- 09.12.2012
Senate panel approves Tester’s Veterans Cost-of-Living Increase
Senator’s bipartisan bill helps veterans’ benefits keep pace with inflation
(U.S. SENATE) – The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee today approved Senator Jon Tester’s bipartisan bill to provide disabled veterans with a cost-of-living increase this fall.
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 fought hard for this country and earned all their benefits,” said Tester, Montana’s only member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. “It’s my job to make sure those benefits keep pace with economic realities, and I will continue fighting to improve the lives of veterans across Montana and the country.”
If signed into law, the measure would take effect December 1.
Tester helped pass a similar increase in veterans’ disability benefits last year, raising veterans’ benefits 3.6 percent. The size of this year’s increase will not be known until October.