Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2020

II 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION S. 4579 To increase, effective as of December 1, 2020, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of depend- ency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 Mr. MORAN (for himself, Mr. TESTER, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mrs. MURRAY, Mr. CASSIDY, Mr. BROWN, Mr. ROUNDS, Mr. BLUMENTHAL, Mr. TILLIS, Mr. MANCHIN, Mr. SULLIVAN, Ms. SINEMA, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. CRAMER, Mrs. LOEFFLER, and Ms. HIRONO) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs A BILL To increase, effective as of December 1, 2020, the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected dis- abilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity com- pensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa- 1 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Veterans’ Compensa- 4 tion Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2020’’. 5 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:31 Sep 22, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4579.IS S4579 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •S 4579 IS SEC. 2. INCREASE IN RATES OF DISABILITY COMPENSA- 1 TION AND DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY 2 COMPENSATION. 3 (a) RATE ADJUSTMENT.—Effective on December 1, 4 2020, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall increase, in 5 accordance with subsection (c), the dollar amounts in ef- 6 fect on November 30, 2020, for the payment of disability 7 compensation and dependency and indemnity compensa- 8 tion under the provisions specified in subsection (b). 9 (b) AMOUNTS TO BE INCREASED.—The dollar 10 amounts to be increased pursuant to subsection (a) are 11 the following: 12 (1) WARTIME DISABILITY COMPENSATION.— 13 Each of the dollar amounts under section 1114 of 14 title 38, United States Code. 15 (2) ADDITIONAL COMPENSATION FOR DEPEND- 16 ENTS.—Each of the dollar amounts under section 17 1115(1) of such title. 18 (3) CLOTHING ALLOWANCE.—The dollar 19 amount under section 1162 of such title. 20 (4) DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSA- 21 TION TO SURVIVING SPOUSE.—Each of the dollar 22 amounts under subsections (a) through (d) of sec- 23 tion 1311 of such title. 24 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:31 Sep 22, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4579.IS S4579 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •S 4579 IS (5) DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSA- 1 TION TO CHILDREN.—Each of the dollar amounts 2 under sections 1313(a) and 1314 of such title. 3 (c) DETERMINATION OF INCREASE.—Each dollar 4 amount described in subsection (b) shall be increased by 5 the same percentage as the percentage by which benefit 6 amounts payable under title II of the Social Security Act 7 (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) are increased effective December 8 1, 2020, as a result of a determination under section 9 215(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)). 10 (d) SPECIAL RULE.—The Secretary of Veterans Af- 11 fairs may adjust administratively, consistent with the in- 12 creases made under subsection (a), the rates of disability 13 compensation payable to persons under section 10 of Pub- 14 lic Law 85–857 (72 Stat. 1263) who have not received 15 compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United States 16 Code. 17 SEC. 3. PUBLICATION OF ADJUSTED RATES. 18 The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall publish in the 19 Federal Register the amounts specified in section 2(b), as 20 increased under that section, not later than the date on 21 which the matters specified in section 215(i)(2)(D) of the 22 Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)(2)(D)) are required 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:31 Sep 22, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\S4579.IS S4579 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •S 4579 IS to be published by reason of a determination made under 1 section 215(i) of such Act during fiscal year 2021. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 19:31 Sep 22, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\S4579.IS S4579 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS