Medal of Honor Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 695
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Became Law
- Became Law
- Public Law 119-43
- Latest Action
- 2025-12-01: Became Public Law No: 119-43.
- Last Updated
- 2026-07-11T12:38:29Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
The Medal of Honor Act (H.R. 695) aims to recognize the extraordinary service of Medal of Honor recipients by increasing their special monthly pension provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). It also extends a deadline related to certain pension payment limits. The legislation underscores the prestige of the Medal of Honor as the highest U.S. military award for acts of valor beyond the call of duty.
Key Provisions
- Increased Special Pension Rate: Amends Section 1562 of Title 38, U.S. Code, to raise the monthly special pension for living Medal of Honor recipients listed on the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard Medal of Honor Roll. The pension will now equal the monthly compensation amount for a veteran without dependents under Section 1114(m) (a standard VA disability rate), adjusted upward to the next intermediate rate under Section 1114(p) (which accounts for additional factors like special monthly compensation).
- Adjustment Limitations: Prohibits increasing the pension amount in a given year if it has already been adjusted that year, ensuring no duplicate cost-of-living or similar increases.
- Extension of Pension Payment Limits: Amends Section 5503(d)(7) of Title 38, U.S. Code, by extending the deadline for certain limits on pension payments from November 30, 2031, to January 31, 2033. (This provision prevents overlapping payments with other benefits during a transition period.)
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Replaces the fixed pension rate of $1,406.73 per month (set in prior law) with a dynamic rate tied to VA disability compensation levels, which are periodically adjusted for inflation or other factors. This makes the pension more responsive to economic changes.
- Adds safeguards against redundant annual increases to maintain fiscal predictability.
- Extends a temporary limit on pension payments by about 14 months, allowing more time for administrative handling of benefit transitions without reducing eligibility.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The VA will need to update payment calculations and systems to align with the new rate structure, potentially increasing administrative workload but with minimal overall budget impact due to the small number of recipients (fewer than 100 living Medal of Honor recipients as of recent estimates).
- On Citizens: Provides direct financial benefits to a select group of veterans, enhancing their recognition and support in retirement. No broad impact on other citizens or taxpayers.
- On International Relations: None; the bill is focused solely on domestic veteran benefits.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Primary Beneficiaries: Living recipients of the Medal of Honor enrolled on the official rolls, who will receive higher monthly pensions.
- Government Entities: The Department of Veterans Affairs, responsible for administering and funding the payments.
- Indirectly Affected: Military families and veterans' advocacy groups, which may view this as a morale-boosting measure for service members.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens existing VA pension frameworks under Title 38 without altering eligibility criteria, ensuring compliance with federal benefits laws. The tie to Section 1114 rates promotes equity by aligning Medal of Honor pensions with other veteran compensations.
- Constitutional: No significant issues; the bill exercises Congress's enumerated power to provide for the armed forces and veteran benefits under Article I, Section 8.
- Political: Reinforces bipartisan support for honoring military heroes, potentially serving as a symbolic gesture to boost recruitment and retention in the armed forces. It has no controversial elements, focusing on non-partisan recognition of valor.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (4)
Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1], Rep. Boebert, Lauren [R-CO-4], Rep. De La Cruz, Monica [R-TX-15], Rep. Van Drew, Jefferson [R-NJ-2]
Recent Actions
- 2025-12-01: Became Public Law No: 119-43.
- 2025-12-01: Became Public Law No: 119-43.
- 2025-12-01: Signed by President.
- 2025-12-01: Signed by President.
- 2025-11-25: Presented to President.
- 2025-11-25: Presented to President.
- 2025-11-07: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
- 2025-11-07: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S7976-7977)
- 2025-11-07: Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-11-07: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-11-07: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs discharged by Unanimous Consent.
- 2025-02-27: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2025-02-26: Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
- 2025-02-26: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 424 - 0 (Roll no. 51). (text: CR H857) (Roll call 51)
- 2025-02-26: Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 424 - 0 (Roll no. 51). (text: CR H857) (Roll call 51)
Bill Versions
- Medal of Honor Act — issued 2025-02-26 — PDF (6 pages)
- Medal of Honor Act — issued 2025-11-13 — PDF (2 pages)
- Medal of Honor Act — issued 2025-01-23 — PDF (3 pages)
- Medal of Honor Act — issued 2025-02-27 — PDF (4 pages)