MEDAL Act of 2025
- Bill Number
- S. 214
- Origin Chamber
- Senate
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Armed Forces and National Security
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-05-21: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-86.
- Last Updated
- 2026-03-19T11:03:25Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The MEDAL Act of 2025 aims to honor the extraordinary bravery of Medal of Honor recipients by substantially increasing their special monthly pension, recognizing the Medal of Honor as the highest U.S. military award for actions far beyond normal duty.
Key Provisions
- Increased Pension for Living Recipients: Establishes a new monthly special pension rate of $8,333.33 for each living person on the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard Medal of Honor Roll, paid by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
- Surviving Spouse Benefits: Specifies that surviving spouses receive a monthly special pension at the existing rate of $1,406.73, with adjustments for cost-of-living increases as provided under current law (subsection (e) of the relevant statute).
- Congressional Findings: Outlines the prestige of the Medal of Honor, its role in inspiring military service, and the need for a historic pension increase to reflect recipients' gallantry and commitment.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 1562(a)(1) of Title 38, United States Code (which governs VA benefits), by replacing the current pension rate of $1,406.73 with $8,333.33 for living recipients—a roughly sixfold increase.
- Clarifies and restructures the language in Section 1562(a)(2)(A) for surviving spouses to explicitly state the benefit as "monthly" and tie it to the original rate with future adjustments, without increasing the amount.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The VA will face higher annual expenditures to administer the increased pensions, potentially straining its budget unless offset by additional congressional funding; this could affect resource allocation for other veterans' programs.
- On Citizens: Provides direct financial support to a small number of living Medal of Honor recipients (fewer than 70 as of recent estimates), enhancing their quality of life in recognition of service; surviving spouses see no change in benefits.
- On International Relations: Minimal impact, as the bill focuses on domestic veterans' benefits without foreign policy elements.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Medal of Honor Recipients: Primary beneficiaries, gaining significantly higher monthly income.
- Surviving Spouses of Recipients: Continue to receive unchanged benefits, ensuring stability but no enhancement.
- Department of Veterans Affairs: Responsible for implementing and funding the pension increases.
- U.S. Congress and Taxpayers: Involved in authorizing and financing the changes through federal budgeting.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Strengthens existing VA authority under Title 38 to provide special pensions without creating new entitlements; the bill is straightforward and unlikely to face legal challenges, as it builds on established benefits for military honors.
- Constitutional: Aligns with Congress's enumerated power to "provide for" the military and reward service (Article I, Section 8), posing no apparent conflicts with equal protection or due process principles.
- Political: Signals bipartisan support for veterans (introduced by Senators Cruz and Cotton), potentially boosting morale in the armed forces; however, the cost increase may spark debates on federal spending priorities amid broader fiscal concerns.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (7)
Sen. Cotton, Tom [R-AR], Sen. Budd, Ted [R-NC], Sen. Justice, James C. [R-WV], Sen. Cornyn, John [R-TX], Sen. Hassan, Margaret Wood [D-NH], Sen. Warnock, Raphael G. [D-GA], Sen. Mullin, Markwayne [R-OK]
Recent Actions
- 2025-05-21: Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 119-86.
- 2025-01-23: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs.
- 2025-01-23: Introduced in Senate
Bill Versions
- Monetary Enhancement for Distinguished Active Legends Act of 2025 — issued 2025-01-23 — PDF (3 pages)