Arlen Specter: “S. 2483 would grant to nearly 3 million beneficiaries who receive certain "cash-transfer" payments from the Department…”

“S. 2483 would grant to nearly 3 million beneficiaries who receive certain "cash-transfer" payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, a cost-of-living adjustment, COLA, increase in their benefits effective with checks received on or after January 1, 2005, and thereafter. An annual cost-of-living adjustment in veterans benefits is an important tool which protects veterans' cash-transfer benefits against the corrosive effects of inflation. The principal programs affected by the adjustment that would be made by S. 2483 would be compensation paid to disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation, so-called "DIC," payments made to the surviving spouses, minor children and other dependents of service members who died in service and to the survivors of former service members who died after service as a result of service-connected injuries or disease.”