Veterans Benefits Issues in the 109th Congress

Publication Date: December 2005

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

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Research Area: Military and defense

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Abstract:

This report presents a brief overview of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) programs for veterans as well as some of the issues that have been or likely will be subjects of congressional attention during the 109th Congress. In particular, it outlines the veterans benefits provisions that have seen legislative action. Issues concerning the Veterans Health Administration and health care issues are discussed in a companion report, CRS Report RL32961, Veterans' Health Care Issues in the 109th Congress, by Sidath Viranga Panangala.

VA Budget and Appropriations. The budget submitted by the Administration in February 2005 called for funding VA at a level of $66.5 billion dollars for FY2006. More recent estimates of amounts required for both mandatory and discretionary medical care spending have raised this to $69.5 billion. This would be an increase of $2.1 billion, or 3.1%, over FY2005 with supplementals included. P.L. 109-114 provides $33.0 billion in discretionary and $37.2 in mandatory funding for a total of $70.2 billion for FY2006. Details on FY2006 appropriations may be found in CRS Report RL33017, Military Quality of Life/VA (House) and Military Construction/VA (Senate): FY2006 Appropriations, by Daniel H. Else, Paul J. Graney, and Sidath Viranga Panangala.

Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). The Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2005 (S. 1234), signed into law (P.L. 109-111) by the President on November 22, 2005, provides a COLA to disability compensation payments of 4.1% for 2006, matching the automatic increases received by most federal benefit programs.

Other Veterans Legislation in the 109thCongress. The Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance Enhancement Act of 2005 (P.L. 109-80) makes permanent the increase from $250,000 to $400,000 in maximum coverage under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance and Veterans' Group Life Insurance. The Veterans' Housing and Employment Act of 2005 (H.R. 3665) would grant disabled veterans more flexibility in adapting their housing to their needs, make permanent the Native American Veterans' Housing Loan Program, and reauthorize the Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program. It would also transfer responsibility to the Department of Labor for promoting the hiring of veterans and encourage the involvement of employers in its advisory committee.

This report will be updated to reflect legislative activity.