What it does
SourcedVeterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2025
This act requires the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to increase the amounts payable for wartime disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children. Specifically, the VA must increase the amounts by the same percentage as the cost-of-living increase in benefits for Social Security recipients that is effective on December 1, 2025. The act requires the VA to publish the amounts payable, as increased, in the Federal Register.
The VA is authorized to make a similar adjustment to the rates of disability compensation payable to persons who have not received compensation for service-connected disability or death.
Official summary by the Congressional Research Service (Public Law, Dec 25, 2025).
Our plain-language breakdown, with what it means for you and the case for and against, is written once a bill starts to move.
What has happened
Sourced- 2025-11-25Became Public Law No: 119-42.Library of Congress
- 2025-11-25Signed by President.Library of Congress
- 2025-11-25Presented to President.Library of Congress
- 2025-11-17Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote. (text: CR H4676)Library of Congress
- 2025-11-09Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.Library of Congress
- 2025-10-22Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Reported by Senator Moran without amendment. Without written report.Library of Congress
- 2025-07-23Introduced in SenateLibrary of Congress
After it became law
SourcedSince it became law on Nov 25, 2025, the Federal Register, the government's daily record of rules and notices, has published 2 documents that name it: 2 notices. All 2 name it in the title, the summary or the legal authority.
Named in the title, summary or legal authority
- Cost of Living Adjustments for Service-Connected Benefits
As required by the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2025, Public Law 119-42, the VA is hereby giving notice of adjustments in certain benefit rates.
Names the law in its summary - Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA)
As required by the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2025, VA is hereby giving notice of COLA in certain benefit rates.
Names the law in its summary
Found by searching the Federal Register for Public Law 119-42 and the law's names, then reading each document: every one listed contains them, and the quote is its own words. An agency can carry out a law without naming it, so this list can miss some. Checked Oct 27, 2026. Every new law's rules
Cosponsors
- Jim Banks R-IN
- Michael F. Bennet D-CO
- Richard Blumenthal D-CT
- Lisa Blunt Rochester D-DE
- Cory A. Booker D-NJ
- John Boozman R-AR
- Bill Cassidy R-LA
- Catherine Cortez Masto D-NV
- Kevin Cramer R-ND
- Tammy Duckworth D-IL
- Ruben Gallego D-AZ
- Margaret Wood Hassan D-NH
- Martin Heinrich D-NM
- Mazie K. Hirono D-HI
- Mark Kelly D-AZ
- Angus S. King, Jr. I-ME
- Patty Murray D-WA
- Bernard Sanders I-VT
- Elissa Slotkin D-MI
- Thom Tillis R-NC
- Tommy Tuberville R-AL
- Raphael G. Warnock D-GA