Political Quotes

“I, too, rise in support of H.R. 675, as amended, which serves to provide an increase in the benefit payments for our veterans, as well as for their families and survivors. I thank the chairman and Ranking Member Brown for their help and their work on this important legislation. Since 1976, Congress has consistently increased the rates of basic compensation for disabled veterans and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation, DIC, for their survivors and dependents. This is in order to keep pace with inflation. However, unlike Social Security cost-of-living adjustments, known commonly as COLAs, Congress must act each year to provide veterans with the benefit adjustments they deserve. This legislation will bring COLA increases for veterans to the same level as Social Security recipients for this year. This action is very important in the short term, but I look forward to the House also considering H.R. 677, the American Heroes COLA Act of 2015, which I introduced, along with Chairman Abraham. This would eliminate the possibility of congressional gridlock ensnaring the yearly COLA adjustments by making the increases automatic, just like they are for Social Security. I would like to highlight an additional provision included in H.R. 675 that will also help ensure our veterans receive the benefits they have earned in a more timely fashion. Title 3 of this legislation is the text of H.R.…”