Washington’s New Legislation for Medal of Honor Recipients

WASHINGTON — This week, President Donald Trump signed a bill that will nearly quadruple the pensions of Medal of Honor recipients, the highest military honor in the United States.

The legislation, after passing through the House in February and unanimously through the Senate last month, will raise the base pension from approximately $1,489.73 to $5,625 monthly. Additionally, the survivor’s pensions will also see an increase.

So, what’s the final scoop? Medal of Honor recipients will now have their yearly pensions jump from nearly $18,000 to about $67,500. Lawmakers believe this amount is more fitting, especially since many recipients have not formally retired from the military and spend a lot of time traveling the country, sharing their incredible experiences.

Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) expressed, “We can never really pay them back. There are no amounts of money, no medals, no words that can match their sacrifice, but there are ways to continue to honor them by ensuring we care, respect and support them.”

Cruz was the one who introduced the bill in the Senate, while Rep. Troy Nehls (R-Texas) took the lead in the House.

Nehls shared his dedication to the cause, mentioning that he has spent five years pushing for this bill’s passage.

He recounted hearing stories about families of Medal of Honor recipients needing to set up GoFundMe campaigns for medical costs and travel expenses related to military recruiting events. “I knew something had to be done,” Nehls remarked during a speech in February.

Interestingly, Congress created a special pension for Medal of Honor recipients back in 1916, starting with just $10 a month. Over the years, this amount has been raised—$100 in 1961, and $1,000 in 2002 was the last adjustment before this recent increase. The Department of Veterans Affairs issues these pensions, which get adjusted for inflation.

Since the Medal of Honor’s establishment during the Civil War, over 3,500 have been awarded to military personnel who have exhibited “conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.”

Currently, there are 61 living Medal of Honor recipients.

Nehls concluded with a strong statement: “The least we can do is ease the financial burden on these selfless warriors who continue to serve our great country.”