Gus Bilirakis: “This truly is a bipartisan committee under the able leadership of Chairman Roe and Ranking Member Walz. Again, I am…”

“This truly is a bipartisan committee under the able leadership of Chairman Roe and Ranking Member Walz. Again, I am proud to serve on this committee. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 1329, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act. Passage of this bill gives our Nation's veterans the same cost-of-living adjustment as those receiving benefits through Social Security. These brave men and women have sacrificed so much for the freedoms and liberties we enjoy on a daily basis. As a grateful nation, we must ensure that those who put themselves in harm's way are able to receive the benefits they have earned and deserve. Providing for our Nation's true American heroes is not a partisan issue, but simply the right thing to do. Mr. Speaker, approximately 1.6 million veterans reside in the great State of Florida, where so many veterans call home after serving in the military. As vice chairman of the House Veterans' Affairs Committee, I am so very proud that Florida is considered one of the most veteran friendly States across the country. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague, Representative Mike Bost from Indiana, for introducing this very important piece of legislation. As a cosponsor of H.R. 1329, I urge all of my colleagues to support our Nation's heroes and pass the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act.”