WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced legislation to increase veterans' compensation through a Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) today.  The Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2013 would affect several important benefits, including benefits for veterans with service-connected disabilities and their surviving spouses and children. It is projected that more than 4.2 million veterans and survivors will receive compensation benefits during the next fiscal year.

“We do everything we can to protect our soldiers in times of war,” Brown said. “And we need to continue to do whatever we can for our veterans when they return home.  That is why this cost-of-living increase is so important. With rising food, fuel, and housing costs, we must ensure that Ohio’s veterans and their families receive the benefits that they’ve earned and deserve.”

The Veterans’ COLA Act of 2013 would:

  • Adjust cost-of-living rates for more than 4 million veterans and their families to guarantee that their benefits grow along with inflation hikes;  
  • Increase disability compensation for veterans and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children; and
  • Adjust to allow disabled veterans accepting clothing allotments to use the benefits of Veterans’ COLA.

 

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