I
119THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION H. R. 695
To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the rate of the special
pension payable to Medal of Honor recipients, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY23, 2025
Mr. N
EHLS(for himself, Mr. PAPPAS, Ms. BOEBERT, and Ms. DELACRUZ)
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on
Veterans’ Affairs
A BILL
To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase the
rate of the special pension payable to Medal of Honor
recipients, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-1
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 2
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 3
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Medal of Honor Act’’. 4
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 5
Congress finds the following: 6
(1) The Medal of Honor is the highest and 7
most prestigious military decoration of the United 8
States. 9
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(2) To earn the Medal of Honor ‘‘the deed of 1
the person . . . must be so outstanding that it clear-2
ly distinguishes his gallantry beyond the call of duty 3
from lesser forms of bravery’’. 4
(3) The actions of Medal of Honor recipients 5
inspire bravery, and the willingness to give all, in 6
those who serve in the Armed Forces and those who 7
will serve in the future. 8
(4) Those listed on the Medal of Honor Roll ex-9
emplify the best traits of members of the Armed 10
Forces, a long and proud lineage of those who went 11
beyond the call of duty. 12
(5) Pursuant to section 1562 of title 38, United 13
States Code, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 14
pay monthly to each living person whose name has 15
been entered on the Army, Navy, Air Force, and 16
Coast Guard Medal of Honor Roll a special pension. 17
(6) Recipients of the Medal of Honor have 18
earned a substantial and historic increase to such 19
special pension in recognition of their conspicuous 20
gallantry, unwavering commitment, and heroic ac-21
tions above and beyond the call of duty. 22
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SEC. 3. INCREASE IN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 1
SPECIAL PENSION PAYABLE TO MEDAL OF 2
HONOR RECIPIENTS. 3
(a) I
NCREASE INSPECIALPENSIONPAYABLE TO 4
L
IVINGMEDAL OF HONORRECIPIENTS.—Section 5
1562(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended 6
by striking ‘‘$1,406.73’’ and inserting ‘‘$8,333.33’’. 7
(b) A
MOUNT OF SPECIALPENSIONPAYABLE TO 8
S
URVIVINGSPOUSES.—Section 1562(a)(2)(A) of title 38, 9
United States Code, is amended— 10
(1) by striking ‘‘special pension under this sec-11
tion’’ and inserting ‘‘monthly’’; and 12
(2) by striking the period and adding at the end 13
the following: ‘‘a special pension under this section 14
at the rate of $1,406.73, as adjusted from time to 15
time under subsection (e).’’. 16
Æ
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