119-s214

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 214 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 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

 January 23, 2025

 Mr. Cruz (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 Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Monetary Enhancement for 
Distinguished Active Legends Act of 2025'' or the ``MEDAL Act of 
2025''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS.

 Congress finds the following:

    (1) The Medal of Honor is the highest and most prestigious 
 military decoration of the United States.

    (2) To earn the Medal of Honor, ``the deed of the person . 
 . . must be so outstanding that it clearly distinguishes his 
 gallantry beyond the call of duty from lesser forms of 
 bravery''.

    (3) The actions of Medal of Honor recipients inspire 
 bravery, and the willingness to give all, in those who serve in 
 the Armed Forces and those who will serve in the future.

    (4) Those listed on the Medal of Honor Roll exemplify the 
 best traits of members of the Armed Forces, a long and proud 
 lineage of those who went beyond the call of duty.

    (5) Pursuant to 

section 1562 of title 38, United States 
 Code, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall pay monthly to 
 each living person whose name has been entered on the Army, 
 Navy, Air Force, and Coast Guard Medal of Honor Roll a special 
 pension.

    (6) Recipients of the Medal of Honor have earned a 
 substantial and historic increase to such special pension in 
 recognition of their conspicuous gallantry, unwavering 
 commitment, and heroic actions above and beyond the call of 
 duty.

SEC. 3. INCREASE IN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS SPECIAL PENSION 
 PAYABLE TO MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS.

    (a) Increase in Special Pension Payable to Living Medal of Honor 
Recipients.--Paragraph

    (1) of 

section 1562

    (a) of title 38, United 
States Code, is amended by striking ``$1,406.73'' and inserting 
``$8,333.33''.

    (b) Amount of Special Pension Payable to Surviving Spouses.--
Paragraph

    (2)
        (A) of such section is amended--

    (1) by striking ``special pension under this section'' and 
 inserting ``monthly''; and

    (2) by striking the period and adding at the end the 
 following: ``a special pension under this section at the rate 
 of $1,406.73, as adjusted from time to time under subsection

    (e) .''.
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