THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
___________________________________________________________________________
_____ For
Immediate Release November 1, 2000
STATEMENT BY THE PRESIDENT
Today I am pleased to sign into law H.R. 4850, the "Veterans?
Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2000." The Act directs the
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA)
in benefits for service-disabled veterans and their surviving spouses and
children, effective December 1, 2000. It provides for higher payments of
disability compensation to veterans who suffer from service-connected
disabilities and for higher payments of dependency and indemnity
compensation for the surviving spouses and children of servicemembers and
veterans whose deaths were service-connected. Consistent with the proposal
in my Fiscal Year 2001 Budget, the COLA in these benefits is equal to the
one that will be provided under current law to Social Security
beneficiaries and veterans pension recipients: 3.5 percent. This Act
ensures that the value of these well-deserved benefits will keep pace with
inflation.
This group of American citizens deserves our Nation?s gratitude,
particularly those who have suffered disability or have made the supreme
sacrifice while serving their country and protecting our freedom. This Act
expresses our appreciation for and continued commitment to these brave men
and women.
WILLIAM J. CLINTON
THE WHITE HOUSE,
November 1, 2000.
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