Veterans Disability Compensation and Survivor Benefits Act of 1976
Public Law 94-433 · H.R. 14299 · 94th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Gerald Ford (R) on Sep 30, 1976 · Armed Forces and National Security
Sponsor: Rep. Sonny Montgomery (D-MS-3)
Cosponsors (24): Rep. Herbert Roberts, Rep. John Hammerschmidt,
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Veterans' Disability Compensation and Survivor Benefits Act - =Title I: Veterans Disability Compensation= - Increases generally specified dollar amounts paid to eligible disabled veterans by the Veterans' Administration.
Makes an additional payment available to veterans having a wife or child who is helpless or blind, or so nearly helpless or blind as to need or require the regular aid and attendance of another person.
=Title II: Survivors Dependency and Indemnity Compensation= - Increases generally specified dependency and indemnity compensation amounts paid to widows of eligible veterans and to children of deceased veterans not leaving a widow.
Directs the Administrator of Veterans' Affairs to carry out a detailed study of the dependency and indemnity compensation program.
=Title III: Other Disabled Veterans' Program Improvements= - Increases the clothing allowance for specified disabled veterans. Increases the maximum amount of mortgage protection life insurance the Administrator may issue for disabled veterans. Allows the Administrator to provide automobile and adaptive equipment to disabled veterans who served on or after September 16, 1940.
Authorizes the Administrator to pay the cost of transportation of deceased veterans who died as the result of service connected disabilities to a national cemetery for burial.
=Title IV: Miscellaneous and Technical Amendments and Effective Date Provisions= - Makes miscellaneous and technical amendments to title 38 (Veterans' Benefits) of the United States Code.
Directs the Administrator to conduct a scientific study to determine if there is a casual relationship between the amputation of an extremity and the subsequent development of cardiovascular disorders.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 14 actions.
- Sep 30, 1976Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public law 94-433.
- Sep 27, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Sep 23, 1976PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Sep 21, 1976Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments.
- Sep 20, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- Sep 9, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
- Jun 23, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee
- Jun 21, 1976FloorFloor · Measure passed House, roll call #415 (351-0).House roll call 415
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Jun 16, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Veterans' Affairs Committee
- Jun 10, 1976CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Veterans' Affairs Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.