{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://titus.house.gov/news/floor-statements/titus-speaks-in-support-of-veterans-cola", "Titus Speaks in Support of Veterans\u2019 COLA", "2013-11-12", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "NV", "Dina Titus", "T000468", "titus.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "November 12, 2013\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 Congresswoman Titus of Nevada\u2019s First District today spoke on the House floor in support of S. 893, the Veterans\u2019 Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Act of 2013, which provides veterans a projected 1.5 percent COLA beginning in January. She also called on the Senate to pass H.R. 570, the American Heroes COLA Act, legislation introduced by Titus and Chairman Jon Runyan that would make veterans' annual cost of living adjustments permanent. Her remarks are below:\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u201cThank you Mr. Speaker. Chairman Miller, Ranking Member Michaud, thank you for yielding me the time.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u201cAs the Ranking Member of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee, I rise today in strong support of S. 893 to provide a COLA increase for disabled veterans.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u201cIn the wake of Veterans Day, let us take a lesson from President Kennedy\u2019s admonition that we should show respect for our heroes not just through words but through actions. This legislation is an opportunity for us to take such action. With its passage, Congress can show tangible support for our nation\u2019s heroes.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u201cUnlike with Social Security recipients, Congress is required to adjust veterans\u2019 COLA every year. S. 893 would make that important adjustment for next year.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u201cThat\u2019s a good thing, which I support, but I would also urge the Senate in the meantime to pass H.R. 570, the \u201cAmerican Heroes COLA Act,\u201d that would allow for an automatic COLA increase so that veterans\u2019 benefits are not subject to any congressional delay. Making the adjustment automatic would remove this important benefit from the capriciousness of partisan politics or personal grandstanding.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u201cThis bill was introduced in a bipartisan fashion by our subcommittee Chairman, Jon Runyan, and me. It was unanimously approved by the House in May and is awaiting action down the hall.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u201cSo while we await the passage of that automatic increase, passing S. 893 is an important step forward \u2013 I support it. It will ensure that our nation\u2019s heroes receive all of the benefits they have earned; and I encourage my colleagues to support it as well, because this will be true recognition of the veterans whose service and sacrifice we honored yesterday.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["http://titus.house.gov/news/floor-statements/titus-speaks-in-support-of-veterans-cola"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.7063667289912701, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}