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Bill114th CongressFiled Feb 3, 2015Armed Forces and National Security
H.R. 675

Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2015

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What it doesSummary passed house amended (Jul 28, 2015)

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on July 16, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2015

TITLE I--COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT

(Sec. 101) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase, as of November 30, 2015, the rates of:

  • veterans' disability compensation,
  • additional compensation for dependents,
  • wartime disability compensation,
  • the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and
  • dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children.

Each such increase shall be the same percentage as the benefits increase provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act, as of December 1, 2015.

(Sec. 102) The VA shall publish such adjusted rates in the Federal Register.

TITLE II--UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS

(Sec. 201) The temporary expansion of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims is extended till January 1, 2020.

(Sec. 202) Specified recall requirements for retired judges are amended. A recall-eligible judge may request a recall for a period of service of at least 90 days (or the equivalent).

(Sec. 203) A regular active service judge or a retired judge shall be treated as an employee for government life insurance purposes.

(Sec. 204) Regular service judges, retired recall-eligible judges, and certain retired but not recall-eligible judges may purchase in three-month increments up to an additional year of service credit for each year of federal judicial service completed.

(Sec. 205) The salary of Court judges is set at the rate applicable to federal appellate court judges. (Their salary is currently set at the rate applicable to federal district court judges.)

(Sec. 206) The chief judge of the Court, in addition to existing qualifications, must not be older than 64 and have at least 3 years remaining in term of office as a judge of the Court in regular active service.

TITLE III--IMPROVEMENT OF CLAIMS PROCESSING

(Sec. 301) In the case of a disability compensation claim for two or more disabilities for which the VA, before completing the full adjudication, makes a decision with respect to a disability that would result in the payment of monetary benefits to the claimant, the VA shall make interim payments to the claimant based on such disability.

Upon completion of the adjudication of all the disability claims the VA will pay the full amount of accrued benefits, less the amount of the interim payments that the claimant has already received.

(Sec. 302) The VA shall: (1) establish a minimum two-year training program for newly hired claims processors, and (2) identify successful claims processors to assist in such training.

(Sec. 303) The VA shall: (1) inform each person who submits a claim for benefits that he or she is eligible to receive up to an extra year of benefits payments upon the filing of a fully developed claim; and (2) post at each VA Regional Office, claims-intake facility, and on its website information regarding the average processing time of claims and the percentage of submitted claims for which benefits are awarded.

TITLE IV--OTHER MATTERS

(Sec. 401) The VA shall pay any accrued benefits due and unpaid, as of a veteran's date of death, to the veteran's estate unless the estate will escheat.

(Sec. 402) The President shall issue an annual proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe two minutes of silence on Veterans Day in honor of the service and sacrifice of veterans throughout the history of the nation.

What just happenedJul 29, 2015

Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

Who’s behind it

Rep. Abraham, Ralph Lee [R-LA-5](R-LA)Sponsor
5 cosponsors3 D2 R
Read on Congress.gov
5cosponsors2committees22actions4related bills14subjects
  1. Jul 29, 2015IntroReferral

    Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  2. Jul 28, 2015FloorH38800

    The title of the measure was amended. Agreed to without objection.

  3. Jul 28, 2015FloorH37300

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 409 - 0 (Roll no. 472). (text: CR 7/27/2015 H5513-5515)

  4. Jul 28, 2015FloorH38310

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

  5. Jul 28, 2015Floor8000

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 409 - 0 (Roll no. 472).(text: CR 7/27/2015 H5513-5515)

  6. Jul 28, 2015FloorH30000

    Considered as unfinished business. (consideration: CR H5545)

  7. Jul 27, 2015FloorH37220

    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 8, rule XX, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

  8. Jul 27, 2015FloorH8D000

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 675.

  9. Jul 27, 2015FloorH30000

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H5513-5517)

  10. Jul 27, 2015FloorH30300

    Mr. Miller (FL) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

  11. Jul 16, 2015CalendarsH12410

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 155.

  12. Jul 16, 2015CommitteeH12200

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 114-206.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  13. Jul 16, 2015Committee5000

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. H. Rept. 114-206.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  14. May 21, 2015Committee

    Ordered to be Reported in the Nature of a Substitute (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  15. May 21, 2015Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  16. May 14, 2015Committee

    Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote .

    Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee
  17. May 14, 2015Committee

    Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee
  18. Apr 14, 2015Committee

    Subcommittee Hearings Held.

    Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee
  19. Feb 13, 2015Committee

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.

    Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee
  20. Feb 3, 2015IntroReferralH11100

    Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

    Veterans' Affairs Committee
  21. Feb 3, 2015IntroReferralIntro-H

    Introduced in House

  22. Feb 3, 2015IntroReferral1000

    Introduced in House

Passed House amendedJul 28, 201536

(This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on July 16, 2015. The summary of that version is repeated here.)

Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2015

TITLE I--COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT

(Sec. 101) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase, as of November 30, 2015, the rates of:

  • veterans' disability compensation,
  • additional compensation for dependents,
  • wartime disability compensation,
  • the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and
  • dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children.

Each such increase shall be the same percentage as the benefits increase provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act, as of December 1, 2015.

(Sec. 102) The VA shall publish such adjusted rates in the Federal Register.

TITLE II--UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS

(Sec. 201) The temporary expansion of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims is extended till January 1, 2020.

(Sec. 202) Specified recall requirements for retired judges are amended. A recall-eligible judge may request a recall for a period of service of at least 90 days (or the equivalent).

(Sec. 203) A regular active service judge or a retired judge shall be treated as an employee for government life insurance purposes.

(Sec. 204) Regular service judges, retired recall-eligible judges, and certain retired but not recall-eligible judges may purchase in three-month increments up to an additional year of service credit for each year of federal judicial service completed.

(Sec. 205) The salary of Court judges is set at the rate applicable to federal appellate court judges. (Their salary is currently set at the rate applicable to federal district court judges.)

(Sec. 206) The chief judge of the Court, in addition to existing qualifications, must not be older than 64 and have at least 3 years remaining in term of office as a judge of the Court in regular active service.

TITLE III--IMPROVEMENT OF CLAIMS PROCESSING

(Sec. 301) In the case of a disability compensation claim for two or more disabilities for which the VA, before completing the full adjudication, makes a decision with respect to a disability that would result in the payment of monetary benefits to the claimant, the VA shall make interim payments to the claimant based on such disability.

Upon completion of the adjudication of all the disability claims the VA will pay the full amount of accrued benefits, less the amount of the interim payments that the claimant has already received.

(Sec. 302) The VA shall: (1) establish a minimum two-year training program for newly hired claims processors, and (2) identify successful claims processors to assist in such training.

(Sec. 303) The VA shall: (1) inform each person who submits a claim for benefits that he or she is eligible to receive up to an extra year of benefits payments upon the filing of a fully developed claim; and (2) post at each VA Regional Office, claims-intake facility, and on its website information regarding the average processing time of claims and the percentage of submitted claims for which benefits are awarded.

TITLE IV--OTHER MATTERS

(Sec. 401) The VA shall pay any accrued benefits due and unpaid, as of a veteran's date of death, to the veteran's estate unless the estate will escheat.

(Sec. 402) The President shall issue an annual proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe two minutes of silence on Veterans Day in honor of the service and sacrifice of veterans throughout the history of the nation.

Reported to House with amendment(s)Jul 16, 201517

Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2015

TITLE I--COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT

(Sec. 101) This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase, as of November 30, 2015, the rates of:

  • veterans' disability compensation,
  • additional compensation for dependents,
  • wartime disability compensation,
  • the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and
  • dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children.

Each such increase shall be the same percentage as the benefits increase provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act, as of December 1, 2015.

(Sec. 102) The VA shall publish such adjusted rates in the Federal Register.

TITLE II--UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR VETERANS CLAIMS

(Sec. 201) The temporary expansion of the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims is extended till January 1, 2020.

(Sec. 202) Specified recall requirements for retired judges are amended. A recall-eligible judge may request a recall for a period of service of at least 90 days (or the equivalent).

(Sec. 203) A regular active service judge or a retired judge shall be treated as an employee for government life insurance purposes.

(Sec. 204) Regular service judges, retired recall-eligible judges, and certain retired but not recall-eligible judges may purchase in three-month increments up to an additional year of service credit for each year of federal judicial service completed.

(Sec. 205) The salary of Court judges is set at the rate applicable to federal appellate court judges. (Their salary is currently set at the rate applicable to federal district court judges.)

(Sec. 206) The chief judge of the Court, in addition to existing qualifications, must not be older than 64 and have at least 3 years remaining in term of office as a judge of the Court in regular active service.

TITLE III--IMPROVEMENT OF CLAIMS PROCESSING

(Sec. 301) In the case of a disability compensation claim for two or more disabilities for which the VA, before completing the full adjudication, makes a decision with respect to a disability that would result in the payment of monetary benefits to the claimant, the VA shall make interim payments to the claimant based on such disability.

Upon completion of the adjudication of all the disability claims the VA will pay the full amount of accrued benefits, less the amount of the interim payments that the claimant has already received.

(Sec. 302) The VA shall: (1) establish a minimum two-year training program for newly hired claims processors, and (2) identify successful claims processors to assist in such training.

(Sec. 303) The VA shall: (1) inform each person who submits a claim for benefits that he or she is eligible to receive up to an extra year of benefits payments upon the filing of a fully developed claim; and (2) post at each VA Regional Office, claims-intake facility, and on its website information regarding the average processing time of claims and the percentage of submitted claims for which benefits are awarded.

TITLE IV--OTHER MATTERS

(Sec. 401) The VA shall pay any accrued benefits due and unpaid, as of a veteran's date of death, to the veteran's estate unless the estate will escheat.

(Sec. 402) The President shall issue an annual proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe two minutes of silence on Veterans Day in honor of the service and sacrifice of veterans throughout the history of the nation.

Introduced in HouseFeb 3, 2015

Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2015

This bill directs the Department of Veterans Affairs to increase, as of December 1, 2015, the rates of veterans' disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children.

Each such increase shall be the same percentage as the increase in benefits provided under title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) of the Social Security Act, on the same effective date.

Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2015 — Informed