Members of the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs approved last week two bills sponsored by Chairman Craig (R-Idaho), including a measure (S. 1234) which increases the pay rates for disabled veterans and survivors compensation by an estimated 2.3 percent, and another measure (S. 1235 - as amended), which increases life insurance coverage for military personnel from $250,000 to $400,000. The two bills are expected to be voted on when Congress reconvenes in September. The increase in life insurance to $400,000 was approved temporarily in May. If Congress does not make the law permanent by October 1 of this year, coverage will revert to $250,000. "Together with our House colleagues, we will work to send the bill to the President before October 1," said Senator Larry Craig who serves as chairman of the committee. Another measure sought by Senator Patty Murray (D-Washington) and approved by the committee will cause the Department of Veterans Affairs to consider heart disease and strokes in former prisoners of war as "presumptive" conditions for purposes of disability compensation. Additional language sought by Senator Barack Obama (D-Illinois) was also approved by the committee. It will cause the standardization of training and disability compensation assessments for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder claims filed within the Veterans Benefits Administration. Two other bills that the committee had originally scheduled to take up, S. 1182, the "Veterans Health Care Improvements Act of 2005," and S. 716, "Vet Center Enhancement Act of 2005" will be taken up when the committee reconvenes in September.