To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an annual increase in the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes.
- Bill Number
- H.R. 6027
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-11-17: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-13T17:08:02Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This legislation aims to ensure that disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) for survivors of certain disabled veterans automatically increase each year to keep pace with inflation, as measured by adjustments to Social Security benefits.
Key Provisions
- Annual Rate Adjustments: Starting December 1 each year, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must increase specified compensation amounts by the same percentage as Social Security benefit increases under title II of the Social Security Act (which are based on the Consumer Price Index for cost-of-living adjustments, or COLA).
- Affected Compensation Types:
- Wartime disability compensation rates under section 1114 of title 38, U.S. Code.
- Additional compensation for dependents under section 1115(1).
- Clothing allowance under section 1162.
- DIC for surviving spouses under section 1311(a)–(d).
- DIC for children under sections 1313(a) and 1314.
- Administrative Flexibility: The Secretary may make similar adjustments for certain veterans receiving compensation under an older law (Public Law 85-857) who have not transitioned to current chapter 11 benefits.
- Publication Requirement: Each fiscal year, the adjusted rates must be published in the Federal Register by the same deadline as Social Security COLA announcements.
- Implementation Timeline: The new section (120 of title 38, U.S. Code) takes effect 180 days after the bill's enactment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Adds a new section (120) to chapter 1 of title 38, U.S. Code, mandating automatic annual increases tied directly to Social Security COLA determinations—previously, such adjustments may have required separate annual legislation or lacked a fixed mechanism.
- Includes a clerical update to the table of sections for easy reference.
- Shifts from potentially ad hoc or discretionary increases to a standardized, predictable process aligned with broader federal benefit adjustments.
Potential Impacts
- On Citizens: Veterans with service-connected disabilities and their survivors will receive ongoing inflation-adjusted payments, helping maintain purchasing power for medical, living, and other needs without needing yearly congressional action.
- On Government Agencies: The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) will need to administer these automatic increases and publish them annually, potentially streamlining operations but adding minor administrative burdens for tracking and notifications.
- On International Relations: No direct impacts, as this is a domestic veterans' benefits measure.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Veterans and Survivors: Primary beneficiaries, including those with service-connected disabilities, their dependents, and surviving spouses/children of disabled veterans who receive DIC.
- Department of Veterans Affairs: Responsible for implementing, calculating, and publishing the adjustments.
- Congress: Relieved of passing annual COLA bills for these benefits, allowing focus on other priorities.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Codifies a mandatory adjustment mechanism in the U.S. Code, promoting consistency with Social Security practices and reducing litigation risks over benefit adequacy. No conflicts with existing veterans' laws, but ensures equitable treatment across federal programs.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's authority under Article I to provide for veterans' benefits (stemming from the Constitution's war powers and spending clause); no apparent free speech, due process, or equal protection issues.
- Political: Strengthens support for veterans by automating inflation protection, potentially bipartisan appeal given introducers from both parties; could set a precedent for similar automatic adjustments in other benefit programs, influencing future fiscal policy debates on entitlement spending.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]
Cosponsors (1)
Recent Actions
- 2025-11-17: Referred to the Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs.
- 2025-11-12: Referred to the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2025-11-12: Introduced in House
- 2025-11-12: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for an annual increase in the rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the survivors of certain disabled veterans, and for other purposes. — issued 2025-11-12 — PDF (4 pages)