II
119THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION S. 214
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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
JANUARY23, 2025
Mr. C
RUZ(for himself and Mr. COTTON) introduced the following bill; which
was read twice and 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 ‘‘Monetary Enhance-4
ment for Distinguished Active Legends Act of 2025’’ or 5
the ‘‘MEDAL Act of 2025’’. 6
SEC. 2. FINDINGS. 7
Congress finds the following: 8
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•S 214 IS
(1) The Medal of Honor is the highest and 1
most prestigious military decoration of the United 2
States. 3
(2) To earn the Medal of Honor, ‘‘the deed of 4
the person . . . must be so outstanding that it clear-5
ly distinguishes his gallantry beyond the call of duty 6
from lesser forms of bravery’’. 7
(3) The actions of Medal of Honor recipients 8
inspire bravery, and the willingness to give all, in 9
those who serve in the Armed Forces and those who 10
will serve in the future. 11
(4) Those listed on the Medal of Honor Roll ex-12
emplify the best traits of members of the Armed 13
Forces, a long and proud lineage of those who went 14
beyond the call of duty. 15
(5) Pursuant to section 1562 of title 38, United 16
States Code, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall 17
pay monthly to each living person whose name has 18
been entered on the Army, Navy, Air Force, and 19
Coast Guard Medal of Honor Roll a special pension. 20
(6) Recipients of the Medal of Honor have 21
earned a substantial and historic increase to such 22
special pension in recognition of their conspicuous 23
gallantry, unwavering commitment, and heroic ac-24
tions above and beyond the call of duty. 25
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•S 214 IS
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 OFHONORRECIPIENTS.—Paragraph (1) 5
of section 1562(a) of title 38, United States Code, is 6
amended by striking ‘‘$1,406.73’’ and inserting 7
‘‘$8,333.33’’. 8
(b) A
MOUNT OF SPECIALPENSIONPAYABLE TO 9
S
URVIVINGSPOUSES.—Paragraph (2)(A) of such section 10
is amended— 11
(1) by striking ‘‘special pension under this sec-12
tion’’ and inserting ‘‘monthly’’; and 13
(2) by striking the period and adding at the end 14
the following: ‘‘a special pension under this section 15
at the rate of $1,406.73, as adjusted from time to 16
time under subsection (e).’’. 17
Æ
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