IB 
Union Calendar No. 302 
108TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 4175 
[Report No. 108–524] 
To increase, effective as of December 1, 2004, the rates of disability com-
pensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates 
of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain serv-
ice-connected disabled veterans, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 20, 2004 
Mr. SMITH of New Jersey (for himself, Mr. EVANS, Mr. BROWN of South 
Carolina, and Mr. MICHAUD) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 
JUNE 3, 2004 
Additional sponsors: Mr. FILNER, Mr. GUTIERREZ, Mr. HOLDEN, Mr. BRADY 
of Pennsylvania, Mr. GRIJALVA, Mr. RODRIGUEZ, Mr. BILIRAKIS, and 
Mr. RAHALL 
JUNE 3, 2004 
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 April 20, 2004] 
A BILL 
To increase, effective as of December 1, 2004, the rates 
of disability compensation for veterans with service-con-
nected disabilities and the rates of dependency and in-
demnity compensation for survivors of certain service- 
connected disabled veterans, and for other purposes. 
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 ‘‘Veterans’ Compensation 
Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2004’’. 
SEC. 2. INCREASE IN RATES OF DISABILITY COMPENSA-
TION
AND
DEPENDENCY
AND
INDEMNITY 
COMPENSATION. 
(a) RATE ADJUSTMENT.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall, effective on December 1, 2004, increase the 
dollar amounts in effect for the payment of disability com-
pensation and dependency and indemnity compensation by 
the Secretary, as specified in subsection (b). 
(b)
AMOUNTS
TO
BE
INCREASED.—The
dollar 
amounts to be increased pursuant to subsection (a) are 
the following: 
(1)
COMPENSATION.—Each
of
the
dollar 
amounts in effect under section 1114 of title 38, 
United States Code. 
(2) ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR DEPEND-
ENTS.—Each of the dollar amounts in effect under 
section 1115(1) of such title. 
(3)
CLOTHING
ALLOWANCE.—The
dollar 
amount in effect under section 1162 of such title.
(4) NEW DIC RATES.—The dollar amounts in 
effect under paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 
1311(a) of such title. 
(5)
OLD
DIC
RATES.—Each
of
the
dollar 
amounts in effect under section 1311(a)(3) of such 
title. 
(6) ADDITIONAL DIC FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES 
WITH MINOR CHILDREN.—The dollar amount in ef-
fect under section 1311(b) of such title. 
(7) ADDITIONAL
DIC
FOR
DISABILITY.—The 
dollar amounts in effect under sections 1311(c) and 
1311(d) of such title. 
(8) DIC
FOR
DEPENDENT
CHILDREN.—The 
dollar amounts in effect under sections 1313(a) and 
1314 of such title. 
(c) DETERMINATION
OF INCREASE.—(1) The in-
crease under subsection (a) shall be made in the dollar 
amounts specified in subsection (b) as in effect on Novem-
ber 30, 2004. 
(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), each such 
amount 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, 2004, as a result of a de-
SEC. 2. INCREASE IN RATES OF DISABILITY COMPENSATION 
AND DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COM-
PENSATION. 
(a) RATE ADJUSTMENT.—The Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs shall, effective on December 1, 2004, increase the dol-
lar amounts in effect for the payment of disability com-
pensation and dependency and indemnity compensation by 
the Secretary, as specified in subsection (b). 
(b) AMOUNTS
TO
BE
INCREASED.—The dollar 
amounts to be increased pursuant to subsection (a) are the 
following: 
(1) COMPENSATION.—Each of the dollar amounts 
in effect under section 1114 of title 38, United States 
Code. 
(2) ADDITIONAL
COMPENSATION
FOR
DEPEND-
ENTS.—Each of the dollar amounts in effect under 
section 1115(1) of such title. 
(3) CLOTHING ALLOWANCE.—The dollar amount 
in effect under section 1162 of such title. 
(4) NEW DIC RATES.—The dollar amounts in ef-
fect under paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 1311(a) 
of such title. 
(5) OLD
DIC
RATES.—Each of the dollar 
amounts in effect under section 1311(a)(3) of such 
title.
(6) ADDITIONAL DIC FOR SURVIVING SPOUSES 
WITH MINOR CHILDREN.—The dollar amount in effect 
under section 1311(b) of such title. 
(7) ADDITIONAL DIC FOR DISABILITY.—The dol-
lar amounts in effect under sections 1311(c) and 
1311(d) of such title. 
(8) DIC FOR DEPENDENT CHILDREN.—The dollar 
amounts in effect under sections 1313(a) and 1314 of 
such title. 
(c) DETERMINATION OF INCREASE.—(1) The increase 
under subsection (a) shall be made in the dollar amounts 
specified in subsection (b) as in effect on November 30, 
2004. 
(2) Except as provided in paragraph (3), each such 
amount 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 in-
creased effective December 1, 2004, as a result of a deter-
mination under section 215(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 
415(i)). 
(3) Each dollar amount increased pursuant to para-
graph (2) shall, if not a whole dollar amount, be rounded 
down to the next lower whole dollar amount. 
(d) SPECIAL RULE.—The Secretary may adjust ad-
ministratively, consistent with the increases made under
subsection (a), the rates of disability compensation payable 
to persons within the purview of section 10 of Public Law 
85–857 (72 Stat. 1263) who are not in receipt of compensa-
tion payable pursuant to chapter 11 of title 38, United 
States Code. 
SEC. 3. PUBLICATION OF ADJUSTED RATES. 
At the same time as the matters 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 2005, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall pub-
lish in the Federal Register the amounts specified in sub-
section (b) of section 2, as increased pursuant to that sec-
tion. 
SEC. 4. IMPROVED BENEFITS FOR FORMER PRISONERS OF 
WAR. 
Section 1112(b)(3) of title 38, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subpara-
graph: 
‘‘(L) Osteoporosis.’’. 
SEC. 5. CODIFICATION OF COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT 
PROVIDED IN PUBLIC LAW 108–47. 
(a) VETERANS’ DISABILITY COMPENSATION.—Section 
1114 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
(1) by striking ‘‘$104’’ in subsection (a) and in-
serting ‘‘$106’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘$201’’ in subsection (b) and in-
serting ‘‘$205’’; 
(3) by striking ‘‘$310’’ in subsection (c) and in-
serting ‘‘$316’’; 
(4) by striking ‘‘$445’’ in subsection (d) and in-
serting ‘‘$454’’; 
(5) by striking ‘‘$633’’ in subsection (e) and in-
serting ‘‘$646’’; 
(6) by striking ‘‘$801’’ in subsection (f) and in-
serting ‘‘$817’’; 
(7) by striking ‘‘$1,008’’ in subsection (g) and 
inserting ‘‘$1,029’’; 
(8) by striking ‘‘$1,171’’ in subsection (h) and 
inserting ‘‘$1,195’’; 
(9) by striking ‘‘$1,317’’ in subsection (i) and 
inserting ‘‘$1,344’’; 
(10) by striking ‘‘$2,193’’ in subsection (j) and 
inserting ‘‘$2,239’’; 
(11) in subsection (k)— 
(A) by striking ‘‘$81’’ both places it appears 
and inserting ‘‘$82’’; and 
(B) by striking ‘‘$2,728’’ and ‘‘$3,827’’ and 
inserting ‘‘$2,785’’ and ‘‘$3,907’’, respectively;
(12) by striking ‘‘$2,728’’ in subsection (l) and 
inserting ‘‘$2,785’’; 
(13) by striking ‘‘$3,010’’ in subsection (m) and 
inserting ‘‘$3,073’’; 
(14) by striking ‘‘$3,425’’ in subsection (n) and 
inserting ‘‘$3,496’’; 
(15) by striking ‘‘$3,827’’ each place it appears 
in subsections (o) and (p) and inserting ‘‘$3,907’’; 
(16) by striking ‘‘$1,643’’ and ‘‘$2,446’’ in sub-
section (r) and inserting ‘‘$1,677’’ and ‘‘$2,497’’, re-
spectively; and 
(17) by striking ‘‘$2,455’’ in subsection (s) and 
inserting ‘‘$2,506’’. 
(b) ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR DEPENDENTS.— 
Section 1115(1) of such title is amended— 
(1) by striking ‘‘$125’’ in subparagraph (A) and 
inserting ‘‘$127’’; 
(2) by striking ‘‘$215’’ and ‘‘$64’’ in subpara-
graph (B) and inserting ‘‘$219’’ and ‘‘$65’’, respec-
tively; 
(3) by striking ‘‘$85’’ and ‘‘$64’’ in subpara-
graph (C) and inserting ‘‘$86’’ and ‘‘$65’’, respec-
tively; 
(4) by striking ‘‘$101’’ in subparagraph (D) and 
inserting ‘‘$103’’;