Washington –U.S. Representative Mike Bost (IL-12), chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, convened a hearing on Wednesday morning to receive feedback from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Veteran Services Organizations (VSO) on seven legislative measures affecting veterans benefits.

“At times, Republicans and Democrats may come down differently on the particulars of legislation, but today’s hearing was evidence that we all are dedicated to completing our shared mission to provide for our veterans,” said Bost. 

Among the legislation receiving feedback were Chairman Bost’s two bills to provide a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to veterans.

“I am proud to advocate for these bills to provide important cost-of-living adjustments to our nation’s veterans and their dependents,” said Bost. “These measures have received bipartisan support in the past, and I will continue to lead my colleagues to ensure the men and women who have served receive the benefits they have earned.”

The Veterans’ Compensation COLA Act of 2017 would provide a cost-of-living increase for wartime disability compensation; compensation for dependents; clothing allowance; dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving spouses; and, dependency and indemnity compensation to children paid to our wounded warriors and their families for injuries they suffered while serving our nation in uniform. This increase would begin December 1. You can read the Veterans’ Compensation COLA Act of 2017 here. 

Social Security beneficiaries’ COLAs are automatic and do not require Congressional authorization each year. The American Heroes COLA Act of 2017 would authorize the VA Secretary to provide automatic annual COLAs to wartime disability compensation; additional compensation for dependents; clothing allowance; dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving spouses; and, dependency and indemnity compensation to children paid to our wounded warriors and their families for injuries they suffered while serving our nation without having to seek Congressional approval. You can read the American Heroes COLA Act of 2017 here.

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