Recent Press Releases

Washington, DC —  In honor of Memorial Day, Sen. Thune has introduced the Veterans Disability Compensation Automatic COLA Act. which would automatically make annual cost of living adjustments (COLA) for veterans' disability benefits each year. Currently, Congress must enact the benefit each year. The Act would also provide for an annual automatic increase for Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) for survivors of certain service-connected disabled veterans.

"Veterans should not have to depend on Congress adjusting their disability benefits each and every year. Social Security and Medicare have automatic COLA adjustments and our veterans deserve that same security," said Thune. "Congress and the President assume this increase in their budget every year so this bill has a neutral budgetary effect. We should not take the chance that our Veterans will not be treated appropriately. They deserve a great debt of gratitude and I will continue to work to make sure they receive it.

"On this Memorial Day, I think it is important to not only honor those that have served, but to say a prayer for those brave men and women serving in uniform today. They and their families are doing a great service for our country."

This legislation is supported by the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) as well as American Veterans (AMVETS).

After Senator Thune introduced bill S. 3068, it was referred to the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs.

An Adobe PDF copy of the bill is available here.