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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | April 28, 2023 02:27 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Dan K. Williams and Rep. Jim Gregory, Rep. Nick Pisciottano |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Pension Increase for Blind, Amputee, and Paralyzed Veterans |
| Pennsylvania offers pension programs for veterans who are blind and for veterans who have lost limbs or are paralyzed. Specifically, eligible veterans include those who suffered service-related injuries or diseases that resulted in loss of vision, paralysis, or the loss of two or more extremities. During FY 2019-20, the Blind Veterans Pension Program benefited 102 individuals while the Amputee and Paralyzed Veterans Pension Program served 2,008. Under current law, the programs currently pay $150 per month to qualified veterans, but that amount has not been raised since 1999 – almost a quarter century ago. Our bill would increase the pension amount from $150 per month to $270 per month for both programs. Adjusted at the rate of inflation, we believe this $120 increase per month is deserving for our veterans who have served and sacrificed for our country. To accommodate future rises in living costs, our legislation will increase pension programs biennially on January 1st by the percentage change increase, if any, to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all urban consumers for the Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland area for the most recent 12-month period. CPI reports are officially released by the United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics. Our legislation also requires that these departments shall transmit any notice of biennial increases to the Legislative Reference Bureau for publication in the Pennsylvania Bulletin. Please join us in cosponsoring this important legislation to benefit Pennsylvania’s veterans who served and sacrificed for our country. |
Introduced as HB1091