House · HR 695 · 119th Congress
Medal of Honor Act
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Summary
This bill raises the monthly special pension paid to living Medal of Honor recipients from about $1,407 to about $8,333. The increase is tied to a standard veterans' compensation rate so it grows with inflation each year. It affects the small number of living Medal of Honor recipients on the official roll.
In Favor
Medal of Honor recipients risked their lives far beyond what duty required. Their current pension of about $1,407 a month has not kept up with the honor their service deserves. Raising it to roughly $8,333 a month gives these heroes meaningful financial recognition for their extraordinary courage.
Against
The new pension rate is nearly six times higher than the current amount, which raises the cost to taxpayers each year. Tying the rate to a veterans' compensation formula also removes Congress's direct control over future increases. Some may question whether a large automatic raise is the right tool when other veterans' programs face funding pressure.
Additional Considerations
Purpose & Problem
Is the problem real and worth federal action?
The bill raises the monthly special pension paid to living Medal of Honor recipients and adjusts how that pension rate is set going forward.
Scope & Related Provisions
Does it stay focused, or carry unrelated add-ons?
The bill also extends a deadline, from November 2031 to January 2033, on certain limits for pension payments, which goes beyond the pension rate change.
Who Is Affected
Who benefits, and who bears the cost?
Living Medal of Honor recipients receive higher monthly payments. The Department of Veterans Affairs takes on the duty to calculate and pay the new, higher rate each month.
Cost & Funding
Is it affordable and responsibly funded?
The bill raises the monthly pension from $1,406.73 to $8,333.33 per recipient, an increase of roughly $6,926 per month per person. No total program cost estimate from CBO or a committee appears in the sources.
Risks & Implementation
What could go wrong in practice?
The new rate ties pension amounts to a separate veterans compensation formula, so the payment could change whenever that formula changes. The bill also requires the agency to track annual increases to avoid paying two adjustments in one year.
For the actual bill text, see congress.gov.
AI-generated · Published 6/5/2026