Tillis Co-Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Increase Benefits for Veterans | Eastern NC Now

    Press Release:

Legislation would boost veterans' disability compensation, accommodate for cost-of-living adjustment

    WASHINGTON, D.C. - This week, U.S. Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, joined Chairman Johnny Isakson (R-GA), and Ranking Member Jon Tester (D-MT) to introduce the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2018, bipartisan legislation to increase veterans' disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

    "We made a promise to the men and women who served our country that they would be taken care after serving our country and protecting the freedoms we enjoy every day," said Senator Tillis. "I am proud to stand with every member of the Senate VA Committee to fulfill that promise and introduce this important legislation to ensure our nation's veterans receive the benefits they need to live in today's economy."

    "Our men and women in uniform have sacrificed greatly, and it is our duty to provide veterans and their families with the benefits they so rightly deserve," said Senator Isakson. "As chairman of the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs, I'm proud to introduce this bill to increase veterans' benefits in keeping with rising costs of living."

    "This increase is an important token of our nation's gratitude for veterans and their families," said Senator Tester. "Veterans' benefits must reflect today's economic realities and this bipartisan legislation will allow families to keep up with the rising costs of housing, utilities and food."

    The bill, which was co-sponsored by every member of the Senate VA committee, would increase the rates of VA disability compensation, dependency compensation for surviving children and spouses, as well as the clothing allowance for veterans based on rising costs of living.

    This cost-of-living adjustment, which would be equal to the amount of the adjustment given to Social Security recipients, is determined by the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index on a yearly basis. The cost-of-living adjustment for veterans would go into effect on Dec. 1, 2018.

    In addition to Tillis, Isakson and Tester, the original co-sponsors of the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2018 are U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John Boozman (R-AR), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Dean Heller (R-NV), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Patty Murray (D-WA), Mike Rounds (R-SD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Dan Sullivan (R-AK).

• Contact: Daniel Keylin
•     daniel_keylin@tillis.senate.gov