House to boost disability pay for veterans

The House next week will take up legislation that would boost the disability compensation rate for veterans and their families.

Members will consider the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, S. 893. This bill passed easily in the Senate at the end of October, and is expected to pass just as easily in the House next week.

The bill, from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), would require the same cost-of-living adjustments for disability payments that Social Security recipients receive. That change would increase adjustments for disability compensation, compensation for dependents, clothing allowances, and money for surviving spouses and children.

The Congressional Budget Office estimates that the current COLA would be about 1.5 percent, and that making this change to the veterans programs would cost about $900,000 in 2014.

Also next week, the House will take up H.R. 2922, which would allow the Supreme Court Police to protect court officials away from the grounds of the Supreme Court.

And, the House will take up H.R. 2871, modifying the composition of the southern judicial district of Mississippi into four districts, from the five that currently exist.