(Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, Chairman of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee introduced legislation to increase veterans' compensation through a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA).  The COLA increase would affect several important benefits, including veterans’ disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children.  It is projected that over 3.5 million veterans and survivors will receive compensation benefits in Fiscal Year 2012. 

“It’s been two years since our veterans saw an increase in their benefits through a COLA, and those have been two difficult years,” said Chairman Murray. “In a still challenging economy so many of our veterans depend upon the benefits they receive in order to meet their most basic needs, as well as those of their spouses and children. We have an obligation to the men and women who have sacrificed so much to serve our country and who now deserve nothing less than the full support of a grateful nation.  A COLA increase will help brings us one step closer to fulfilling our nation’s promise to care for our brave veterans and their families.”

The Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011 directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to increase the rates of veterans’ compensation to keep pace with a rise in the cost-of-living, should an adjustment be prompted by an increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).  The bill specifies that the increase would affect veterans’ disability compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children, and certain related benefits.   

The COLA increase for veterans will match the annual increase provided to Social Security recipients. The COLA is designed to offset inflation and other factors that lead to the rising cost of living over time.  The COLA rate is based on the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index. 

A bipartisan group of Senators signed on to co-sponsor the bill including the Committee’s Ranking Member Senator Richard Burr (R-NC) as well as Senator John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI), Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Senator Jim Webb (D-VA), Senator Jon Tester (D-MT), Senator Mark Begich (D-AK), Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA), Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), Senator Mike Johanns (R-NE), Senator Scott Brown (R-MA), Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), and Senator John Boozman (R-AR).