. TILLIS, Mr. BROWN, 

Mr. KING, and Mr. CRAMER) introduced the following bill; which was 

read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

A BILL 

To increase, effective as of December 1, 2023, 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. 

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 2023’’ or the ‘‘Vet6 erans’ COLA Act of 2023’’. 


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

3 COMPENSATION. 

4 (a) RATE ADJUSTMENT.—Effective on December 1, 

5 2023, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall increase, in 

6 accordance with subsection (c), the dollar amounts in ef7 fect on November 30, 2023, for the payment of disability 

8 compensation and dependency and indemnity compensa9 tion under the provisions specified in subsection (b). 

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

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

12 the following: 

13 (1) WARTIME DISABILITY COMPENSATION.— 

14 Each of the dollar amounts under section 1114 of 

15 title 38, United States Code. 

16 (2) ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR DEPEND17 ENTS.—Each of the dollar amounts under section 

18 1115(1) of such title. 

19 (3) CLOTHING ALLOWANCE.—The dollar 

20 amount under section 1162 of such title. 

21 (4) DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSA22 TION TO SURVIVING SPOUSE.—Each of the dollar 

23 amounts under subsections (a) through (d) of sec24 tion 1311 of such title. 


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1 (5) DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSA2 TION TO CHILDREN.—Each of the dollar amounts 

3 under sections 1313(a) and 1314 of such title. 

4 (c) DETERMINATION OF INCREASE.—Each dollar 

5 amount described in subsection (b) shall be increased by 

6 the same percentage as the percentage by which benefit 

7 amounts payable under title II of the Social Security Act 

8 (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) are increased effective December 

9 1, 2023, as a result of a determination under section 

10 215(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)). 

11 (d) SPECIAL RULE.—The Secretary of Veterans Af12 fairs may adjust administratively, consistent with the in13 creases made under subsection (a), the rates of disability 

14 compensation payable to persons under section 10 of Pub15 lic Law 85–857 (72 Stat. 1263) who have not received 

16 compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United States 

17 Code. 

18 SEC. 3. PUBLICATION OF ADJUSTED RATES. 

19 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall publish in the 

20 Federal Register the amounts specified in section 2(b), as 

21 increased under that section, not later than the date on 

22 which the matters specified in section 215(i)(2)(D) of the 

23 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)(2)(D)) are required 


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1 to be published by reason of a determination made under 

2 section 215(i) of such Act during fiscal year 2024. 

Æ 


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