IB 
Union Calendar No. 574 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4782 
[Report No. 114–738] 
To increase, effective as of December 1, 2016, the rates of compensation 
for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of depend-
ency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled 
veterans, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
MARCH 17, 2016 
Mr. ABRAHAM (for himself and Ms. TITUS) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 
Additional sponsors: Mr. CARTWRIGHT, Mr. HECK of Nevada, and Mr. 
O’ROURKE 
SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Committee of the Whole 
House on the State of the Union, and ordered to be printed 
[Strike out all after the enacting clause and insert the part printed in italic] 
[For text of introduced bill, see copy of bill as introduced on March 17, 2016] 
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A BILL 
To increase, effective as of December 1, 2016, the rates 
of compensation for veterans with service-connected dis-
abilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity com-
pensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, 
and for other purposes. 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veterans’ Compensation 
Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2016’’. 
SEC. 2. INCREASE IN RATES OF DISABILITY COMPENSATION 
AND DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COM-
PENSATION. 
(a) RATE ADJUSTMENT.—Effective on December 1, 
2016, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall increase, in 
accordance with subsection (c), the dollar amounts in effect 
on November 30, 2016, for the payment of disability com-
pensation and dependency and indemnity compensation 
under the provisions specified in subsection (b). 
(b) AMOUNTS
TO
BE
INCREASED.—The dollar 
amounts to be increased pursuant to subsection (a) are the 
following: 
(1) WARTIME DISABILITY COMPENSATION.—Each 
of the dollar amounts under section 1114 of title 38, 
United States Code. 
(2) ADDITIONAL
COMPENSATION
FOR
DEPEND-
ENTS.—Each of the dollar amounts under section 
1115(1) of such title. 
(3) CLOTHING ALLOWANCE.—The dollar amount 
under section 1162 of such title. 
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(4) DEPENDENCY
AND
INDEMNITY
COMPENSA-
TION
TO
SURVIVING
SPOUSE.—Each of the dollar 
amounts under subsections (a) through (d) of section 
1311 of such title. 
(5) DEPENDENCY
AND
INDEMNITY
COMPENSA-
TION
TO
CHILDREN.—Each of the dollar amounts 
under sections 1313(a) and 1314 of such title. 
(c) DETERMINATION OF INCREASE.— 
(1) PERCENTAGE.—Except as provided in para-
graph (2), each dollar amount described in subsection 
(b) shall be increased by the same percentage as the 
percentage by which benefit amounts payable under 
title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et 
seq.) are increased effective December 1, 2016, as a re-
sult of a determination under section 215(i) of such 
Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)). 
(2) ROUNDING.—Each dollar amount increased 
under paragraph (1), if not a whole dollar amount, 
shall be rounded to the next lower whole dollar 
amount. 
(d) SPECIAL RULE.—The Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
may adjust administratively, consistent with the increases 
made under subsection (a), the rates of disability compensa-
tion payable to persons under section 10 of Public Law 85– 
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857 (72 Stat. 1263) who have not received compensation 
under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code. 
(e) PUBLICATION
OF ADJUSTED RATES.—The Sec-
retary of Veterans Affairs shall publish in the Federal Reg-
ister the amounts specified in subsection (b), as increased 
under this section, not later than the date on which the mat-
ters specified in section 215(i)(2)(D) of the Social Security 
Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)(2)(D)) are required to be published 
by reason of a determination made under section 215(i) of 
such Act during fiscal year 2017. 
SEC. 3. TRANSPORTATION OF DECEASED VETERANS TO 
VETERANS’ CEMETERIES. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subsection (a) of section 2308 of 
title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—(1) The Secretary may pay, in 
addition to any amount paid pursuant to section 2302 or 
2307 of this title, the cost of transportation of the deceased 
veteran described in paragraph (1) or (2) of subsection (b) 
for burial in a national cemetery or a covered veterans’ 
cemetery. Such payment shall not exceed the cost of trans-
portation to the national cemetery nearest the veteran’s last 
place of residence in which burial space is available. 
‘‘(2) The Secretary may pay, in addition to any 
amount paid pursuant to section 2302 or 2307 of this title, 
the cost of transportation of the deceased veteran described 
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in subsection (b)(3) for burial in a national cemetery. Such 
payment shall not exceed the cost of transportation to the 
national cemetery nearest the veteran’s last place of resi-
dence in which burial space is available.’’. 
(b) COVERED VETERANS’ CEMETERY DEFINED.—Sec-
tion 2308 of such title is amended by adding at the end 
the following new subsection: 
‘‘(c) COVERED VETERANS’ CEMETERY DEFINED.—In 
this section, the term ‘covered veterans’ cemetery’ means, 
with respect to a deceased veteran described in subsection 
(b), a veterans’ cemetery owned by a State or a tribal orga-
nization (as defined in section 3765(4) of this title) in 
which the deceased veteran is eligible to be buried.’’. 
(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—Section 2308 of such 
title is amended in the section heading by adding at the 
end the following: ‘‘or a veterans’ cemetery’’. 
(d) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections at 
the beginning of such chapter is amended by striking the 
item relating to section 2308 and inserting the following 
new item: 
‘‘2308. Transportation of deceased veterans to a national cemetery or a veterans’ 
cemetery.’’. 
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SEC. 4. EXPANSION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR HEADSTONES, 
MARKERS, AND MEDALLIONS FOR MEDAL OF 
HONOR RECIPIENTS. 
Section 2306(d) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: 
‘‘(5)(A) In carrying out this subsection with respect 
to a deceased individual described in subparagraph (C), the 
Secretary shall furnish, upon request, a headstone or mark-
er under paragraph (1) or a medallion under paragraph 
(4) that signifies the deceased’s status as a Medal of Honor 
recipient. 
‘‘(B) If the Secretary furnished a headstone, marker, 
or medallion under paragraph (1) or (4) for a deceased in-
dividual described in subparagraph (C) that does not sig-
nify the deceased’s status as a Medal of Honor recipient, 
the Secretary shall, upon request, replace such headstone, 
marker, or medallion with a headstone, marker, or medal-
lion, as the case may be, that so signifies the deceased’s sta-
tus as a Medal of Honor recipient. 
‘‘(C) A deceased individual described in this subpara-
graph is a deceased individual who— 
‘‘(i) served in the Armed Forces on or after April 
6, 1917; 
‘‘(ii) is eligible for a headstone or marker fur-
nished under paragraph (1) or a medallion furnished 
under paragraph (4) (or would be so eligible for such 
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headstone, marker, or medallion but for the date of 
the death of the individual); and 
‘‘(iii) was awarded the Medal of Honor (includ-
ing posthumously).’’. 
SEC. 5. EXPANSION OF PRESIDENTIAL MEMORIAL CERTIFI-
CATE PROGRAM. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 112(a) of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after ‘‘conditions,’’ the 
following: ‘‘persons eligible for burial in a national ceme-
tery by reason of paragraph (2), (3), or (7) of section 
2402(a) of this title,’’. 
(b) APPLICATION.—The amendment made by sub-
section (a) shall apply with respect to the death of a person 
eligible for burial in a national cemetery by reason of para-
graph (2), (3), or (7) of section 2402(a) of title 38, United 
States Code, occurring before, on, or after the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 6. BURIAL PLOTS AT ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEME-
TERY 
FOR 
INDIVIDUALS 
AWARDED 
THE 
MEDAL OF HONOR. 
(a) RESERVATION.—Of the number of in-ground burial 
plots available at Arlington National Cemetery as of the 
date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Army 
shall reserve 100 such plots to inter deceased individuals 
who have been awarded the Medal of Honor. 
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(b) TERMINATION.—The requirement under subsection 
(a) shall terminate on the date on which the Secretary of 
the Army to the Committees on Veterans’ Affairs and the 
Committees on Armed Services of the House of Representa-
tives and the Senate a report on the interment and 
inurnment capacity of Arlington National Cemetery that 
includes— 
(1) the estimated date that the Secretary deter-
mines the cemetery will reach maximum interment 
and inurnment capacity; and 
(2) in light of the unique and iconic meaning of 
the cemetery to the United States, recommendations 
for legislative actions and nonlegislative options that 
the Secretary determines necessary to ensure that the 
maximum interment and inurnment capacity of the 
cemetery is not reached until well into the future, in-
cluding such actions and options with respect to— 
(A) redefining eligibility criteria for inter-
ment and inurnment in the cemetery; and 
(B) considerations for additional expansion 
opportunities beyond the current boundaries of 
the cemetery. 
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SEC. 7. PILOT PROGRAM ON DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS 
AFFAIRS 
VETERAN 
ENGAGEMENT 
TEAM 
EVENTS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.— 
(1) PILOT PROGRAM.—Beginning not later than 
October 1, 2016, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs 
shall carry out a three-year pilot program under 
which the Secretary shall carry out events, to be 
known as ‘‘Veteran Engagement Team events’’. The 
Secretary shall ensure that such events are carried 
out— 
(A) during the first year during which the 
Secretary carries out the pilot program, at least 
once a month in a location within the jurisdic-
tion of each of 10 regional offices of the Depart-
ment of Veterans Affairs, including at least two 
regional offices in each of the five districts of the 
Veterans Benefits Administration under the or-
ganization of such Administration in effect as of 
the date of the enactment of this Act; and 
(B) during each of the second and third 
years during which the Secretary carries out the 
pilot program, at least once a month in a loca-
tion within the jurisdiction of each of 15 re-
gional offices of the Department, including at 
least three regional offices in each such district. 
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(2) VETERAN
ENGAGEMENT
TEAM
EVENTS.— 
During each Veteran Engagement Team event, the 
Secretary shall provide assistance to veterans in com-
pleting and adjudicating claims for disability com-
pensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United States 
Code, and for pension under chapter 15 of such title. 
The Secretary shall ensure that— 
(A) all Veteran Engagement Team events 
occur during the normal business hours of the 
sponsoring regional office; 
(B) the events are carried out at different 
locations within the jurisdiction of each regional 
office and at least 50 miles from any regional of-
fice; 
(C) a sufficient number of physicians (to be 
available for opinions only), veteran service rep-
resentatives and rating veteran service represent-
atives, and other personnel are available at the 
events to initiate, update, and finalize the com-
pletion and adjudication of claims; 
(D) veterans service organizations have ac-
cess to the events for purposes of providing as-
sistance to veterans; and 
(E) a veteran who is unable to complete 
and adjudicate a claim at an event is informed 
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of what additional information or actions are 
needed to finalize the claim. 
(b) LOCATION.—In selecting locations for Veteran En-
gagement Team events under this section, the Secretary 
shall— 
(1) coordinate with veteran service organizations 
and State and local veterans agencies; and 
(2) seek to select locations that are community- 
based and easily accessible. 
(c) TRANSFER OF PERSONNEL.— 
(1) PHYSICIANS.—The Secretary may not per-
manently transfer any physician employed by the 
Veterans Health Administration for the purpose of 
staffing a Veteran Engagement Team event. 
(2) PAYMENT OF SALARIES.—Any amount pay-
able to an employee of the Department for work per-
formed at a Veteran Engagement Team event is pay-
able only from amounts otherwise available for the 
payment of the salary of the employee. No additional 
amounts are authorized to be appropriated under this 
section for the payment of salaries for Department 
employee. 
(d) OTHER AUTHORITIES.—In carrying out the pilot 
program under this section, the Secretary may— 
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(1) coordinate with States, local governments, 
nonprofit organizations, and private sector entities to 
use facilities to host Veteran Engagement Team events 
for no or minimal costs; and 
(2) accept, on a without compensation basis, 
services provided by non-Department physicians in 
rendering medical opinions relating to claims for 
compensation and pension. 
(e) CUSTOMER SATISFACTION SURVEYS.—In carrying 
out the pilot program under this section, the Secretary shall 
collect and analyze information about the customer satisfac-
tion of veterans who have received assistance at an Veteran 
Engagement Team event. 
(f) REPORTS.—Not later than April 30, 2017, and an-
nually thereafter beginning on October 1, 2017, for the du-
ration of the program, the Secretary shall submit to Con-
gress a report on the implementation and effectiveness of 
the events. Such report shall include— 
(1) the number and types of claims completed 
and adjudicated at the events; 
(2) the number and types of claims for which as-
sistance was sought at the events that were not com-
pleted or adjudicated at the events and the reasons 
such claims were not completed or adjudicated; and 
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(3) an analysis of the customer satisfaction of 
veterans who have received assistance at an event 
based on the information collected under subsection 
(e). 
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Union Calendar No. 574 
114TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4782 
[Report No. 114–738] 
A BILL 
To increase, effective as of December 1, 2016, the 
rates of compensation for veterans with service- 
connected disabilities and the rates of depend-
ency and indemnity compensation for the sur-
vivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other 
purposes. 
SEPTEMBER 12, 2016 
Reported with an amendment, committed to the Com-
mittee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, 
and ordered to be printed 
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