Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009


 * Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

. SHORT TITLE.

 * This Act may be cited as the ``Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2009´´.

. INCREASE IN RATES OF DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION.

 * (a) .—
 * Effective on December 1, 2009, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall increase, in accordance with subsection (c), the dollar amounts in effect on November 30, 2009, for the payment of disability compensation and dependency and indemnity compensation under the provisions specified in subsection (b).


 * (b) .—
 * The dollar amounts to be increased pursuant to subsection (a) are the following:
 * (1) Wartime disability compensation.—
 * Each of the dollar amounts under section 1114 of title 38, United States Code.
 * (2) Additional compensation for dependents.—
 * Each of the dollar amounts under section 1115(1) of such title.
 * (3) Clothing allowance.—
 * The dollar amount under section 1162 of such title.
 * (4) Dependency and indemnity compensation to surviving spouse.—
 * Each of the dollar amounts under subsections (a) through (d) of section 1311 of such title.
 * (5) Dependency and indemnity compensation to children.—
 * Each of the dollar amounts under sections 1313(a) and 1314 of such title.


 * (c) .—
 * (1) Percentage.—
 * Except as provided in paragraph (2), each dollar amount described in subsection (b) shall be increased by the same percentage as the percentage by which benefit amounts payable under title II of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 401 et seq.) are increased effective December 1, 2009, as a result of a determination under section 215(i) of such Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)).
 * (2) Rounding.—
 * Each dollar amount increased under paragraph (1), if not a whole dollar amount, shall be rounded to the next lower whole dollar amount.


 * (d) .—
 * The Secretary of Veterans Affairs may adjust administratively, consistent with the increases made under subsection (a), the rates of disability compensation payable to persons under section 10 of Public Law 85-857 (72 Stat. 1263) who have not received compensation under chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code.


 * (e) .—
 * The Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall publish in the Federal Register the amounts specified in subsection (b), as increased under subsection (a), not later than the date on which the matters specified in section 215(i)(2)(D) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 415(i)(2)(D)) are required to be published by reason of a determination made under section 215(i) of such Act during fiscal year 2010.

. CODIFICATION OF 2008 COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT IN RATES OF DISABILITY COMPENSATION AND DEPENDENCY AND INDEMNITY COMPENSATION.

 * (a) .—
 * Section 1114 of title 38, United States Code, is amended—
 * (1) in subsection (a), by striking “$117” and inserting “$123”;
 * (2) in subsection (b), by striking “$230” and inserting “$243”;
 * (3) in subsection (c), by striking “$356” and inserting “$376”;
 * (4) in subsection (d), by striking “$512” and inserting “$541”;
 * (5) in subsection (e), by striking “$728” and inserting “$770”;
 * (6) in subsection (f), by striking “$921” and inserting “$974”;
 * (7) in subsection (g), by striking “$1,161” and inserting “$1,228”;
 * (8) in subsection (h), by striking “$1,349” and inserting “$1,427”;
 * (9) in subsection (i), by striking “$1,517” and inserting “$1,604”;
 * (10) in subsection (j), by striking “$2,527” and inserting “$2,673”;
 * (11) in subsection (k)—
 * (A) by striking “$91” both places it appears and inserting “$96”; and
 * (B) by striking “$3,145” and “$4,412” and inserting “$3,327” and “$4,667”, respectively;
 * (12) in subsection (l), by striking “$3,145” and inserting “$3,327”;
 * (13) in subsection (m), by striking “$3,470” and inserting “$3,671”;
 * (14) in subsection (n), by striking “$3,948” and inserting “$4,176”;
 * (15) in subsections (o) and (p), by striking “$4,412” each place it appears and inserting “$4,667”;
 * (16) in subsection (r), by striking “$1,893” and “$2,820” and inserting “$2,002” and “$2,983”, respectively; and
 * (17) in subsection (s), by striking “$2,829” and inserting “$2,993”.


 * (b) .—
 * Section 1115(1) of such title is amended—
 * (1) in subparagraph (A), by striking “$142” and inserting “$150”;
 * (2) in subparagraph (B), by striking “$245” and “$71” and inserting “$259” and “$75”, respectively;
 * (3) in subparagraph (C), by striking “$96” and “$71” and inserting “$101” and “$75”, respectively;
 * (4) in subparagraph (D), by striking “$114” and inserting “$120”;
 * (5) in subparagraph (E), by striking “$271” and inserting “$286”; and
 * (6) in subparagraph (F), by striking “$227” and inserting “$240”.


 * (c) .—
 * Section 1162 of such title is amended by striking “$677” and inserting “$716”.


 * (d) .—
 * (1) New law DIC.—
 * Section 1311(a) of such title is amended—
 * (A) in paragraph (1), by striking “$1,091” and inserting “$1,154”; and
 * (B) in paragraph (2), by striking “$233” and inserting “$246”.
 * (2) Old law DIC.—
 * The table in paragraph (3) of such section is amended to read as follows:


 * (3) Additional DIC for Children or Disability.—
 * Section 1311 of such title is amended—
 * (A) in subsection (b), by striking “$271” and inserting “$286”;
 * (B) in subsection (c), by striking “$271” and inserting “$286”; and
 * (C) in subsection (d), by striking “$128” and inserting “$135”.


 * (e) .—
 * (1) DIC when no surviving spouse.—
 * Section 1313(a) of such title is amended—
 * (A) in paragraph (1), by striking “$462” and inserting “$488”;
 * (B) in paragraph (2), by striking “$663” and inserting “$701”;
 * (C) in paragraph (3), by striking “$865” and inserting “$915”; and
 * (D) in paragraph (4), by striking “$865” and “$165” and inserting “$915” and “$174”, respectively.


 * (2) Supplemental DIC for Ccertain Children.—
 * Section 1314 of such title is amended—
 * (A) in subsection (a), by striking “$271” and inserting “$286”;
 * (B) in subsection (b), by striking “$462” and inserting “$488”; and
 * (C) in subsection (c), by striking “$230” and inserting “$243”.


 * (f) .—
 * Section 1315 is amended—
 * (1) in subsection (b)—
 * (A) in paragraph (1), by striking “$163” and inserting “$569”; and
 * (B) in paragraph (3), by striking “$4,038” and inserting “$13,456”;
 * (2) in subsection (c)—
 * (A) in paragraph (1), by striking “$115” and inserting “$412”; and
 * (B) in paragraph (3), by striking “$4,038” and inserting “$13,456”;
 * (3) in subsection (d)—
 * (A) in paragraph (1), by striking “$109” and inserting “$387”; and
 * (B) in paragraph (3), by striking “$5,430” and inserting “$18,087”; and
 * (4) in subsection (g), by striking “$85” and inserting “$308”.


 * (g) .—
 * The amendments made by this section shall take effect on December 1, 2008.

Approved June 30, 2009.

Legislative History

 * HOUSE REPORTS:
 * No. 111-56 accompanying H.R. 1513 (Comm. on Veterans' Affairs)
 * SENATE REPORTS:
 * No. 111-24 (Comm. on Veterans' Affairs)
 * CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 155 (2009):
 * June 10, considered and passed Senate.
 * June 23, considered and passed House.
 * June 23, considered and passed House.