Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2005

VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT OF 2005 -- (House of Representatives - November 16, 2005)

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Ms. CORRINE BROWN of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to support this bill.

It is imperative that we get a cost of living adjustment to those who have put their lives on the line to protect the freedom of this country. The 4.1 percent cost of living increase is very important to our veterans.

I am pleased that Congress is passing a clean bill. There are no riders that would dilute the effectiveness of our commitment to our Nation's veterans.

However, it is important to continue this bipartisanship into the heavier lifting that will occur in the next days and weeks.

It is imperative we keep the reconciliation bill free from cuts in veterans healthcare. It is imperative we do not subject veterans healthcare to an across the board cut. It is imperative we fully fund veterans healthcare next February, when the President submits his Fiscal Year 2007 budget.

We do not need another emergency supplemental appropriations bill to cover shortfalls in operations and maintenance.

Let us do right by our veterans and not pay for tax cuts for the wealthy and recovery efforts from Katrina with cuts in veterans healthcare.

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