Tester introduces veterans cost-of-living increase

Senator’s bill would support disabled veterans and their families

(U.S. SENATE) – Senator Jon Tester is introducing bipartisan legislation to provide disabled veterans with a cost-of-living increase.

Tester’s bill matches the veterans’ benefit increase to the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) provided to Social Security recipients. It would affect several important veterans’ benefits, including disability compensation and survivor benefits for spouses and children.

“Veterans made tremendous sacrifices for this country, and they earned these benefits,” said Tester, Montana’s only member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “It’s my job to make sure their benefits keep pace with economic realities so that we live up to the promises we made to our fighting men and women.”

Tester also recently introduced a bill that would require the VA to reimburse medical travel costs for all catastrophically disabled veterans. He said it would ensure that more severely disabled veterans can lead healthier lives without worrying about the cost of their health care.

The actual size of the COLA will not be known until this fall. If enacted, the increase would take effect on December 1.

Veterans Cola by danmalessa