NJ Connection to a Bill That Would Give Disabled Vets a Raise

If the Nation's Veterans get a little extra in their disability benefits checks this year, they'll have New Jersey Congressman Jon Runyan to thank. The House of Representatives Monday passed the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-living Adjustment (COLA) Act of 2012 (H.R. 4114) authored by 3rd District (R) Rep. Runyan. The bill would provide a temporary increase in disability benefits to Veterans equal to the COLA for Social Security Benefits. He says "that's all we really did was tied it to the number that the Social Security Administration comes through with the Consumer Cost Index."

Runyan says, "unfortunately, it's an annual bill that we have to keep readdressing." Runyan is the author of the last Veteran's COLA bill, which is the first bill the Freshman Congressman authored and the first bill he signed into law in 2011. So, it's obviously, something that is a priority for me taking care of those who take care of us and provide us the freedoms that we have."

However, Runyan is also the sponsor for The American Heroes COLA Act (H.R. 4142), which would institute a permanent COLA for Veterans and their Dependents. That measure was passed out of the Congressional Veterans Affairs Committee and is awaiting a vote by the full house.