Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) is cosponsoring bipartisan legislation designed to increase cost-of-living benefits for veterans.
Specifically, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment of 2025 (COLA) Act increases the payout for benefits such as disability, dependency, and indemnity compensation and clothing allowances.
"Our veterans put their lives on the line for this country, and we owe it to them to make sure their benefits actually cover the cost of living," said Sen. Gallego in his press release, adding, "At a time when the cost of everything is going up, this bill is a commonsense way to make sure veterans aren't left behind by inflation."
The bill was initially introduced by Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS), who said, "We have a commitment to care for our veterans and their families, and the annual cost-of-living adjustment makes certain VA benefits are keeping up with changes in our economy."
"These adjustments will help VA better support veterans living with a disability, their dependents, and survivors by keeping pace with inflation and Social Security benefit increases to provide veterans and their families the financial stability they deserve," Sen. Moran added.
Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), the bill's introductory cosponsor, stated, "Veterans deserve a fair shake amid the rising costs of housing and inflation. I'm proud to join Chairman Moran to introduce this legislation that will make sure veterans and their families' VA benefits are keeping pace with these costs. It's what we promised veterans—and what they earned."
The COLA Act is the most recent bipartisan bill supporting veterans that Sen. Gallego has introduced or cosponsored, with April seeing him introduce the Housing Unhoused Disabled Veterans Act (HUDVA), which permanently excludes veterans' disability payments from income for housing assistance eligibility purposes required by the Department of Housing and Urban Development-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program.
"It is devastating when I see fellow veterans on the streets. Arizona is in the midst of a housing crisis, and it is too often our disabled veterans who are impacted most," the Arizona Senator previously said.
