Veterans' Disability Compensation and Survivors' Benefits Act of 1978
Public Law 95-479 · H.R. 11886 · 95th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Oct 18, 1978 · Armed Forces and National Security
Sponsor: Rep. Sonny Montgomery (D-MS-3)
Cosponsors (9): Rep. Chalmers Wylie, Rep. Herbert Roberts,
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.
(House agreed to Senate amendments with amendments)
Veterans' Disability Compensation and Survivors' Benefits Act - =Title I: Veterans' Disability Compensation Benefits= - Increases the rates of disability compensation for disabled veterans.
Provides that if a veteran entitled to the regular aid-and-attendance allowance is in need of a higher level of care and but for such care would require residential institutional care, such veterans shall receive an increased allowance.
Increases the monthly rate of compensation payable to a veteran whose service-connected disabilities are less than total and who has suffered the service-connected loss of one extremity and the non-service-connected loss of the paired extremity, provided each loss is ratable at 40 percent or more.
Authorizes dependency allowances to be paid for veterans rated 30 percent and above.
Increased the clothing allowance for certain disabled veterans.
=Title II: Survivors' Dependency and Indemnity Compensation Benefits= - Increases the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the surviving spouses and dependent children of disabled veterans.
Provides for the payment of benefits to the surviving spouses and children of totally disabled veterans if at the time of the veteran's death the rating had been in effect for ten years or five years from the date of discharge and the marriage was in effect two or more years immediately preceding the veteran's death.
=Title III: Miscellaneous Provisions= - Exempts persons eligible for compensation under laws administered by the Veteran's Administration (VA) but for the receipt of retirement pay for certain government service from taxation in an amount equal to the amount of such (VA) compensation.
Increases from $100 to $200 the monthly rate of the special pension paid to recipients of the Medal of Honor.
Increases from $800 to $1,100 the allowance payable for the funeral and burial of veterans whose deaths are service-connected.
Authorizes memorial markers to honor Veterans who died while on active duty and whose remains are not recoverable.
Increases the automobile assistance allowance for certain disabled veterans.
Requires the Administrator, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, to study disability compensation awarded to, and health-care needs of, veterans who are former prisoners of war, and to report to the President and Congress on the results of such study by February 1, 1980.
Stipulates that only United States citizens be employed as superintendents and assistant superintendents of American Battle Monuments Commission cemeteries.
Directs the Secretary to place in the Trophy Hall of the Memorial Amphitheater at Arlington National Cemetery, a Memorial plaque to pay tribute to members of the Armed Forces who served honorably in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam conflict.
=Title IV: Effective Dates= - Sets forth October 1, 1978, as the effective date for all provisions of this Act except the provision regarding Medals of Honor which shall take effect on January 1, 1979.
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.
- Oct 18, 1978Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-479.
- Oct 6, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- Oct 5, 1978PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Oct 2, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · Senate agreed to House amendments.
- Sep 26, 1978Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendments with amendments.
- Aug 7, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended, in lieu of S. 2828.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- Jun 28, 1978FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #505 (400-1).House roll call 505
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- May 31, 1978CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Veterans' Affairs Committee
- Apr 5, 1978CommitteeCommittee · 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.