SEC. 2. Section 315(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended— (1) by striking out "$31" in subparagraph (A) and inserting in lieu thereof "$35"; (2) by striking out "$53" in subparagraph (B) and inserting in lieu thereof "$59"; (3) by striking out "$67" in subparagraph (C) and inserting in lieu thereof "$75"; (4) by striking out "$83" and "$15" in subparagraph (D) and inserting in lieu thereof "$93" and "$17", respectively; (5) by striking out "$21" in subparagraph (E) and inserting in lieu thereof '$24"; (6) by striking out "$36" in subparagraph (F) and inserting in lieu thereof "$40"; (7) by striking out "$53" and "$15" in subparagraph (G) and inserting in lieu thereof "$59" and "$17", respectively; (8) by striking out "$25" in subparagraph (H) and inserting in lieu thereof "$28"; and (9) by striking out "$48" in subparagraph (I) and inserting in lieu thereof "$54". SEC. 3. (a) Chapter 11 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end thereof the following new section: § 363. Automatic cost-of-living increases for disability compensation "(a) The rates payable under sections 314 (except the $47 rate in subsection (k)), and 315 of this title, shall be increased by such percentage as the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare shall certify in the Federal Register for social security recipients as a cost-of-living increase under section 215 of the Social Security Act, effective the same date as the latter increase. "(b) Where a rate so determined involves a fraction of a dollar, the amount payable shall be fixed at the nearest dollar, with fifty cents being increased to the next higher dollar. "(c) The Administrator shall adjust administratively, consistent with the increases authorized by this section, the rates of disability compensation payable to persons within the purview of section 10 of Public Law 85-857 who are not in receipt of compensation payable pursuant to chapter 11 of this title." (b) The analysis of such chapter 11 is amended by adding at the end thereof the following: "363. Automatic cost-of-living increases for disability compensation." SEC. 4. Section 411 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: "(a) Dependency and indemnity compensation shall be paid to a widow, based on the pay grade of her deceased husband, at monthly rates set forth in the following table: "If the veteran served as sergeant major of the Army, senior enlisted adviser of the Navy, chief master sergeant of the Air Force, or sergeant major of the Marine Corps, at the applicable time designated by sec. 402 of this title, the widow's rate shall be $308. "2 If the veteran served as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Chief of Staff of the Army, Chief of Naval Operations, Chief of Staff of the Air Force, or Commandant of the Marine Corps, at the applicable time designated by sec. 402 of this title, the widow's rate shall be $573. "(b) If there is a widow with one or more children below the age of eighteen of a deceased veteran, the dependency and indemnity compensation paid monthly to the widow shall be increased by $25 for each such child. "(c) The monthly rate of dependency and indemnity compensation payable to a widow shall be increased by $63 if she is (1) a patient in a nursing home or (2) helpless or blind, or so nearly helpless or blind as to need or require the regular aid and attendance of another person.' SEC. 5. Section 413 of title 38, United States Code, is amended to read as follows: "Whenever there is no widow of a deceased veteran, entitled to dependency and indemnity compensation, dependency and indemnity compensation shall be paid in equal shares to the children of the deceased veteran at the following monthly rates: "(1) One child, $105. "(2) Two children, $152. "(3) Three children, $196. "(4) More than three children, $196, plus $39 for each child in excess of three." SEC. 3. (a) Subsection (a) of section 414 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by striking out "$55" and inserting in lieu thereof "$63". (b) Subsection (b) of section 414 of such title is amended by striking out "$92" and inserting in lieu thereof "$105". (c) Subsection (c) of section 414 of such title is amended by striking out "$47" and inserting in lieu thereof "$54". SEC. 6. (a) Chapter 13 of title 38, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end of subchapter II thereof the following new section: “§ 418. Automatic cost-of-living increases in dependency and indemnity compensation "(a) The rates of dependency and indemnity compensation payable under sections 411, 413, 414, and 415 of this chapter shall be increased by such percentage as the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare shall certify in the Federal Register for social security recipients as a cost-of-living increase under section 215, of the Social Security Act, effective the same date as the latter increase. "(b) Where a rate so determined involves a fraction of a dollar, the amount payable shall be fixed at the nearest dollar, with fifty cents being increased to the next higher dollar." (b) The analysis of such chapter 13 is amended by adding at the end of subchapter II thereof the following: "418. Automatic cost-of-living increases in dependency and indemnity compensation." SEC. 7. This Act shall take effect as of March 1, 1974. 93D CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. 2363 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES AUGUST 3, 1973 Mr. CRANSTON (for himself, Mr. HARTKE, and Mr. RANDOLPH) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans Affairs A BILL To amend chapter 39 of title 38, United States Code, relating 1 to automobiles and adaptive equipment for certain disabled veterans and members of the Armed Forces. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 3 That (a) section 1901 (1) of title 38, United States Code, 4 is amended by striking out all of that part of clause (A) 5 preceding subclause (i) and inserting in lieu thereof the 6 following: 7 8 9 10 "(A) any eligible veteran entitled to compensation under chapter 11 of this title for any of the disabilities described in subclause (i), (ii), or (iii) below, if the disability is the result of an injury incurred or 2 1 2 3 4 disease contracted in or aggravated by active military, naval, or air service performed during World War II, the Korean conflict, or after January 31, 1955:". (b) Section 1901 of title 38 is further amended by add 5 ing at the end thereof a new paragraph as follows: 6 "(3) The term 'adaptive equipment' includes, but is not 7 limited to, power steering, power brakes, power window 8 lifts, power seats, and special equipment necessary to assist 9 the eligible person into and out of the automobile or other 10 conveyance. Such term also includes (A) air-conditioning 11 equipment when such equipment is necessary to the health 12 and safety of the veteran and to the safety of others, regard13 less of whether the automobile or other conveyance is to be operated by the eligible person or is to be operated for him 15 by another person; and (B) any modification of the roof of 1 the automobile or other conveyance if needed by the eligible 17 person because of his physical condition.". 11 18 SEC. 2. Subsection (a) of section 1902 of such title 38 19 is amended (1) by inserting "including all State, local, and 20 other taxes," after "conveyance" the second time it appears; 21 and (2) striking out "$2,800," and inserting in lien thereof 22 "$3.300.". 23 24 25 SEC. 3. (a) Section 1903 of title 38 is amended by adding at the end thereof a new subsection as follows: "(e) (1) The Administrator shall provide, directly or 1 by contract, for the conduct of special driver training courses 2 at every hospital and, where appropriate, at regional offices 3 and other medical facilities, of the Veterans' Administration 4 to instruct each eligible person to operate the type of auto 5 mobile or other conveyance he wishes to obtain with assist 6 ance under this chapter, and may make such courses avail 7 able to any veteran determined by the Administrator to need 8 the special training provided in them even though such 9 veteran is not eligible for the assistance provided under this 10 chapter. 11 12 13 "(2) The Administrator is authorized to obtain insurance on automobiles and other conveyances used in conduct ing the special driver training courses provided under this 14 subsection and to obtain, at Government expense, personal 15 liability, and property damage insurance for all persons tak16 ing such courses without regard to whether such persons are taking the course on an in-patient or out-patient basis.". (b) The catchline of section 1903 of such title 19 is amended by adding at the end thereof a semicolon and the 17 18 20 following: "special training course". 21 (c) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 22 39 of such title is amended by striking out "1903. Limitations on assistance.“ 23 and inserting in lieu thereof the following: “1903. Limitations on assistance; special training courses.”. |