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The article presents several updates related to the legislative bodies in the U.S. as of 2016. Topics include the start of the work of the 115th Congress on January 3, 2017. The passage of an important legislation for veterans with vision loss signed by U.S. President Barack Obama on September 30, 2016. The retirement and disability recipients will receive Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA) increase in 2017.

The article offers legislative news briefs. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Bob McDonald statement requesting plans for reforming the budget requests. The Cost-of-Living-Adjustment (COLA) Act of 2015 budget for the veterans compensation. The Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs Jeff Miller announcement for retirement.

The author discusses several laws, programs and conferences including the meeting between the officials of Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) and American Federation of Government Employees' VA Council regarding staffing issues, an initiative by federal agency U.S. Department of Transportation for the disabled people and information about the recovery remuneration Cost of Living Adjustment.

The article announces the intention of the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA) to refrain from giving cost of living adjustments to SSA recipients. The move is due to the Consumer Price Index that points to the cost of living, in which SSA is obliged by law to increase the amount of benefits paid to beneficiaries when the cost of living increases. It is inferred that due to the current economic conditions, the price index shows otherwise and SSA will not increase payments to beneficiaries.