119THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION H. R. 695
AN ACT
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 2
•HR 695 EH
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 1
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Medal of Honor Act’’. 2
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 3
Congress finds the following: 4
(1) The Medal of Honor is the highest and 5
most prestigious military decoration of the United 6
States. 7
(2) To earn the Medal of Honor ‘‘the deed of 8
the person . . . must be so outstanding that it clear-9
ly distinguishes his gallantry beyond the call of duty 10
from lesser forms of bravery’’. 11
(3) The actions of Medal of Honor recipients 12
inspire bravery, and the willingness to give all, in 13
those who serve in the Armed Forces and those who 14
will serve in the future. 15
(4) Those listed on the Medal of Honor Roll ex-16
emplify the best traits of members of the Armed 17
Forces, a long and proud lineage of those who went 18
beyond the call of duty. 19
(5) Pursuant to section 1562 of title 38, United 20
States Code, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 21
pay monthly to each living person whose name has 22
been entered on the Army, Navy, Air Force, and 23
Coast Guard Medal of Honor Roll a special pension. 24
(6) Recipients of the Medal of Honor have 25
earned a substantial and historic increase to such 26 3
•HR 695 EH
special pension in recognition of their conspicuous 1
gallantry, unwavering commitment, and heroic ac-2
tions above and beyond the call of duty. 3
SEC. 3. INCREASE IN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS 4
SPECIAL PENSION PAYABLE TO MEDAL OF 5
HONOR RECIPIENTS. 6
Section 1562 of title 38, United States Code, is 7
amended— 8
(1) in subsection (a)(1)— 9
(A) by inserting ‘‘(A)’’ before ‘‘The Sec-10
retary’’; 11
(B) by striking ‘‘the rate of $1,406.73’’ 12
and inserting ‘‘the rate described in subpara-13
graph (B)’’; and 14
(C) by adding at the end the following new 15
subparagraph: 16
‘‘(B) The rate described in this subparagraph is equal 17
to the amount of monthly compensation paid to a veteran 18
without dependents under subsection (m) of section 1114 19
of this title, increased to the next intermediate rate under 20
subsection (p) of such section.’’; and 21
(2) in subsection (e)— 22
(A) by inserting ‘‘(1)’’ before ‘‘Effective’’; 23
(B) by inserting ‘‘, subject to paragraph 24
(2),’’ before ‘‘shall’’; and 25 4
•HR 695 EH
(C) by adding at the end the following new 1
paragraph (2): 2
‘‘(2) The Secretary shall not, under paragraph (1), 3
increase the amount of monthly special pension payable 4
under subsection (a) in a year if such amount was other-5
wise increased during such year.’’. 6
SEC. 4. EXTENSION OF CERTAIN LIMITS ON PAYMENTS OF 7
PENSION. 8
Section 5503(d)(7) of title 38, United States Code, 9
is amended by striking ‘‘November 30, 2031’’ and insert-10
ing ‘‘January 31, 2033’’. 11
Passed the House of Representatives February 26,
2025.
Attest:
Clerk. 119
TH
CONGRESS
1
ST
S
ESSION
H. R. 695
AN ACT
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.