Veterans' Compensation Rate Increase and Job Training Amendments of 1985
PL 99-238 (H.R.1538), enacted 01/13/1986

PUBLIC LAW 99^238—JAN. 13, 1986 
99 STAT. 1765 
Public Law 99-238 
99th Congress 
An Act 
To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide a 3.1-percent increase in the rates of 
disability compensation and of dependency and indemnity compensation paid by 
the Veterans' Administration; to make improvements in veterans' job training 
programs; and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled, 
Jan. 13, 1986 
[H.R. 1538] 
Veterans' 
Compensation 
Rate 
This Act may be cited as the "Veterans' Compensation Rate Training 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
Increase and Job Training Amendments of 1985". 
TITLE I—DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND DEPENDENCY 
AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION RATE INCREASES 
Amendments of 
1985. 
88 u s e 101 note. 
SEC. 101. DISABILITY COMPENSATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Section 314 of title 38, United States Code, is 
98 Stat. 2735. 
amended— 
(1) by striking out "$66" in subsection (a) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$68"; 
(2) by striking out "$122" in subsection (b) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$126"; 
(3) by striking out "$185" in subsection (c) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$191"; 
(4) by striking out "$266" in subsection (d) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$274"; 
(5) by striking out "$376" in subsection (e) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$388"; 
(6) by striking out "$474" in subsection (f) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$489"; 
(7) by striking out "$598" in subsection (g) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$617"; 
(8) by striking out "$692" in subsection (h) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$713"; 
(9) by striking out "$779" in subsection (i) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$803"; 
(10) by striking out "$1,295" in subsection (j) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$1,335"; 
(11) by striking out "$1,609" and "$2,255" in subsection (k) 
and 
inserting 
in 
lieu 
thereof 
"$1,659" 
and 
"$2,325", 
respectively; 
(12) by striking out "$1,609" in subsection (1) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$1,659"; 
(13) by striking out "$1,774" in subsection (m) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$1,829"; 
(14) by striking out "$2,017" in subsection (n) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$2,080"; 
(15) by striking out "$2,255" each place it appears in subsec-
tions (o) and (p) and inserting in lieu thereof "$2,325"; 
99 STAT. 1766 
PUBLIC LAW 99-238—JAN. 13, 1986 
(16) by striking out "$968" and "$1,442" in subsection (r) and 
inserting in lieu thereof "$998" and "$1,487", respectively; 
(17) by striking out "$1,449" in subsection (s) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$1,494"; and 
(18) by striking out "$280" in subsection (t) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$289". 
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(b) SPECIAL RULE.—The Administrator of Veterans' Affairs may 
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adjust administratively, consistent with the increases authorized by 
this section, the rates of disability compensation payable to persons 
38 use note 
within the purview of section 10 of Public Law 85-857 who are not in 
prec. 101. 
receipt of compensation payable pursuant to chapter 11 of title 38, 
38 use 301 
United States Code. 
et seq. 
SEC. 102. ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR DEPENDENTS. 
98 Stat. 2736. 
Section 315(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking out "$79" in clause (A) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$81"; 
(2) by striking out "$132" and "$42" in clause (B) and insert-
ing in lieu thereof "$136" and "$43", respectively; 
(3) by striking out "$54" and "$42" in clause (C) and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$56" and "$43", respectively; 
(4) by striking out "$64" in clause (D) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$66"; 
(5) by striking out "$143" in clause (E) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$147"; and 
(6) by striking out "$120" in clause (F) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$124". 
SEC. 103. CLOTHING ALLOWANCE FOR CERTAIN DISABLED VETERANS. 
98 Stat. 2736. 
Section 362 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking 
out "$349" and inserting in lieu thereof "$360". 
SEC. 104. DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION FOR SURVIVING 
SPOUSES. 
98 Stat. 2737. 
Section 411 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking out the table in subsection (a) and inserting in 
lieu thereof the following: 
Monthly 
Monthly 
"Pay grade 
rate Pay grade 
rate 
E-1 
$491 
W-4 
$703 
E-2 
505 
0-1 
621 
E-3 
518 
0-2 
640 
E-4 
552 
0-3 
686 
E-5 
566 
0-4 
725 
E-6 
578 
0-5 
799 
E-7 
607 
0-6 
900 
E-8 
640 
0-7 
973 
E-9 
»669 
0-8 
1,067 
W-1 
621 
0-9 
1,145 
W-2 
645 
O-IO 
* 1,255 
W-3 
664 
"'If the veteran served as sergeant major of the Army, senior enlisted advisor of the Navy, 
chief master sergeant of the Air Force, sergeant major of the Marine Ck)rps, or master chief 
petty officer of the Coast Guard, at the applicable time designated by section 402 of this title, 
the surviving spouse's rate shall be $722. 
"* If the veteran served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Chief of Staff of the Army, 
Chief of Naval Operations, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Commandant of the Marine Corps, or 
Commandant of the Coast Guard, at the applicable time designated by section 402 of this title, 
the surviving spouse's rate shall be $1,345.'; 
PUBLIC LAW 99-238—JAN. 13, 1986 
99 STAT. 1767 
(2) by striking out "$55" in subsection (b) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$57"; 
(3) by striking out "$143" in subsection (c) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$147"; and 
(4) by striking out "$70" in subsection (d) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$72". 
SEC. 105. DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION FOR CHILDREN. 
Section 413 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking out "$240" in clause (1) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$247"; 
(2) by striking out "$345" in clause (2) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$356"; 
(3) by striking out "$446" in clause (3) and inserting in lieu 
thereof "$460"; and 
(4) by striking out "$446" and "$90" in clause (4) and inserting 
in lieu thereof "$460" and "$93", respectively. 
SEC. 106. SUPPLEMENTAL DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION 
FOR CHILDREN. 
Section 414 of title 38, United States Code, is amended— 
(1) by striking out "$143" in subsection (a) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$147"; 
(2) by striking out "$240" in subsection (b) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$247"; and 
(3) by striking out "$122" in subsection (c) and inserting in 
lieu thereof "$126". 
SEC. 107. EFFECTIVE DATE. 
The amendments made by this title shall take effect as of Decem-
ber 1,1985. 
TITLE II—VETERANS' JOB TRAINING AMENDMENTS 
SEC. 201. EMERGENCY VETERANS' JOB TRAINING ACT AMENDMENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—(1) The first sentence of section 1 of Public Law 
98-77 (29 U.S.C. 1721 note) is amended to read as follows: "This Act 
may be cited as the 'Veterans' Job Training Act'.". 
(2) Any reference in any Federal law to the Emergency Veterans' 
Job Training Act of 1983 shall be deemed to refer to the Veterans' 
Job Training Act. 
(b) ELIGIBIUTY.—Section 5(a)(1)(B) of the Veterans' Job Training 
Act, as redesignated by subsection (a), is amended by striking out 
"fifteen of the twenty" and inserting in lieu thereof "10 of the 15". 
(c) CouNSEUNG.—Section 14 of such Act is amended— 
(1) by inserting "(a)" before "The"; and 
(2) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
"(b) The Secretary— 
"(1) shall provide for a program under which periodic (not less 
than monthly) contact is maintained with each veteran partici-
pating in a program of job training under this Act for the 
purposes of avoiding unnecessary termination of employment, 
referring the veteran to appropriate counseling if necessary, 
and facilitating the veteran's successful completion of such 
program; and 
"(2) after consultation with the Administrator, shall provide 
for a program of counseling services designed to resolve difficul-
98 Stat. 2737. 
98 Stat. 2737. 
38 use 314 
note. 
Employment 
and 
unemployment. 
Veterans' Job 
Training Act. 
29 use 1721 
note. 
29 use 1721 
note. 
29 use 1721 
note. 
99 STAT. 1768 
PUBLIC LAW 99-238—JAN. 13, 1986 
ties that may be encountered by veterans during their training 
under this Act and shall advise all veterans and employers 
participating under this Act of the availability of such services 
and other related counseling services and assistance and 
encourage them to request such services and assistance when-
ever appropriate.". 
98 Stat. 2744. 
(d) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—Section 16 of SUCh Act is 
29 use 1721 
amended-
"
"
^
^
^ 
(1) by inserting "and $65,000,000 for fiscal year 1986" after 
"1985"; and 
(2) by striking out "1987" and inserting in lieu thereof "1988". 
98 Stat. 2744. 
(e) TOLUNG OF CERTAIN PERIOD.—Section 17 of SUCh Act is 
29 use 1721 
amended— 
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(1) by striking out "Assistance" and inserting in lieu thereof 
"(a) Except as provided in subsection (b), assistance"; 
(2) in clause (1), by striking out "February 28, 1985" and 
inserting in lieu thereof "January 31,1987"; 
Ante, p. 481. 
(3) in clause (2), by striking out "July 1,1986" and inserting in 
lieu thereof "July 31,1987"; and 
(4) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
"(b) If funds for fiscal year 1986 are appropriated for the purpose 
of making pa3niients to employers under this Act but are not both so 
appropriated and made available by the Director of the Office of 
Management and Budget to the Veterans' Administration on or 
before February 1,1986, for such purpose, assistance may be paid to 
an employer under this Act on behalf of a veteran if the veteran— 
"(1) applies for a program of job training under this Act 
within 1 year after the date on which funds so appropriated are 
made available to the Veterans' Administration by the Director; 
and 
"(2) begins participation in such program within 18 months 
after such date.". 
29 use 1721 
(f) EFFECTIVE DATE.—(1) Except as provided in paragraph (2), the 
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amendments made by this section shall take effect on the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
(2) The amendment made by subsection (e)(2) shall take effect on 
February 1,1986. 
38 use 1516 
SEC. 202. COORDINATION. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In carrying out section 1516(b) of title 38, United 
States Code, the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs shall take all 
feasible steps to establish and encourage, for veterans who are 
eligible to have payments made on their behalf under such section, 
the development of training opportunities through programs of job 
training consistent with the provisions of the Veterans' Job Train-
ing Act (as redesignated by section 201(a)(1) of this Act) so as to 
utilize programs of job training established by employers pursuant 
to such Act. 
PUBLIC LAW 99-238—JAN. 13, 1986 
99 STAT. 1769 
(b) DIRECTIVE.—In carrying out such Act, the Administrator shall 
take all feasible steps to ensure that, in the cases of veterans who 
are eligible to have payments made on their behalf under both such 
Act and section 1516(b) of title 38, United States Code, the authority 
under such section is utilized, to the maximum extent feasible and 
consistent with the veteran's best interests, to make payments to 
employers on behalf of such veterans. 
Approved January 13, 1986. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 1538: 
HOUSE REPORT No. 99-337, Pt. 1 (Comm. on Veterans' Affairs). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 131 (1985): 
Dec. 9, considered and passed House. 
Dec. 19, considered and passed Senate, amended. House concurred in Senate 
amendments.