WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., and Jon Tester, D-Mont., chairman and ranking member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, today applauded Senate passage of the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2019, bipartisan legislation to increase veterans’ disability benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The legislation previously passed the U.S. House of Representatives on May 21 and now heads to the president’s desk to be signed into law.

“We’re working every day to ensure veterans and their families receive the benefits they earned while serving our country,” said Isakson. “I am pleased the Senate has passed this important measure to increase VA disability compensation, dependency compensation for surviving children and spouses, and veterans’ clothing allowance based on rising costs of living. I look forward to the president signing it into law soon.”

“We have a responsibility to ensure that our men and women in uniform receive the benefits they earned when returning home from service,” said Tester. “Our bipartisan bill follows through on this promise by increasing disability benefits to veterans living with the wounds of war, and providing financial assistance to military families struggling to keep up with the rising costs of living. I urge President Trump to sign this bill quickly into law, rightfully compensating those who fought to keep our nation safe.”

The Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2019 would increase the rates of VA disability compensation, dependency compensation for surviving children and spouses, and 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. Once signed, the cost-of-living adjustment for veterans would go into effect on Dec. 1, 2019.

Isakson and Tester introduced companion legislation in the Senate, and the Senate measure was cosponsored by every member of the Senate VA committee.

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The Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs is chaired by U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., in the 116th Congress. Isakson is a veteran himself – having served in the Georgia Air National Guard from 1966-1972 – and has been a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs since he joined the Senate in 2005. Isakson’s home state of Georgia is home to more than a dozen military installations representing each branch of the armed services as well as nearly 700,000 veterans.