Senate passes bill to increase disability payments to veterans

The Senate passed a bill Monday evening to increase payments to veterans with disabilities.

Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) introduced the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, S. 893, which would increase the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates for dependents and survivors of certain disabled veterans.

{mosads}If the House acts on the legislation and President Obama signed it, the change would go into effect on Dec. 1.

Sanders argued that the cost-of-living increase was necessary to support veterans who make sacrifices while protecting the country. The increase is the same percentage that Social Security recipients receive. 

The bill was passed through a unanimous consent agreement.