Cleveland Reporter

WASHINGTON, DC– Last week, Congresswoman Shontel Brown (Oh-11) joined her colleagues in passing legislation to increase compensation rates for veterans with service-related disabilities and military spouses paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The Veterans’ Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act (S. 777) applies a cost-of-living adjustment to key VA benefit programs, including disability compensation, clothing allowances, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children.  

The legislation passed the House of Representatives with unanimous support and now heads to the President’s desk for signature, having passed the Senate in March. 

“Northeast Ohio veterans and their families were there for our country and now we need to be there for them,” said Congresswoman Shontel Brown (OH-11). “Supporting veterans is always an imperative and action is especially important when rising costs have been harmful to many. I am proud to support The Veterans Cost-of-Living Act, which will make sure that key benefits are increased to reflect rising costs. The bipartisan support for this legislation should also serve as a counter to extreme Republican efforts to cut veterans’ health care benefits through the Default on America Act, their debt ceiling legislation. Let’s work together to strengthen benefits and support programs for veterans, not weaken them.”

The cost-of-living adjustment will be determined by the Social Security Administration’s annual adjustment based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). The Veterans’ Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act is supported by The American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Veterans of America, AMVETS, Vietnam Veterans of America, Gold Star Wives, TAPS, Wounded Warrior Project, Military Officers Association of America, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

Original source can be found here.