Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2005

Bill: 109-hr-1220
Sponsor: Rep. Buyer, Steve [R-IN-4]
Introduced: 2005-03-10 in the House
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Clothing
Collection of accounts
Congress
Congressional investigations
Congressional reporting requirements
Cost of living adjustments
Disabled
Education
Families
Government Operations and Politics
Government contractors
Government publicity
Health
Higher education
Labor and Employment
Medical education
Medical research
Parkinson's disease
Science, Technology, Communications
Survivors' benefits
Veterans' benefits
Veterans' disability compensation
Veterans' hospitals
Veterans' medical care
Veterans' pensions

Summary:
action_date: 2005-03-10
text: Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase, as of December 1, 2005, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled adult children, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. 
Requires each such increase to be the same percentage as the increase in benefits provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date. 
 
Codifies under veterans' disability compensation provisions the increases to such compensation provided under the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2004.

action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase, as of December 1, 2005, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled adult children, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. 
Requires each such increase to be the same percentage as the increase in benefits provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date. 
 
Codifies under veterans' disability compensation provisions the increases to such compensation provided under the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2004.
 
Directs the Secretary to conduct a two-year demonstration project for the improvement of business practices of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Requires: (1) the Secretary to enter into a performance-based contract for a contractor to carry out the demonstration project; (2) such project to be conducted at two VHA facilities having a relatively low performance in the recovery or collection of indebtedness from third-party payers for the provision of veterans' medical care; (3) a VHA employee to be designated as the full-time project manager; (4) the Secretary to submit interim reports and a final report to Congress on project operations; and (5) the Comptroller General to review the project and report review results to Congress. Authorizes appropriations.
 
Directs the Secretary to designate, establish, and operate at selected Department of Veterans Affairs health-care facilities six centers for Parkinson's disease research, education, and clinical activities. Requires the Under Secretary for Health to establish a panel to assess the scientific and clinical merit of proposals submitted by a facility for the operation of such a center. Authorizes appropriations.

action_date: 2005-07-13
text: 

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on June 30, 2005. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

 
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2005 - Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase, as of December 1, 2005, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled adult children, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. 
 
Requires each such increase to be the same percentage as the increase in benefits provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date. 
 
Codifies under veterans' disability compensation provisions the increases to such compensation provided under the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2004.
 
Directs the Secretary to conduct a two-year demonstration project for the improvement of business practices of the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). Requires: (1) the Secretary to enter into a performance-based contract for a contractor to carry out the demonstration project; (2) such project to be conducted at two VHA facilities having a relatively low performance in the recovery or collection of indebtedness from third-party payers for the provision of veterans' medical care; (3) a VHA employee to be designated as the full-time project manager; (4) the Secretary to submit interim reports and a final report to Congress on project operations; and (5) the Comptroller General to review the project and report review results to Congress. Authorizes appropriations.
 
Directs the Secretary to designate, establish, and operate at selected Department of Veterans Affairs health-care facilities six centers for Parkinson's disease research, education, and clinical activities. Requires the Under Secretary for Health to establish a panel to assess the scientific and clinical merit of proposals submitted by a facility for the operation of such a center. Authorizes appropriations.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2005-07-14
text: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2005-07-13
text: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
action_date: 2005-07-13
text: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H5749-5751)
action_date: 2005-07-13
text: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.(text: CR H5749-5751)
action_date: 2005-07-13
text: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1220.
action_date: 2005-07-13
text: Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5749-5754)
action_date: 2005-07-13
text: Mr. Buyer moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 98.
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 109-162.
action_date: 2005-06-30
text: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 109-162.
action_date: 2005-06-23
text: Provisions of H.R. 2959 Incorporated in This Measure, Section 6.
action_date: 2005-06-23
text: Provisions of H.R. 2988 Incorporated in This Measure, Section 5.
action_date: 2005-06-23
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.
action_date: 2005-06-23
text: Committee Hearings Held.
action_date: 2005-06-23
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2005-06-09
text: Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Unanimous Consent.
action_date: 2005-06-09
text: Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2005-04-04
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
action_date: 2005-03-10
text: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
action_date: 2005-03-10
text: Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E412)
action_date: 2005-03-10
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2005-03-10
text: Introduced in House