H.R. 695 · 119th Congress · House

Medal of Honor Act

Signed into LawDefense

Introduced 2025-01-23 · Sponsored by Rep. Nehls, Troy E. [R-TX-22] (R-TX) · Last updated 2026-03-31

Last action (2025-12-01): Became Public Law No: 119-43.

Summary

Raises the monthly pension for living Medal of Honor recipients from about $1,400 to $8,333, roughly a 6x increase. It also creates a new $1,400 monthly pension for surviving spouses of recipients. Both amounts get adjusted for inflation each year. The Medal of Honor is the highest military decoration in the country.

Congress.gov — H.R. 695

The Good

Substantially increases pensions for Medal of Honor recipients

Raises the monthly special pension for living Medal of Honor recipients from $1,406.73 to $8,333.33 and establishes a pension for surviving spouses, with annual inflation adjustments. The Medal of Honor is the nation's highest military decoration.

Congress.gov — H.R. 695

The Bad

Nearly 6x increase raises questions about proportionality

While Medal of Honor recipients deserve recognition, the jump from roughly $17,000 to $100,000 annually is substantial. The pension now exceeds what many disabled veterans receive, potentially creating equity concerns within the veteran community.

Congress.gov — H.R. 695