WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR), a member of the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, joined committee Chairman Jerry Moran (R-KS) and Ranking Member Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) to introduce legislation ensuring the rate of disability compensation and other financial benefits from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) for veterans, their families and military survivors keeps pace with the rate of inflation.

The Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2026 will increase certain VA benefits – including disability compensation, clothing allowances, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children – to reflect changes in the everyday cost of living while aligning VA with annual benefit increases by the Social Security Administration.

“Our country must fulfill the promises made to those who wear our nation’s uniform, and that includes benefit levels that reflect current economic conditions to help meet their needs and those of their loved ones,” Boozman said. “I am pleased to work in a bipartisan way with our Chairman and Ranking Member to deliver this critical update for veterans in Arkansas and across the nation.”

“Congress has a responsibility to deliver meaningful benefits for veterans and their families, and the annual cost-of-living adjustment helps make certain VA benefits keep pace with changes in the economy,” said Moran. “These increases will strengthen VA’s ability to support veterans with service-connected disabilities, as well as their dependents and survivors, by adjusting for inflation and aligning with Social Security benefit increases to provide the financial stability veterans and their families have earned.”

“As the cost of groceries, housing, and gas continues to skyrocket, veterans deserve to know their benefits will keep pace,” said Blumenthal. “I’m proud to join Senator Moran in introducing legislation that will make much needed adjustments to veterans’ benefits during this cost-of-living crisis.”

The legislation is cosponsored by Sens. Patty Murray (D-WA), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jim Banks (R-IN), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Tim Sheehy (R-MT), Angus King (I-ME), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).

The full text of the legislation can be found here.