Henry Brown: “I rise in support of H.R. 4175, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2004. Congress acts annually…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 4175, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2004. Congress acts annually to provide a cost-of-living adjustment in VA disability compensation and survivors benefits. Congress has provided increases in these rates for every fiscal year since 1976, and the administration's fiscal year 2005 budget includes the cost for this increase. As well as providing the cost-of-living adjustment effective December 1, 2004, and codifying the current dollar amount for veterans and survivors benefits, H.R. 4175, as amended, would add osteoporosis to the list of diseases presumed to be service-connected for former prisoners of war. This particular provision is derived from H.R. 438, which the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis) introduced in January of 2003. The vice chairman has long been a champion for former POWs, and I regret that due to budgetary obstacles we were not able to consider his bill in its entirety. I appreciate his understanding in that regard.”