SHAHEEN: PROTECTION OF VETERANS BENEFITS THE RIGHT THING TO DO

(Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) today voiced her strong approval for the Senate’s passage of the Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Act of 2012. The legislation, which was passed through the Senate yesterday by unanimous consent, will provide nearly 4 million veterans and their families with a cost-of-living adjustment to make sure their benefits keep up with inflation and rising costs of living. 

The bill has historically been passed through Congress with broad bipartisan support, but was blocked in the Senate this past September.

“In New Hampshire, veterans represent approximately ten percent of the population and it is critical we provide them with the benefits and support that they have earned and deserve,” said Senator Shaheen. “It was disheartening to see this bill blocked when it last came up, but I am glad that we could come together to do the right thing for the men and women who have served our country.”

The provisions of the COLA increase would also:

• Increase Veterans COLA by 1.7%, the same rate that Social Security and other automatic COLAs increase in 2013.
• Increase disability compensation for veterans and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children.
• Apply clothing allowances to disabled veterans.
• Result in an additional $500 in benefits for veterans and their families next year.

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Shaheen has been a strong advocate for veterans. She recently helped ensure that health care benefits would be fully exempt from cuts to federal spending and has pushed Congress to pass the Veterans Jobs Corps Act and the VOW to Hire Heroes Act. She has also co-sponsored legislation that would require the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide for a full-service VA hospital for veterans in New Hampshire.