America’s military veterans would receive their yearly increased disability benefits under bipartisan legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and every other member of the U.S. Senate Veterans’ Affairs (VA) Committee.
“We made a promise to the men and women who served our country that they would be taken care of after serving our country and protecting the freedoms we enjoy every day,” said Sen. Tillis.
The Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2018 is the U.S. Senate version of the same-named H.R. 4958, introduced on Feb. 7 by U.S. Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL), with U.S. Reps. Bruce Poliquin (R-ME) and Elizabeth Esty (D-CT) among the original cosponsors.
The bill would make a cost-of-living adjustment to be equal to the amount of the adjustment given to Social Security recipients. The adjustment is determined annually by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index and would go into effect on Dec. 1.
Joining Sen. Tillis to introduce the Senate version of the bill were U.S. Sens. Johnny Isakson (R-GA), chairman of the Senate VA Committee, and Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-MT). U.S. Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Dean Heller (R-NV), Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Mike Rounds (R-SD) were among the original cosponsors of the measure.
“I am proud to stand with every member of the Senate VA Committee to fulfill that promise and introduce this important legislation to ensure our nation’s veterans receive the benefits they need to live in today’s economy,” Rep. Tillis said.
The Senate bill also would increase the rates of VA disability compensation, dependency compensation for surviving children and spouses, as well as the clothing allowance for veterans based on rising costs of living, according to information provided by Rep. Tillis’ office.
“Our men and women in uniform have sacrificed greatly, and it is our duty to provide veterans and their families with the benefits they so rightly deserve,” Sen. Isakson said. “I’m proud to introduce this bill to increase veterans’ benefits in keeping with rising costs of living.”
Sen. Tester said veterans’ benefits must reflect the current economic realities. “This bipartisan legislation will allow families to keep up with the rising costs of housing, utilities and food,” he said.
H.R. 4958 passed the U.S. House by voice vote on May 21 and was received on May 22 in the Senate where it was referred to the Senate VA Committee for consideration.