H.R. 1683 - Veterans' Compensation
Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2003
Prime Sponsor: Mr. Christopher H.
Smith (NJ) Passed the House on May 22, 2003
108th CONGRESS - 1st Session
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
May 22, 2003
Received; read twice and
referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs
AN ACT
To increase, effective as
of December 1, 2003, the rates of disablity compensation for veterans
with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and
indemnity compensation for survivors of certain service-connected
disabled veterans, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the
Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in
Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
SEC. 2. INCREASE IN RATES
OF DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION.
(a) RATE ADJUSTMENT- The
Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall, effective on December 1, 2003,
increase the dollar amounts in effect for the payment of disability
compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation by the
Secretary, as specified in subsection (b).
(b) AMOUNTS TO BE
INCREASED- The dollar amounts to be increased pursuant to subsection
(a) are the following:
(1) COMPENSATION- Each
of the dollar amounts in effect under section 1114 of title 38,
United States Code.
(2) ADDITIONAL
COMPENSATION FOR DEPENDENTS- Each of the dollar amounts in effect
under section 1115(1) of such title.
(4) NEW DIC RATES- The
dollar amounts in effect under paragraphs (1) and (2) of section
1311(a) of such title.
(6) ADDITIONAL DIC FOR
SURVIVING SPOUSES WITH MINOR CHILDREN- The dollar amount in effect
under section 1311(b) of such title.
(7) ADDITIONAL DIC FOR
DISABILITY- The dollar amounts in effect under sections 1311(c) and
1311(d) of such title.
(8) DIC FOR DEPENDENT
CHILDREN- The dollar amounts in effect under sections 1313(a) and
1314 of such title.
(c) DETERMINATION OF
INCREASE- (1) The increase under subsection (a) shall be made in the
dollar amounts specified in subsection (b) as in effect on November
30, 2003.
(2) Except as provided
in paragraph (3), each such amount shall be increased by the same
percentage as the percentage by which benefit amounts payable under
title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) are
increased effective December 1, 2003, as a result of a determination
under section 215(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)).
(3) Each dollar amount
increased pursuant to paragraph (2) shall, if not a whole dollar
amount, be rounded down to the next lower whole dollar amount.
(d) SPECIAL RULE- The
Secretary may adjust administratively, consistent with the increases
made under subsection (a), the rates of disability compensation
payable to persons within the purview of section 10 of Public Law
85-857 (72 Stat. 1263) who are not in receipt of compensation payable
pursuant to chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code.
SEC. 3. PUBLICATION OF
ADJUSTED RATES.
At the same time as the
matters specified in section 215(i)(2)(D) of the Social Security Act
(42 U.S.C. 415(i)(2)(D)) are required to be published by reason of a
determination made under section 215(i) of such Act during fiscal year
2004, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall publish in the Federal
Register the amounts specified in subsection (b) of section 2, as
increased pursuant to that section.
Passed the House of
Representatives May 22, 2003.
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