On February 13, 2019, Representative Elaine Luria (VA), Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs and Ranking Member Michael Bost (IL), introduced H.R. 1200, the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2019.
This bill, if enacted, would authorize a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for veterans in receipt of compensation and pension, and for survivors of veterans who died from service-incurred disabilities and are in receipt of Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). It would provide a COLA increase by the same percentage as Social Security and would effective December 1, 2019.
Receipt of annual COLA increments aids injured and ill veterans, their families, and their survivors to help maintain the value of their VA benefits against inflation. Without COLAs, these individuals, who sacrificed their own health and their family life for the good of our nation, may not be able to maintain a quality of life in their elder years. DAV strongly supports H.R. 1200 as it is in accord with DAV Resolution No. 031.
As always, we appreciate your support for DAV and your grassroots activism in participating in DAV CAN. Your advocacy helps make DAV a highly influential and effective organization in Washington.