Continuing his efforts on behalf of West Virginia's veterans, U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-W.Va.) Wednesday worked to pass legislation in the House that provides a 3.6 percent increase in benefits for veterans with service-connected disabilities.
"Supporting our troops does not stop when they come home from the battlefield," said Rahall, who is a member of the House Military Veterans Caucus. "As a grateful nation, we have a long-term duty and responsibility to ensure that benefits for veterans and their families keep pace with rising costs. Our veterans served our Nation at great personal sacrifice and we must not lose sight of their vital contributions."
S. 894, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011, will increase the amounts paid to veterans for disability compensation and to their survivors for dependency and indemnity compensation by the same cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) payable to Social Security recipients. The increase would take effect on December 1, 2011.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, S. 894 will provide disability compensation to 26,369 veterans with service-connected disabilities in West Virginia and 3,588,315 veterans nationwide. Among the nationwide veterans estimated to receive such compensation are 265,903 World War II veterans; 184,818 Korean-conflict veterans; 1,499,132 Vietnam-era veterans; 1,329,508 veterans of the Persian Gulf War era; and 696,757 veterans who served during peacetime.
The House passed the bill Wednesday afternoon by a voice vote, and will be sent to the President for signature.