Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2015

Bill: 114-s-1493
Sponsor: full_name: Sen. Isakson, Johnny [R-GA]
Introduced: 2015-06-03
Policy area: Armed Forces and National Security
Subjects: Administrative law and regulatory procedures

Department of Veterans Affairs

Disability assistance

Inflation and prices

Veterans' pensions and compensation
Latest action: action_date: 2015-10-26
text: Held at the desk.

Summaries:
action_date: 2015-06-03
action_desc: Introduced in Senate
text: <p> <strong>Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2015</strong></p> <p>Directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase, as of December 1, 2015, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children.</p> <p>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.</p>

action_date: 2015-08-28
action_desc: Reported to Senate without amendment
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The summary has been expanded because action occurred on the measure.)</p> <p><strong>Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2015</strong></p> <p>(Sec. 2) Directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase, as of December 1, 2015, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children.</p> <p> 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.</p> <p>Directs the VA to publish the increased amounts in the Federal Register.</p> <p> Authorizes the VA to adjust administratively, consistent with the increases made by this Act, the rates of disability compensation payable to persons who have not received compensation for a service-connected disability. </p>

action_date: 2015-10-22
action_desc: Passed Senate without amendment
text: <p>(This measure has not been amended since it was introduced. The expanded summary of the Senate reported version is repeated here.)</p> <p><strong>Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2015</strong></p> <p>(Sec. 2) Directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase, as of December 1, 2015, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children.</p> <p> 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.</p> <p>Directs the VA to publish the increased amounts in the Federal Register.</p> <p> Authorizes the VA to adjust administratively, consistent with the increases made by this Act, the rates of disability compensation payable to persons who have not received compensation for a service-connected disability.</p>

tv_txt: II 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1493 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 3, 2015 Mr. Isakson (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Moran , Mr. Boozman , Mr. Heller , Mr. Cassidy , Mr. Rounds , Mr. Tillis , Mr. Sullivan , Mrs. Murray , Mr. Sanders , Mr. Brown , Mr. Tester , Ms. Hirono , and Mr. Manchin ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs A BILL To provide for an increase, effective December 1, 2015, in 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. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2015 . 2. Increase in rates of disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation (a) Rate adjustment Effective on December 1, 2015, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall increase, in accordance with subsection (c), the dollar amounts in effect on November 30, 2015, for the payment of disability compensation 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 dependents Each of the dollar amounts under section 1115(1) of such title. (3) Clothing allowance The dollar amount under section 1162 of such title. (4) Dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving spouse Each of the dollar amounts under subsections (a) through (d) of section 1311 of such title. (5) Dependency and indemnity compensation to children Each of the dollar amounts under sections 1313(a) and 1314 of such title. (c) Determination of increase 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, 2015, as a result of a determination under section 215(i) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 415(i) ). (d) Special rule The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may adjust administratively, consistent with the increases made under subsection (a), the rates of disability compensation payable to persons under section 10 of Public Law 85–857 (72 Stat. 1263) who have not received compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code. (e) Publication of adjusted rates The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall publish in the Federal Register the amounts specified in subsection (b), as increased under subsection (a), not later than the date on which 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 2016.

tv_txt: II Calendar No. 202 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1493 [Report No. 114–122] IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 3, 2015 Mr. Isakson (for himself, Mr. Blumenthal , Mr. Moran , Mr. Boozman , Mr. Heller , Mr. Cassidy , Mr. Rounds , Mr. Tillis , Mr. Sullivan , Mrs. Murray , Mr. Sanders , Mr. Brown , Mr. Tester , Ms. Hirono , and Mr. Manchin ) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs August 28, 2015 Reported, under authority of the order of the Senate of August 5, 2015, by Mr. Isakson , without amendment A BILL To provide for an increase, effective December 1, 2015, in 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. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2015 . 2. Increase in rates of disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation (a) Rate adjustment Effective on December 1, 2015, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall increase, in accordance with subsection (c), the dollar amounts in effect on November 30, 2015, for the payment of disability compensation 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 dependents Each of the dollar amounts under section 1115(1) of such title. (3) Clothing allowance The dollar amount under section 1162 of such title. (4) Dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving spouse Each of the dollar amounts under subsections (a) through (d) of section 1311 of such title. (5) Dependency and indemnity compensation to children Each of the dollar amounts under sections 1313(a) and 1314 of such title. (c) Determination of increase 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, 2015, as a result of a determination under section 215(i) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 415(i) ). (d) Special rule The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may adjust administratively, consistent with the increases made under subsection (a), the rates of disability compensation payable to persons under section 10 of Public Law 85–857 (72 Stat. 1263) who have not received compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code. (e) Publication of adjusted rates The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall publish in the Federal Register the amounts specified in subsection (b), as increased under subsection (a), not later than the date on which 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 2016.

August 28, 2015 Reported without amendment

tv_txt: 114th CONGRESS 1st Session S. 1493 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AN ACT To provide for an increase, effective December 1, 2015, in 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. Short title This Act may be cited as the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2015 . 2. Increase in rates of disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation (a) Rate adjustment Effective on December 1, 2015, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall increase, in accordance with subsection (c), the dollar amounts in effect on November 30, 2015, for the payment of disability compensation 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 dependents Each of the dollar amounts under section 1115(1) of such title. (3) Clothing allowance The dollar amount under section 1162 of such title. (4) Dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving spouse Each of the dollar amounts under subsections (a) through (d) of section 1311 of such title. (5) Dependency and indemnity compensation to children Each of the dollar amounts under sections 1313(a) and 1314 of such title. (c) Determination of increase 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, 2015, as a result of a determination under section 215(i) of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 415(i) ). (d) Special rule The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may adjust administratively, consistent with the increases made under subsection (a), the rates of disability compensation payable to persons under section 10 of Public Law 85–857 (72 Stat. 1263) who have not received compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code. (e) Publication of adjusted rates The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall publish in the Federal Register the amounts specified in subsection (b), as increased under subsection (a), not later than the date on which 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 2016.

Passed the Senate October 22, 2015. Secretary