House Committee on Veterans' Affairs

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For more information, contact: Brian Lawrence, 202-225-3527

Washington, D.C. — Earlier this week, President Bush enacted legislation that establishes a program intended to reduce suicide among veterans, provides a 2.3 percent Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA), and honors a distinguished veteran.  

H.R. 327, the Joshua Omvig Veterans’ Suicide Prevention Act, as amended, became Public Law 110-110. It directs the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop and implement a comprehensive program to reduce the incidences of suicide among veterans. Components of the program include education and training for VA staff and medical personnel, health assessments of all veterans who receive VA medical care, mental counseling and treatment, and a 24-hour toll-free mental health care hotline. Commendably, VA earlier recognized the need for such a program and has already has already implemented actions reflective of requirements of the Act. 

H.R. 1284, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2007, became Public Law 110-111. It increases the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans by 2.3 percent. The COLA will be effective December 1, 2007.

H.R. 1808, became Public Law 110-112. It designates the VA hospital in Augusta, , as the ‘Charlie Norwood Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.’ Charlie Norwood served in the Army from 1967 to 1969, and was awarded the Combat Medical Badge and two Bronze Stars. He served as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives from January 4, 1995 until his untimely death on February 13, 2007.