Big Win For Disabled Veterans – COLA Bill Signed

If you are a disabled veteran and rely on checks from the VA, there's some good news. 

The Cost of Living Adjustment Bill, crafted by 3rd District Congressman Jon Runyan, has been signed into law by President Barack Obama.  Many of the supporters say it's about time.  This marks the first time since Runyan was elected office that one of his sole-crafted bills has become law.

Runyan says "our nation's veterans have sacrificed so much, putting their lives on the line to defend the United States.  A simple COLA is the least we can do for them.  This COLA will help ease the burden facing millions of disabled veterans.

In the 113th Congress, I will continue to fight for a yearly COLA for disabled veterans and also continue my fight to make this adjustment automatic, like the Social Security COLA."

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) stated that if no action was taken by the Senate before November 13, 2012, they could not guarantee that veterans would get their increase in their January 2013 checks.  The Senate was able to pass this bi-partisan bill before the VA's deadline.

The measure raises the total check payments 1.7 percent higher than last year.
In 2011 the President signed into law S. 894, the Senate companion bill to Congressman Runyan's legislation, H.R. 1407, the Veterans' Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011.  Congressman Runyan has also introduced legislation, H.R. 4142 the American Heroes COLA Act, which would make the COLAs automatic.  This would give the nation's veterans a little more certainty in knowing that they will not have to wait for the House of Representatives, Senate, and President to act before a cost-of-living adjustment is granted.

Congressman Runyan is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, House Veterans Affairs Committee, and the Natural Resources Committee. He also serves as the Chairman of the Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs