What This Bill Does
This bill increases the monthly special pension that living Medal of Honor recipients receive from the Department of Veterans Affairs. It also sets a specific monthly pension amount for surviving spouses of Medal of Honor recipients.
Who It Affects
Living Medal of Honor recipients whose names appear on the Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard Medal of Honor Roll.
Surviving spouses of Medal of Honor recipients.
Key Provisions
The Secretary of Veterans Affairs must pay living Medal of Honor recipients a monthly special pension at a new rate. (Sec. 3(a))
The surviving spouses of Medal of Honor recipients receive a monthly special pension at a specified rate that can be adjusted over time. (Sec. 3(b))
What Changes
The monthly special pension for living Medal of Honor recipients increases from one amount to another amount. (Sec. 3(a))
The bill establishes that surviving spouses receive a specific monthly special pension amount that may be adjusted periodically. (Sec. 3(b))
Important Definitions
Medal of Honor: The highest and most prestigious military decoration of the United States, awarded for actions so outstanding they clearly distinguish someone's gallantry beyond the call of duty from lesser forms of bravery.
I
118TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION H. R. 1514
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 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
MARCH 9, 2023
Mr. NEHLS (for himself and Mr. PAPPAS) introduced the following bill; which
was 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 Representa-
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tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
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This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Medal of Honor Act’’.
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SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
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Congress finds the following:
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(1) The Medal of Honor is the highest and
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most prestigious military decoration of the United
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States.
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•HR 1514 IH
(2) To earn the Medal of Honor ‘‘the deed of
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the person . . . must be so outstanding that it clear-
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ly distinguishes his gallantry beyond the call of duty
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from lesser forms of bravery’’.
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(3) The actions of Medal of Honor recipients
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inspire bravery, and the willingness to give all, in
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those who serve in the Armed Forces and those who
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will serve in the future.
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(4) Those listed on the Medal of Honor Roll ex-
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emplify the best traits of members of the Armed
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Forces, a long and proud lineage of those who went
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beyond the call of duty.
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(5) Pursuant to section 1562 of title 38, United
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States Code, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs shall
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pay monthly to each living person whose name has
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been entered on the Army, Navy, Air Force, and
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Coast Guard Medal of Honor Roll a special pension.
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(6) Recipients of the Medal of Honor have
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earned a substantial and historic increase to such
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special pension in recognition of their conspicuous
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gallantry, unwavering commitment, and heroic ac-
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tions above and beyond the call of duty.
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SEC. 3. INCREASE IN DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS
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SPECIAL PENSION PAYABLE TO MEDAL OF
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HONOR RECIPIENTS.
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(a) INCREASE IN SPECIAL PENSION PAYABLE TO
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LIVING
MEDAL
OF
HONOR
RECIPIENTS.—Section
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1562(a)(1) of title 38, United States Code, is amended
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by striking ‘‘$1,388.68’’ and inserting ‘‘$8,333.33’’.
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(b) AMOUNT
OF SPECIAL PENSION PAYABLE
TO
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SURVIVING SPOUSES.—Section 1562(a)(2)(A) of title 38,
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United States Code, is amended—
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(1) by striking ‘‘special pension under this sec-
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tion’’ and inserting ‘‘monthly’’; and
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(2) by striking the period and adding at the end
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the following: ‘‘a special pension under this section
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at the rate of $1,489.73, as adjusted from time to
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time under subsection (e).’’.
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Æ
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