66408 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 243 / Thursday, December 18, 1997 / Notices

up sessions, program meetings, resource

materials and follow-up activities).

4. Institutional Capacity: Proposed

personnel and institutional resources

should be adequate and appropriate to

achieve the program or project’s goals.

The narrative should demonstrate

proven ability to handle logistics.

Proposal should reflect the institution’s

expertise in the subject area and

knowledge of the country. Proposals

should demonstrate the institutional

record of successful exchange programs,

including responsible fiscal

management and full compliance with

all reporting requirements for past

Agency grants as determined by USIA’s

Office of Contracts. The Agency will

consider the past performance of prior

recipients and the demonstrated

potential of new applicants.

5. Project Evaluation: USIA is resultsoriented. Proposals should include a

plan to evaluate the activity’s success,

both as the activities unfold and at the

end of the program. USIA recommends

that the proposal include a draft survey

questionnaire and/or plan for use of

another measurement technique (such

as focus group) to link outcomes to

original project objectives. Awardreceiving organizations/institutions will

be expected to submit intermediate

reports after each project component is

concluded or quarterly, whichever is

less frequent.

6. Follow-on Activities: Proposals

should provide a plan for continued

follow-on activity (without USIA

support) which ensures that USIA

supported programs are not isolated

events.

7. Cost-effectiveness/cost sharing: The

overhead and administrative

components of the proposal, including

salaries and honoraria, should be kept

as low as possible. All other items

should be necessary and appropriate.

Proposals should maximize cost-sharing

through other private sector support as

well as institutional direct funding

contributions.

Notice

The terms and conditions published

in this RFP are binding and may not be

modified by any USIA representative.

Explanatory information provided by

the Agency that contradicts published

language will not be binding. Issuance

of the RFP does not constitute an award

commitment on the part of the

Government. The Agency reserves the

right to reduce, revise, or increase

proposal budgets in accordance with the

needs of the program and the

availability of funds. Awards made will

be subject to periodic reporting and

evaluation requirements.

Notification

Final awards cannot be made until

funds have been appropriated by

Congress, allocated and committed

through internal USIA procedures.

Dated: December 11, 1997.

Robert L. Earle,

Deputy Associate Director for Educational

and Cultural Affairs.

[FR Doc. 97–32815 Filed 12–17–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8230–01–M

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS

AFFAIRS

Cost-of-Living Adjustments and

Headstone or Marker Allowance Rate

AGENCY: Department of Veterans Affairs.

ACTION: Notice.

SUMMARY: As required by law, the

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is

hereby giving notice of cost-of-living

adjustments (COLAs) in certain benefit

rates and income limitations. These

COLAs affect the pension, parents’

dependency and indemnity

compensation (DIC), and spina bifida

programs. These adjustments are based

on the rise in the Consumer Price Index

(CPI) during the one-year period ending

September 30, 1997. VA is also giving

notice of the maximum amount of

reimbursement that may be paid for

headstones or markers purchased in lieu

of Government-furnished headstones or

markers in Fiscal Year 1998, which

began on October 1, 1997.

DATES: These COLAs are effective

December 1, 1997. The headstone or

marker allowance rate is effective

October 1, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Paul

Trowbridge, Consultant, Compensation

and Pension Service (213B), Veterans

Benefit Administration, Department of

Veterans Affairs, 810 Vermont Avenue,

NW., Washington, DC 20420, (202) 273–

7218.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under 38

U.S.C. 2306(d), VA may provide

reimbursement for the cost of nonGovernment headstones or markers at a

rate equal to the actual cost or the

average actual cost of Governmentfurnished headstones or markers during

the fiscal year preceding the fiscal year

in which the non-Government

headstone or marker was purchased,

whichever is less.

Section 8041 of Pub. L. 101–508

amended 38 U.S.C. 2306(d) to eliminate

the payment of the monetary allowance

in lieu of a VA-provided headstone or

marker for deaths occurring on or after

November 1, 1990. However, in a

precedent opinion (O. G. C. Prec. 17–

90), VA’s General Counsel held that

there is no limitation period applicable

to claims for benefits under the

provisions of 38 U.S.C. 2306(d).

The average actual cost of

Government-furnished headstones or

markers during any fiscal year is

determined by dividing the sum of VA

costs during that fiscal year for

procurement, transportation, and

miscellaneous administration,

inspection and support staff by the total

number of headstones and markers

procured by VA during that fiscal year

and rounding to the nearest whole

dollar amount.

The average actual cost of

Government-furnished headstones or

markers for Fiscal Year 1997 under the

above computation method was $109.

Therefore, effective October 1, 1997, the

maximum rate of reimbursement for

non-Government headstones or markers

purchased during Fiscal Year 1998 is

$109.

Cost-of-Living Adjustments

Under the provisions of 38 U.S.C.

5312 and section 306 of Pub. L. 95–588,

VA is required to increase the benefit

rates and income limitations in the

pension and parents’ DIC programs by

the same percentage, and effective the

same date, as increases in the benefit

amounts payable under title II of the

Social Security Act. The increased rates

and income limitations are also required

to be published in the Federal Register.

The Social Security Administration

has announced that there will be a 2.1

percent cost-of-living increase in Social

Security benefits effective December 1,

1997. Therefore, applying the same

percentage and rounding up in

accordance with 38 CFR 3.29, the

following increased rates and income

limitations for the VA pension and

parents’ DIC programs will be effective

December 1, 1997:
Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 243 / Thursday, December 18, 1997 / Notices 66409

TABLE 1.—IMPROVED PENSION

Maximum annual rates

(1) Veterans permanently and totally disabled (38 U.S.C. 1521):

Veteran with no dependents, $8,665

Veteran with one dependent, $11,349

For each additional dependent, $1,476

(2) Veterans in need of aid and attendance (38 U.S.C. 1521):

Veteran with no dependents, $13,859

Veteran with one dependent, $16,542

For each additional dependent, $1,476

(3) Veterans who are housebound (38 U.S.C. 1521):

Veteran with no dependents, $10,591

Veteran with one dependent, $13,275

For each additional dependent, $1,476

(4) Two veterans married to one another, combined rates (38 U.S.C. 1521):

Neither veteran in need of aid and attendance or housebound, $11,349

Either veteran in need of aid and attendance, $16,542

Both veterans in need of aid and attendance, $21,734

Either veteran housebound, $13,275

Both veterans housebound, $15,202

One veteran housebound and one veteran in need of aid and attendance, $18,465

For each dependent child, $1,476

(5) Surviving spouse alone and with a child or children of the deceased veteran in custody of the surviving spouse (38 U.S.C. 1541):

Surviving spouse alone, $5,808

Surviving spouse and one child in his or her custody, $7,607

For each additional child in his or her custody, $1,476

(6) Surviving spouses in need of aid and attendance (38 U.S.C. 1541):

Surviving spouse alone, $9,288

Surviving spouse with one child in his or her custody, $11,082

For each additional child in his or her custody, $1,476

(7) Surviving spouses who are housebound (38 U.S.C. 1541):

Surviving spouse alone, $7,101

Surviving spouse and one child in his or her custody, $8,895

For each additional child in his or her custody, $1,476

(8) Surviving child alone (38 U.S.C. 1542), $1,476

Reduction for income. The rate

payable is the applicable maximum rate

minus the countable annual income of

the eligible person. (38 U.S.C. 1521,

1541 and 1542).

Mexican border period and World

War I veterans. The applicable

maximum annual rate payable to a

Mexican border period or World War I

veteran under this table shall be

increased by $1,963. (38 U.S.C. 1521(g)).

Parents’ DIC

DIC shall be paid monthly to parents

of a deceased veteran in the following

amounts (38 U.S.C. 1315):

Table 2

One parent. If there is only one

parent, the monthly rate of DIC paid to

such parent shall be $412, reduced on

the basis of the parent’s annual income,

according to the following formula:

For each $1 of annual income

The $412 monthly rate

Shall be reduced by

Which is

more

than

But not

more

than

$0.00 ......................... 0 $800

.08 ............................. $800 9,857

No DIC is payable under this table if

annual income exceeds $9,857.

One parent who has remarried. If

there is only one parent and the parent

has remarried and is living with the

parent’s spouse, DIC shall be paid under

Table 2 or under Table 4, whichever

shall result in the greater benefit being

paid to the veteran’s parent. In the case

of remarriage, the total combined annual

income of the parent and the parent’s

spouse shall be counted in determining

the monthly rate of DIC.

Two parents not living together. The

rates in Table 3 apply to (1) two parents

who are not living together, or (2) an

unmarried parent when both parents are

living and the other parent has

remarried. The monthly rate of DIC paid

to each such parent shall be $297,

reduced on the basis of each parent’s

annual income, according to the

following formula:

Table 3

For each $1 of annual income

The $297 monthly rate

Shall be reduced by

Which is

more

than

But not

more

than

$0.00 ......................... 0 $800

.06 ............................. $800 900

.07 ............................. 900 1,100

.08 ............................. 1,100 9,857

No DIC is payable under this table if

annual income exceeds $9,857.

Two parents living together or

remarried parents living with spouses.

The rates in Table 4 apply to each

parent living with another parent; and

each remarried parent, when both

parents are alive. The monthly rate of

DIC paid to such parents will be $278

reduced on the basis of the combined

annual income of the two parents living

together or the remarried parent or

parents and spouse or spouses, as

computed under the following formula:

Table 4

For each $1 of annual income

The $278 monthly rate

Shall be reduced by

Which is

more

than

But not

more

than

$.00 ........................... 0 $1,000

.03 ............................. $1,000 1,500

.04 ............................. 1,500 1,900

.05 ............................. 1,900 2,400

.06 ............................. 2,400 2,900

.07 ............................. 2,900 3,200

.08 ............................. 3,200 13,250

No DIC is payable under this table if

combined annual income exceeds

$13,250.

The rates in this table are also

applicable in the case of one surviving
66410 Federal Register / Vol. 62, No. 243 / Thursday, December 18, 1997 / Notices

parent who has remarried, computed on

the basis of the combined income of the

parent and spouse, if this would be a

greater benefit than that specified in

Table 2 for one parent.

Aid and attendance. The monthly rate

of DIC payable to a parent under Tables

2 through 4 shall be increased by $221

if such parent is (1) a patient in a

nursing home, or (2) helpless or blind,

or so nearly helpless or blind as to need

or require the regular aid and

attendance of another person.

Minimum rate. The monthly rate of

DIC payable to any parent under Tables

2 through 4 shall not be less than $5.

TABLE 5.—SECTION 306 PENSION INCOME LIMITATIONS

(1) Veteran or surviving spouse with no dependents, $9,857 (Pub. L. 95–588, section 306(a)).

(2) Veteran with no dependents in need of aid and attendance, $10,357 (38 U.S.C. 1521(d) as in effect on December 31, 1978).

(3) Veteran or surviving spouse with one or more dependents, $13,250 (Pub. L. 95–588, section 306(a)).

(4) Veteran with one or more dependents in need of aid and attendance, $13,750 (38 U.S.C. 1521(d) as in effect on December 31, 1978).

(5) Child (no entitled veteran or surviving spouse), $8,057 (Pub. L. 95–588, section 306(a)).

(6) Spouse income exclusion (38 CFR 3.262), $3,144 (Pub. L. 95–588, section 306(a)(2)(B)).

TABLE 6.—OLD-LAW PENSION INCOME LIMITATIONS

(1) Veteran or surviving spouse without dependents or an entitled child, $8,628 (Pub. L. 95–588, section 306(b)).

(2) Veteran or surviving spouse with one or more dependents, $12,440 (Pub. L. 95–588, section 306(b)).

Spina Bifida Benefits

Section 421 of Pub. L. 104–204 added

a new chapter 18 to title 38, United

States Code, authorizing VA to provide

certain benefits, including a monthly

monetary allowance, to children born

with spina bifida who are natural

children of veterans who served in the

Republic of Vietnam during the Vietnam

era. Pursuant to 38 U.S.C. 1805(b)(3),

spina bifida rates are subject to

adjustment under the provisions of 38

U.S.C. 5312, which provides for the

adjustment of certain VA benefit rates

whenever there is an increase in benefit

amounts payable under title II of the

Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et

seq.). Effective December 1, 1997, spina

bifida monthly rates are as follows:

Level I: $205

Level II: $715

Level III: $1,226

Dated: December 10, 1997.

Hershel W. Gober,

Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

[FR Doc. 97–32986 Filed 12–17–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8320–01–P

DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS

AFFAIRS

Wage Committee, Notice of Meetings

The Department of Veterans Affairs

(VA), in accordance with Pub. L. 92–

463, gives notice that meetings of the

VA Wage Committee will be held on:

Wednesday, January 14, 1998, at 2:00

p.m.

Wednesday, February 18, 1998, at 2:00

p.m.

Wednesday, March 25, 1998, at 2:00

p.m.

The meetings will be held in Room

246, Department of Veterans Affairs

Central Office, 810 Vermont Avenue,

NW, Washington, DC 20420.

The Committee’s purpose is to advise

the Under Secretary for Health on the

development and authorization of wage

schedules for Federal Wage System

(blue-collar) employees.

At these meetings the Committee will

consider wage survey specifications,

wage survey data, local committee

reports and recommendations, statistical

analyses, and proposed wage schedules.

All portions of the meetings will be

closed to the public because the matters

considered are related solely to the

internal personnel rules and practices of

the Department of Veterans Affairs and

because the wage survey data

considered by the Committee have been

obtained from officials of private

business establishments with a

guarantee that the data will be held in

confidence. Closure of the meetings is in

accordance with subsection 10(d) of

Pub. L. 92–463, as amended by Pub. L.

94–409, and 5 U.S.C. 552b(c)(2) and (4).

However, members of the public are

invited to submit material in writing to

the Chairperson for the Committee’s

attention.

Additional information concerning

these meetings may be obtained from

the Chairperson, VA Wage Committee

(05), 810 Vermont Avenue, NW,

Washington, DC 20420.

Dated: December 11, 1997.

By Direction of the Secretary.

Heyward Bannister,

Committee Management Officer.

[FR Doc. 97–32987 Filed 12–17–97; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 8320–01–M