Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) announced the approval of the Veterans’ Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Act (S. 777) and the Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses (VET-TEC) Act (H.R.1669). The bipartisan bills approve an increase in the cost-of-living allowance for disabled veterans and provide paid vocational educational opportunities for veterans in technology fields.
“Veterans put their lives at risk for our country, often with long-term effects. Once they return home, they deserve benefits that cover their basic needs and the opportunity to have a good-paying job,” said Congressman Higgins. “These bills address the needs of disabled veterans and families and provide opportunities to gain skills in high-demand fields. They will reduce the financial burdens many veterans face and provide an opportunity for a promising future.”
Higgins also spoke on the House floor, saying we must uphold our commitment to veterans and reject the Default on America Act.
The Veterans’ COLA Act will provide disabled veterans and their families with an estimated 4.2 percent increase in COLA benefits. Veterans’ COLA is based on the percentage set by Social Security, which makes an automatic annual adjustment if there is an increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W). The increase covers the disability compensation program, which is designed to help veterans living with a service-connected disability. It will also boost other benefits, such as clothing allowance and dependency and indemnity compensation for children and surviving spouses.
The COLA increase will go into effect on December 1, 2023. Now approved by both the House and Senate, the bill will move to President Biden’s desk.
The VET-TEC Authorization Act will approve the Veteran Employment Through Technology Education Courses program through 2028. Originally created as a five-year pilot program in the Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017, it covers the cost of tuition and housing for veterans enrolled in a full-time technology training program who are eligible for VA education assistance under the GI bill.
Under the program the VA contracts with institutions that provide vocational training in fields like computer programming, computer software, media application, data processing, and information services. It allows eligible veterans to use VA education benefits to enroll in non-degree programs at public and private institutions lasting six to 28 weeks. Up to 6,000 veterans per year can benefit from this program. It has an 86 percent graduation rate and 12,000 veterans have already benefited.
Following approval in the House, the bill will move to the Senate for consideration.
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