J.C. Watts: “I rise in support of H.R. 4850, the Veterans Benefits Acts of 2000 and H.R. 4864, the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 4850, the Veterans Benefits Acts of 2000 and H.R. 4864, the Veterans Claims Assistance Act of 2000--two bills that give overdue support and assistance to our Nation's veterans. There are more than 2.6 million veterans receiving disability compensation as of May 2000, and the Department of Veterans Affairs expects expenditures for disability compensation to reach $15 billion for FY 2000. H.R. 4850 directs the Veterans Secretary to increase the rates of veterans disability compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation, and additional compensation for dependents, which is equal to the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that will take place on December 1, 2000. Furthermore, this bill provides for a change in the law which states that a stroke or heart attack that is incurred by a member of a reserve component in the performance of duty shall be considered service-connected for the purpose of benefits under law. Finally, H.R. 4850 provides compensation for the service-connected loss of one or both breasts due to a radical mastectomy and will be treated as other service-connected loss of organs or limbs. In addition to H.R. 4850, I support H.R. 4864 which authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to assist a claimant in obtaining evidence to establish entitlement to a benefit.”